The Prison Industrial Complex (PIC)
is a term that refers to companies and businesses that supply goods and
services to prisons. The PIC is a big growth industry acting somewhat as a “hotel”
for inmates, while making money off of them. Many are against the way prisons
are profiting from the prisoners, because they are being used for cheap labor.
According to the readings, there are four different approaches to challenging
the PIC. The first way is to start a movement or group to address the issue of
state violence. The second way is to use publicity and legal workshops to show
awareness. The third way is to deal with issues of violence within the
community. And the fourth way is to abolish the PIC and use school/rehab as an
alternative. I believe that the best strategy for the PIC system is to use publicity
and legal workshops. In my opinion this is the best way because it brings up awareness
to people’s attention on how the prison system is tied to industry and only
incarcerating people for non-violent crimes just to make a profit. The worst
way would be to try to solve the problems within the community. In my opinion
this method would work if it was a small problem, but if it was a bigger issue
such as a murder or domestic violence then this method would not work because
bigger issues like such should require the police to take action instead of
trying to solve it within the community.
After reading the article about
California district attorney, Kamala Harris, decision not to participate in
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Secure Communities program, I realized that
she made the right choice not to participate. She made the right choice in my
opinion because ICE is incarcerating more offenders of non-violent crimes then the
serious offenders. “After complaints that the program was going after mostly
minor offenders, ICE announced in August 2011 that it would refocus on
deporting serious criminals. But Harris said Tuesday that the federal agency hasn’t
followed through, at least in California.” I feel that even though it is
illegal to stay in our country without papers, immigrants that are trying to
make something of themselves should still have a chance to petition for a visa.
This relates to our readings because Harris is making a statement that she does
not support ICE and deporting immigrants of non-violent crimes.
Words: 403