Melissa Malpass

ENG 123
Prof. Reid
Summer 2016
Annotated Bibliography

Blades, Joan; Norquist, Grover. This is the One Thing the Right and Left are Working Together
on in Congress. Time. 7 May 2014. Time. Web. 12 May 2016

Blades article briefly discusses the problem of mass incarceration in American and the
fact that both Democrats and Republicans see eye to eye on the topic and significance of
change needing to take place within the criminal justice system. Blades discusses several
facts related to mass incarceration, such as, the high cost to taxpayers it is responsible for,
the dissolution of the family unit it causes, and that there is little to nothing being done to
reduce the staggering rate of recidivism. Blades expresses hope in that although changes
to the criminal justice system should have begun years ago, the fact that it is beginning to
take place now is promising and, better yet, that both political parties seem to agree.

The article expresses the similar points of view of Democrats and Republicans on the
problem of mass incarceration, its ramifications, and the need for change. However, it
only specifically mentions what the progressives want addressed when it comes to crime
and punishment. Despite this fact, the article is written by individuals from opposing
parties, Joan Blades is a progressive and Grover Norquist leans towards the right. For that

reason, although it seems the article may be skewed slightly to the left, it probably is
more neutral. Also, the article only provides a few specific pieces of information that can
be traced back to a credible source. It cites statistics by the U.S. Bureau of Justice
Statistics regarding the number of individuals who are incarcerated, on parole, or
probation. It also specifically mentions two bills, the Smarter Sentencing Act of 2014 and
the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013, which can be researched further for additional
information.
Since the article is more of an opinion piece, it would not be of much use to readers who
are looking for a large number of traceable facts. It would, however, be a good place to
start to become familiar with how political parties are working together towards reform
of the criminal justice system.

Clear, Todd R. and Schrantz, Dennis. Strategies for Reducing Prison Populations. The Prison
Journal. 91.3 (2011): 138S-159S. Web. 25 May 2016

In their article, Clear and Schrantz discuss various ways to reduce prison populations.
They also mention how, despite successes in several states (most notably, Michigan, New
York, and New Jersey) there has been little research done, and therefor little evidence, to
identify proven strategies that work to reduce the population of prisons. Several of the
suggestions to reduce prison populations are as follows: strengthening probation and the
ways in which to do so, financially incentivize counties to keep criminals in their custody
rather than sending them to state prisons, and lastly, giving judges more discretion when
it comes to sentencing.

Considering this article comes from a peer-reviewed journal it is a valuable and credible
resource to be used in a research project. Todd R. Clear is a professor of Criminal Justice
at John Jay College, making him a credible professional in the field of prison reform.
Also, since there are a great number of studies highlighted in the article, it is a beneficial
source for statistics and facts.

Ferner, Matt. The GOP Argument Against Criminal Justice Reform Just Got Dismantled.
Huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post, 17 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 May 2016

Ferners article discusses the opposing viewpoints of Senator Tom Cotton and Former
NYC police commissioner Bernard Kerik (who is also an ex-felon) on the effects
criminal justice reform, specifically, reducing mandatory minimum sentences has on
crime. Senator Cotton believes that reducing mandatory minimum sentences will cause
an increase in recidivism and crime rates, whereas, Kerik disagrees. He contends that
shorter sentence lengths would not increase the crime rates and, in fact, individuals are
actually a greater risk to society the longer they are in prison. This idea stems from the
horrible conditions criminals are subjected to while in jail and the thought that the longer
individuals are exposed to such conditions the worse they become and the bigger threat
they are to society once released. A lot is at stake with Senator Cottons stance against
criminal justice reform. Kerik is one of many proponents of the Sentencing Reform and

Corrections Act which aims to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences and with
Cottons disapproval, its future is unclear.

Grommon, Eric L. Prisoner Reentry Programs: Penetrating the Black Box for Better Theory and
Practice. LFB Scholarly Pub Llc., 2013. Web.

In his book, Eric L. Grommon examines the difficulties ex-prisoners face while
attempting to re-integrate into society. Three of the most pressing problems these
individuals face are obtaining housing, employment, and successfully participating and
completing substance abuse treatment programs. Grommon analyzed data relating
stability in the areas of housing and employment to recidivism and relapse rates. He
initially found that stable housing leads to lower rates of recidivism, but does not lower
the probability of relapse, however, this could not be replicated. Which puts the data in
question. Regarding employment, Grommon found that individuals who had stable
employment were less likely to relapse and had a lower likelihood of re-incarceration. He
also notes that participation in treatment programs results in a higher likelihood of
individuals not committing future crimes but does not decrease the probability that they
will relapse.

Glazer, Sarah. Sentencing Reform: Are Mandatory Sentences Too Harsh? CQ Researcher. 10
Jan. 2014: 25-48. Web. 12 May 2016.

Sarah Glazers article provides an overview on the topic of mandatory sentences and
whether or not they should be reformed. She addresses the following three questions:
Should mandatory sentences be rolled back?, Are lengthy sentences necessary to
protect public safety?, and Do alternatives to incarceration reduce recidivism? While
addressing these issues, Glazer provides the points of view of both proponents and critics
of mandatory sentence reform. The article also provides background information into
what led to mandatory sentence guidelines being created in the first place. Highlighting
the shift in thinking from the belief that given the proper tools (drug or psychological
treatment, work skills, etc.) criminals could be rehabilitated to the belief that
incapacitation was the only way to reduce crime rates. Glazer reveals the current trends in
mandatory sentence reform on both a Federal and State level, which for the most part, are
in favor of some form of amelioration. Be it lowering the mandatory minimum sentence
for specific crimes or offering rehabilitation programs in lieu of incarceration for
criminals, Glazer points out that many, but certainly not all, liberals and conservatives are
on the same page when it comes to changes being made.

The article was presented in a clear and concise way and shows the argument from both
sides of the spectrum. Although Sarah Glazer is a freelance journalist and not a
professional in the field of criminal justice, her article equally represents the opinions of
professionals ranging from economists to politicians from different political backgrounds,
resulting in reliable sources of information throughout the article. The charts and
timelines presented in the article are great sources of information and provide a brief
glimpse into several of the facts stated in the article.

Much of the information in this article can be traced back to its original source and would
be an excellent resource for conducting further research on the topic of sentencing reform
or related topics. Individuals who read Glazers article should appreciate the seemingly
unbiased journalism and information presented to them.

Harmon, Mark G., Salisbury, Emily J., Sundt, Jody. Is Downsizing Prisons Dangerous? The
Effect of Californias Realignment Act on Public Safety. Criminology & Public Policy.
15.2 (2016): 315-341. Web. 24 May 2016

This article explores whether or not there was an increase in crime in California after the
Realignment Act was passed. The Realignment Act was passed as a way of lowering the
prison population in California. Critics feared that the massive influx of prisoners being
released would cause an increase in both violent and non-violent crimes, however, studies
found that despite the release of prisoners there was no negative impact on crime rates in
California. One fault in the study is that it does not specify what exactly contributed to
the crimes rates maintaining their levels. Whether it was improved intervention programs,
jails being used more wisely, or other factors remains to be unknown. Regardless, the
results of the study are promising in proving that decreasing prison populations through
the release of non-violent criminals does not guarantee an increase in crime rates.

LeFrak, Francine. Reframing Reentry: National Reentry Week. Huffingtonpost.com.

Huffington Post, 29 Apr. 2016. Web. 24 May 2016

In the article, Francine LeFrak discusses how difficult it is for ex-prisoners to remove the
stigma of their criminal record. The difficulties include finding employment and
obtaining an ID card. An inability to find stable employment contributes significantly to
the high recidivism rates in America. LeFrak owns her own business, Same Sky, in which
she provides women ex-offenders with work by making jewelry. In four years she has
experienced no instances of recidivism amongst the women she employs. The
opportunity to work gives these women a sense of self-worth and respect that is
empowering and deters them from returning to a life of crime. LeFrak also discusses the
importance of starting the reentry process early, while individuals are still in prison, so
that when they are released they already have an ID card. Possessing an ID card opens
doors for them to get into the workforce sooner and be eligible for loans and housing.
April 24-30 was declared National Reentry Week and its an important beginning to
improving the odds of ex-criminals successfully reintegrating into society.

Lehrer, Eli. Responsible Prison Reform. National Affairs. 2013. National Affairs. Web. 12 May
2016

This article offers great insight into the many layers of mass incarceration. It discusses
the two popular fields of thought behind who is to blame for crime: the individuals
themselves or society. Progressives subscribe to the latter, that society is largely to blame
for the crimes of individuals and unless societal circumstances are changed, such as
poverty and education, crime will continue to be an issue. On the other hand,
conservatives believe ones actions come down to individual responsibility. The

conservative way of thinking contributed greatly to the change in laws in the 1970s that
led to more criminals being put in prison for longer periods of time and has since created
the massive number of prisoners we have in America today. Considering the actions and
beliefs of conservatives led to the rise in the prison population, it can also lead to reforms
and responsible changes to decrease the rates of incarceration while continuing to protect
society. Lehrer brings up the following suggestions that could achieve this feat: changing
the way prisoners are treated once they get out of jail and attempt to integrate themselves
back into society, how punishment is measured related to the crime, and how conditions
inside prisons are handled to ensure the safety and integrity of the prisoners. Presently, it
is incredibly difficult for ex-prisoners to reintegrate themselves into society because of
the hurdles they have to jump through and the exclusions that are placed on them because
of their record. As a result, ex-criminals are more likely to go back to committing the
same crimes that got them put in jail in the first place. Lehrer suggests that the records of
ex-criminals should be removed after a certain amount of time, rather than sticking with
them for the rest of their lives, hindering their chances at employment and receipt of
certain benefits. Not having to disclose their past offenses, thus increasing their
opportunities for a successful transition back into society, will greatly encourage excriminals to maintain a clean record. Another suggestion Lehrer brings up in the article is
to change the punishment criminals receive for their crimes. Rather than focusing on
lengthy prison sentences that do little to rehabilitate prisoners, the system should focus on
including mandatory treatment programs for prisoners and providing meaningful work
opportunities that will teach job skills and responsibility. The benefits from this would
directly translate to the increased possibility of ex-criminals successfully transitioning

into society after their prison term is served. Lastly, Lehrer discusses the horrid
conditions inside prisons that violate everything about the democratic values America
was founded on and the need for that to be changed. Prison rape is endemic, violence and
corruption is commonplace, prisoners have practically no privileges and have very
limited contact with the outside world. All of these issues combined breed an
environment of continued violence and of little change in prisoners behavior from how it
was when they were in the streets. Prisoners should have certain privileges, such as
access, albeit limited, to the internet, weight training, and opportunities to take courses to
pursue a GED or higher education. Given these privileges, they can also be taken away
with bad behavior. This incentivizes prisoners to maintain good behavior and gives them
something to work towards. Lehrers article is full of information and great suggestions
as to how prison reform can be done in such a way that maintains the safety of the
country and reduces the negative impact imprisonment has on society.
This article, written by contributing editor Eli Lehrer, is from the conservative leaning
journal, National Affairs. For this reason, it is important to keep in mind its inherent bias
towards the conservative agenda and point of views. This article and the information in it
is a breath of fresh air considering the number of progressive-leaning news outlets there
are and offers a great look into the other side of the story of mass incarceration. One
downfall of the article is there are no sources to cite or research further and, since it
comes from a periodical, it isnt considered a scholarly source or valid enough to use in a
research paper. This is, however, a great way to familiarize oneself with the point of view
of different political parties.

Although the article was written in 2013, the topic of responsible prison reform is still
incredibly relevant today. This would be a great place to start ones research in order to
become familiar with how the right feels about a particular topic, and to identify whether
or not the topic they are interested in is a current affair.

Oliver, Brian E. My Sentence Is Over But Will My Punishment Ever End. Dialectical
Anthropology. 34.3 (2010): 447-451. Web. 24 May 2016

Brian E. Oliver is an ex-felon who, in his essay, discusses the challenges and obstacles he
faced once being released from prison. Oliver does attribute his prison experience with
several positive outcomes, such as almost completing his Bachelors Degree, finding
faith, and receiving therapy that helped him understand the root of his destructive
behavior, but other than that, he was not prepared to successfully assimilate into society
as a result of his time in prison. One of his greatest difficulties once he left prison was
finding employment. It took him 8 months to get a job he was able to maintain. Despite
being crime-free for over 17 years, Oliver still has a difficult time achieving certain
goals as a result of his criminal record. Although he completed college, received his
Masters Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, because of his past, he was denied
a graduate assistantship which is hindering his chances of achieving his Doctoral Degree.
The problem with the system is that although Oliver, and other ex-criminals, have served
their time and proved that they are attempting to be contributing members to society,
because of certain laws that are in place their punishment never actually ends.

Steiker, Carol S. Mass Incarceration: Causes, Consequences, and Exit Strategies." Ohio State
Journal of Criminal Law, 9.1. (2011): 1-6. Web. 12 May 2016.

In her introduction to the symposium, Mass Incarceration: Causes, Consequences, and

Exit Strategies, Carol Steiker briefly summarizes the articles of each scholar who
participated in the discussion. She highlights the points of view of each expert and points
out their similarities and/or differences, if any, with one another. The opinions in the
introduction highlighted range from former civil rights lawyer and Professor Michelle
Alexanders comparison of mass incarceration to Jim Crow laws that plagued the South
and discriminated against African Americans, Professor David Coles view that societys
opinion of mass incarceration and its effectiveness (or lack thereof) is changing for the
better and now is the time for a massive change in the system, Professor Bernard
Harcourt suggests implementing methods that were used in the deinstitutionalization of
the mentally ill to facilitate the successful deinstitutionalization of criminals, Professor
Mark Kleinmans approach to reducing recidivism through greater involvement of
probation officers and accountability measures for those on probation or parole, and lastly
Professor Michael Seidmans stance comparing mass incarceration to the Holocaust.

Steikers introduction expedites the process of analyzing the information from the
symposium. Rather than read each article in its entirety, the reader is able to view a brief
summary which allows them to then pick and choose the articles they wish to learn more
about or those that are most relevant to their interests/needs. The individuals mentioned

in Streikers introduction, including Streiker herself, are criminal law professors, making
them credible sources of information on their given topics.

This article clearly states the main ideas/beliefs of the contributors to the symposium and
is a great way to introduce readers to multiple points of view on the topic of mass
incarceration, its causes, consequences, and possible exit strategies.