Argumentative Essay: The Cause Of Prison Violence

Prison violence has become seen more often than it was in the past. The inmates have formed gangs and use this as a means to target others without taking all the blame on their own. Each individual shares the blame for being involved in crimes that not only cause harm to others but can sometimes lead to death. When accused of committing a crime based on a gang activity that occurred within the prison, each inmate accused is punished. Not one is allowed to get away from what they’ve done. When in prison, anything can happen to an individual. There can be assault, murder, or rape. By committing one crime that leads to prison the individual allows themselves to become a target for either assault, rape, or murder. Because the inmates are incapable

“This August, a media storm was created when 11-year-old Robert Sandifer of Chicago, known as “Yummy” because he liked to eat cookies, allegedly shot into a crowd and killed a 14-year-old girl” (Rodriguez). Rodriguez’s statement shows that even outside of the walls of a prison there is gang activity going on in the streets of America. Sandifer was only an 11-year-old but he knew what he was doing when he allegedly shot into a crowd. He did not know who he was shooting, but he shot anyway. His actions killed a 14-year-old girl. His actions show that there are gangs out there who will have their “newbies” or “rookies” do anything to prove themselves worthy of being a part of the gang. The members create a “test” for the “newbies” or “rookies” so that they can show exactly how much they are willing to be a part of that gang. The “tests” given to these “newbies” are usually ones that lead to someone’s death. These “tests” are usually ones that involve shooting an innocent person. As a result, the “newbies” are accepted into the gang causing the gang population to grow. Once the population of the gang grows, there are members sent to commit crimes that will have them end up in a prison, if caught. As a result of the gang members being caught and being sent to prison, the gang violence in the prison increases. With more and more gang members getting off the streets of America and into the walls of the

“The populations cannot be mixed, or there would be a bloodbath every day, instead of just every few months” (Verini). Having a mix of gang members put together is never quite successful. Verini’s statement displays the truth about gang members not being able to be put together in the same cell or even in the same room because a tragedy will occur. Verini’s statement emphasizes the seriousness that should be taken when placing gang members in a prison. If one member of one gang is put into a cell filled with members of a different gang, then that one member will suffer. The one member of the different gang than the other inmates might even be killed. As soon as one member of an outside gang is placed with inmates that are all in the same gang there is no possible way of the member to escape. The member of the different gang does not have to do anything to the others for them to start beating him. Because the gang member is from a different gang, he is automatically seen as a threat to the others. Nobody can help him with the situation he has been put into because he was the one who committed a crime and ended up in prison because of his actions. His actions caused him to become a threat to other gang members and had him become beaten. There is a higher risk of dying in prison because of gang violence than there is to die of natural