US Prison System and Prison Inmates

People in USA are often found searching Online Prison Inmates Locator to find out where a certain person is incarcerated. When there arises the question about prison population in the world, USA gets the first rank. Although the crime was found declining in USA by 25% in two decades after 1980, prison population increased many fold during the same period of time. There was a time when no Mandatory Sentencing System was there and the judges had the right to lessen the incarceration period as per the situation in which the felony was committed. In other words before the introduction of mandatory sentencing system, judges possessed the right to examine the case with a view to guess the intensity of the crime committed and they used to impose minimum imprisonment to the criminal but after mandatory sentencing, their only job is to examine whether the crime is committed or not. The sentencing period is decided by law through mandatory sentencing system. And there are no chances of providing minimum imprisonment. Imprisonment is the main form of punishment in most of the countries including USA. After the crime is proved, the criminal is incarcerated in prison for the sentenced period. He is called prisoner, prison inmate and even inmate only. As per the facts, 2.4 million inmates were enjoying their sentence in USA prisons in Aug. 2011. It shows that USA is still on the first rank in the list of all nations. There are three types of incarceration facilities in US. First there are federal and state prisons. Secondly the city jails and country jails and thirdly there come the highway houses, house arrest, sober houses or recovery housed.

When an inmate is caught for some allegation on him, he is kept in the lock up until he is presented before a judge. After that he is sent to the city or country jail. It is also a short term residence for him. If he is sentenced for more than one year, he/she is shifted to the federal or state jail. Even after fulfilling their period, the inmates are not sent to live in the society. With a view to their rehabilitation and employment, they are kept in highway houses or recovery houses. The criminals sentenced for less serious cases for less then one year period get back after living in the country jails only.

Federal Bureau of Prisons is also an important institute or organization of US Department of Justice. It makes arrangement of security in prisons at five levels.