Why are They Always Picking on Us? U.S. Corrections as Seen by Foreign Criminal Justice Personnel

• NCJ Number: 187292
• Journal: Corrections Compendium Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2001 Pages: 6-7-29
• Author(s): Gary Hill
• Date Published: February 2001
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The author catalogs the comments and complaints about the U.S. corrections system he has heard from foreign criminal justice personnel at various international meetings and conferences since 1985 and then explains the source of these comments, followed by his speculation about what U.S. corrections officials might do to bring balance to how we are seen.

Abstract

Foreign corrections officials criticize U.S. corrections policies for the high incarceration rate and the overrepresentation of minorities in U.S. prisons. The second major concern expressed by international delegates at world meetings is the use of capital punishment in the United States. Although European nations continuously pressure the international community to move toward the elimination of capital punishment, there are few calls from the U.S. corrections community to eliminate it or even reduce its use. The most emotional outbursts from foreign representatives at international meetings have dealt with the perception that corrections in the United States is based in punitive policies no longer advocated in "civilized" nations. Relatively new negative comments about U.S. correctional departments focus on the charging of inmates and/or their families to make or accept phone calls. The phone charges are grouped with comments and complaints about some U.S. jurisdictions charging inmates for medical care or having them pay for their visits to parole officers or other fee-for-service arrangements. Although the United States boasts many leading-edge programs, many of the world's respected criminal justice professionals have failed to appreciate positive U.S. corrections contributions because of the U.S. corrections policies with which they disagree. The American Corrections Association should be more proactive in publicly denouncing those U.S. corrections practices with which the Association disagrees and be a more active voice for reform in U.S. corrections.