Many believe that the correctional system in the United States should be reformed. What barriers exist that could slow or prevent this reform?

Answer: failed mode of incarceration and lack of awareness

Explanation:

Barriers to prison reform

Lack of awareness. The realization that the American correctional population has reached ruinous levels of about 7.3 million people as of 2011. A popular saying that out of sight therefore out of mind has become the reality of prisons and prisoners since its issues are out of the public's mind ... Few have adequate knowledge or appreciation for the problems prisons, prisoners and wardens face. When criticism is rendered today, it is likely to come from those without practical solutions.

Convicted felons in prison are the least popular major segment of the society. Many law-abiding folks believe that prison should be miserable. Candidates perceived as soft on crime lose. Accordingly, legislators do not like to appropriate money beyond the minimum requirements. Prison reform based upon continued public funding is almost always doomed to failure.

Failed model of incarceration

American society rejects the less expensive corporal punishment and with it the high value of public punishment. Because incarceration is hidden from the eyes of the people, it cannot proof the benefit of example to those outside prison. Prisoners live in a human ditch with the threat of gang violence. Sticking people in cages and hoping they reform has never worked. A relapse is usually well above 50%. All prosecutors can do is stick people in prison cells for additional years ... and the addition of years to a sentence we now know has little value. Over several decades, they keep pouring on additional years and mandatory sentences, swelling prison populations. They reduced the speed and amount of capital punishment, and so keep murderers in prison for decades or for life. Lawsuits imposed additional requirements on prisons. They've painted ourselves into an expensive corner by abolishing corporal punishment, speedy capital punishment and other methods.