Ideas are changing across the nation about who should be behind bars. Federal sentencing guidelines have recently changed. As a result, tens of thousands of people serving prison terms for drug trafficking will be released before their sentences end. These sentences are being cut short by an average of 2 years. There are thousands of undocumented immigrants in prisons, and deportation proceedings will begin in these cases. For others, probation officers are being hired to manage the increased work. Listen to hear more about how the United States government changed sentences for drug criminals, how this is affecting current inmates and what it could mean for the general public.
Story Length: 3:39
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June 5, 2014
4:04
The White House recently swapped five Guantanamo prisoners for one U.S army sergeant who was a prisoner of war in Afghanistan. However, Congress is upset because the President didn't consult with them before making the trade. Some legislators feel that this event was designed to further the Obama Administration's legacy. Listen to this radio story to learn why.
Read MoreJanuary 10, 2014
4:23
Food shouldn’t be used as a form of punishment, but some prisons do it. In some prisons, “the loaf” is a bland form of food, given to disruptive inmates. Is this ethical? Listen to this story and discuss the merits of this form of discipline.
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