Infectious diseases among inmate populations Essay

Infectious diseases among inmate populations - Essay Example As this problem escalates, the monetary costs to society continues to rise and are much greater than if the diseases were discovered and treated at an earlier time, in the prison system prior to release. Prisons are in a unique position to treat inmates while the infectious condition is still in its earliest stages thus ultimately less costly to taxpayers. Though considerable economic, logistical and political barriers must be overcome to genuinely improve health care in the prison system, there are methods by which to begin solving this worsening health crisis in the prisons and wider community. The U.S. prison system has undergone a transformation over the past quarter century as a result of and a response to extensive studies that have been conducted to determine the consequences of the rising inmate population. In just 20 years, the number of persons held in U.S. prisons jumped substantially. The nation’s ‘war on drugs’ included mandatory sentencing guidelines which were principally responsible for the increase of 216,000 total prisoners in 1974 to 2004’s figure of 1.4 million. During this period, in just a 10-year span, the percentage of prisoners convicted of drug offenses nearly tripled. â€Å"In 1985, only 38,900, 8.6 percent, of State prison inmates were serving time for drug offenses as their most serious crime committed. By 1995, that number had increased almost six-fold to 224,900, 22.7 percent of all inmates† (Skolnik, 1994). Today, the U.S. houses nearly two million inmates. In 1978, the number of persons in the entire penal sy stem, those in prisons, jails and on probation or parole totaled 1.5 million. In 2004 this number stood at almost seven million. The overall correctional population, including persons in prison, jail, and on parole and probation, has jumped from 1.5 million in 1978 to nearly 7 million in 2004 (â€Å"Ethical†, 2006). Approximately

Research paper solar power Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Solar power - Research Paper Example With man’s development and innovation, the sun has also become an energy source. Solar power is basically the power provided by the sun’s rays in the form of electricity or heat (Clean Energy Ideas, n.d.). Solar power has been considered a renewable form of energy compared to fossil fuels because the source, which is the sun, is basically present all the time. It is not likely to happen that the sun will burn out one day, or if it does, all of earth will be in trouble as well (Clean Energy Ideas, n.d.). rays. This photons is transforming the electrons in the materials to conduction electrons that make the electricity (Clean Energy Ideas, n.d.). Solar panels are the materials that have the electrons which create electricity. This materials look like computer chips and can also be seen in rooftops and space engines. The photons in the rays of the sun charges the electrons in the chips and the electrons flow through the cell. This is when electricity is generated (â€Å"Solar Energy†, n.d.). Different techniques have been used to make solar power. One uses a U-shaped mirror which looks like long troughs and focuses the sunlight to an oil that can be found at the middle of the pipe. With the hot coming from the sun, the oil makes the water boil and this creates the solar power. One more technique is using mirrors which can be moved to catch the sunlight which is connected to a tower that collects the heat and connected to a receiver. Molten salt is used as the receiver for this kind of technique. Another technique uses windows with materials that absorb heat. Usually, they are placed in walls and floors, and at night, these materials give out heat that can make hot water in the house (â€Å"Solar Energy†, n.d.). Just like any form of energy source, solar power has its pros and cons. The major benefit of solar power is that it is a sustainable source of energy. Meaning it can be harvested continuously without the fear that it will run out