Annotated Bibliography
Issue: What rehabilitation/reentry services are offered to criminals in, and out of jail? How do these services affect the number of criminals that remain in the prison system?
Primary Sources:
-Rivers, Eileen. “Re-Entry into Society, or Back to Prison?” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 31 Dec. 2017, https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/reentry/column/2017/12/29/reentry-incarceration-corruption-prison-barriers-recidivism-policing-usa/979903001/.
This primary source article talks about USA Today’s Re-Entry Project as they toured some of the United States’ harshest, most populated prisons and interviewed both current and former prisoners. The purpose of these interviews was to find the answer to one question: Is America failing its prisoners? Discussion of this question caused Eileen Rivers and company to look at a number of factors, one of which being rehabilitation services offered to prisoners to help them re-enter society (hence the name of the project). The source analyzes statistics that show these services have had nothing but positive effects in the prison community in all facets. It even has some specific cases to show their effectiveness in different convict’s circumstances. All the arguments, as well as their supposed responses from prisoners they interviewed suggest a common claim: America is failing its prisoners by not making their reentry into society easier through assistance. However, it is very possible that they could’ve very simply excluded any interviews that stated otherwise from the piece in order to prove their point. In terms of a ballroom, this article would be piggybacking off of some of the arguments made by Michelle Alexander, and Bryan Stevenson in their books.
Secondary Sources:
-ALEXANDER, MICHELLE. NEW JIM CROW: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. NEW PRESS, 2020.
This is one of the books that allows for the topic of my novel to be argued or debated upon in the first place. It is a secondary source book, and it’s discussion of the criminal justice system and its flaws is what will help set up my essay’s arguments. In terms of the actual “ball room” in which this conversation will take place, Alexander’s book will be the work that actually begins the conversation. The statistics and claims made specifically in chapter 5 will help strengthen my argument. However the nature of this whole piece, will definitely call for solid counter arguments to eliminate some of the bias associated with New Jim Crow.
-Bibas, Stephanos. “The Truth about Mass Incarceration.” National Review, National Review, 2 Oct. 2015, https://www.nationalreview.com/2015/09/mass-incarceration-prison-reform/.
This secondary source novel takes a significantly more neutral position on the issue of prison reform. When it comes to what I am discussing, this article’s neutrality and equal representation of the opposing side’s views on the matter will be essential in helping me form counter arguments. Bibas’ thesis claims that the purpose of incarceration has changed to one of gaining profit, which helps explain mass incarceration and a lot of the issues surrounding it. The article responds directly to claims made by Michelle Alexander, which allows for it to be seamlessly incorporated in my “ballroom” in more of a role of disagreement in some ways. It argues that the left has become too soft on criminals, while the right has forgotten what mercy is, and how that is shown in a lot of their suggested respective policies.
-Miller, Sean. “US Prison Inmates Returning to Society: How Will They Be Received?” The Christian Science Monitor, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 2012, https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0520/US-prison-inmates-returning-to-society-How-will-they-be-received.
This secondary source article has similar viewpoints as Eileen Rivers’ article, which puts it in direct conversation with not only that piece, but Bibas as well. It points out the flaws in society that keep it from being able to willingly accept changed criminals upon completion of their sentences. It also brings in a combination of statistics and special cases that revolve around certain organizations that work with California prisons to rehabilitate convicts. Using this article in tandem with River’s article it will be possible to expose the flaws in each step of the process of rehabilitation and re-entry, as well as prove how well they do work when implemented correctly.
-STEVENSON, BRYAN. JUST MERCY: a Story of Justice and Redemption. SCRIBE PUBLICATIONS, 2020.
In this secondary source book, Bryan Stevenson uses statistics, and specific cases to create a narrative that sheds the American criminal justice system in a negative light. Similar to Alexander’s book, Just Mercy will he one of the books that initiates the whole conversation in the ballroom that I am entering. I will also use the claims and statistics from this book to strengthen the argument that I plan to discuss. Essentially, his book’s main message is that everyone in their life deserves mercy, and these prisoners are no anomaly no matter how severe their actions were in the past.
