In the book "Violent Land" the author David Courtwright identifies the following reasons why violence occurs. He believes that violence occurs when an area is concentrated with a population of males in their late teens and early twenties. Men in this age group according to the author have a high propensity for violence and have a high victimization rate. Another factor that influences violence is racial segregation. According to the author segregation breeds racial discrimination and this in turn leads to racial violence. The author also believes that violence will occur when there is a lack of social controls. Religion and the family structure are two of the most influential social controls in restraining male aggressive behavior. The also points out that violence occurs do to social ills. Frontier life was overwhelmed with problems like prostitution, gambling, alcohol and drug abuse. The author believes that the existence of social ills increases the likely hood of violence among people. For example, men who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol have a higher likely hood of resorting to violence when slightly provoked. The concepts of respect and honor that are a part of the male culture also contribute to violence. In the frontier men would go so far as to challenge each other to gun fights for the slightest disrespect. .
The reasons the author gives in explaining why violence occurs leads me to believe that Courtwright would be against the prison system as a solution to American violence. I believe this because the prison system is guilty of violating every one of the reasons the author addresses in explaining why American violence occurs. For instance, the prison systems" population is predominately men in their late teens and early twenties. This is the age group described by the author as being the most prone to violence. The prison population is also segregated.