List three major issues facing jails in the modern era. Discuss Each in detail.
Provide a resolution for each issue cited and do you believe these solutions are feasible given today’s budgetary restraints and concerns?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Three Major Issues Facing Jails in the Modern Era:
Overcrowding
Overcrowding has become a significant issue in jails around the world. The increasing number of individuals being incarcerated, coupled with limited resources and infrastructure, has led to jails operating beyond their intended capacity. This overcrowding poses several challenges, including compromised safety, lack of adequate healthcare services, and limited access to rehabilitative programs.
Resolution: One potential solution to address overcrowding is the adoption of alternative sentencing programs. These programs emphasize community-based corrections and diversion initiatives instead of incarceration for nonviolent offenders. By implementing effective pretrial release programs, expanding probation and parole options, and investing in specialized courts (such as drug courts or mental health courts), jails can reduce overcrowding while still ensuring public safety. However, the feasibility of these solutions depends on the availability of funding for the necessary infrastructure, staffing, and support services. Given today’s budgetary restraints, implementing such programs may require creative funding solutions or reallocation of resources.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Jails have become de facto mental health institutions, as a significant portion of the inmate population suffers from mental health disorders and substance abuse issues. Inadequate mental health resources and a lack of specialized treatment programs within jails exacerbate these problems, leading to a revolving door effect where individuals with untreated mental health conditions frequently return to jail.
Resolution: To address this issue, jails need comprehensive mental health screening at intake, followed by appropriate treatment and referral services. Collaborating with community mental health agencies and providing access to psychiatric professionals can ensure that inmates receive the necessary mental health care. Additionally, investing in substance abuse treatment programs within jails can help address underlying issues and reduce recidivism rates. However, implementing these solutions requires significant financial resources, including hiring trained mental health professionals and providing the necessary medications and therapies. Given budgetary constraints, securing funding for such initiatives may be challenging, but it remains crucial to prioritize the well-being and rehabilitation of inmates.
Staffing Shortages and Training
Jails often face staffing shortages due to limited recruitment efforts, high turnover rates, and low wages. This shortage of correctional officers can compromise safety and security within jails, leading to increased incidents of violence and inadequate supervision. Additionally, inadequate training for staff members can contribute to ineffective management practices and a lack of understanding regarding mental health issues or de-escalation techniques.
Resolution: To address staffing shortages, jails can invest in recruitment campaigns, competitive salaries, and comprehensive benefits packages to attract qualified candidates. Adequate training programs should also be implemented to equip correctional officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively handle inmate populations. This includes training on conflict resolution, cultural sensitivity, mental health awareness, and de-escalation techniques. However, these solutions require additional funding for recruitment efforts, salary increases, and ongoing training programs. Given today’s budgetary restraints, securing the necessary resources for staffing and training improvements may present challenges. However, investing in these areas is essential to ensure the safety of both inmates and staff members.
In conclusion, the major issues facing jails in the modern era include overcrowding, mental health and substance abuse challenges, as well as staffing shortages and training deficiencies. While there are potential resolutions for these issues, their feasibility depends on available funding and budgetary constraints. Creative funding solutions, reallocation of resources, and prioritization of inmate welfare may be necessary to implement these resolutions effectively in today’s budgetary landscape.
