英検と現実社会をつなぐ

英検の問題が公開されたようで早速確認したところ、アメリカの刑務所改革について出題されていました。

Incarceration in the United States
Although the United States accounts for just 5 percent of the world’s population, it holds nearly a quarter of the world’s prisoners. With around 2.2 million inmates, it incarcerates more of its citizens than any other nation. This statistic becomes even more astonishing in light of the fact that during the 1970s, there were only about 300,000 prisoners in the U.S. penal system. The rise has left correctional facilities bursting at the seams, drained the nation financially, and drawn intense criticism internationally.

ちょっと大げさなタイトルをつけましたが、たまたま今週初めにオバマ大統領が独房改革についてワシントンポストに寄稿していたので紹介させていただきます。昨年の夏に刑務所視察もしているそうですね。

オバマ氏、現職米大統領として初の連邦刑務所視察
2015年07月17日 10:07　発信地：エルレノ/米国
【7月17日 AFP】バラク・オバマ（Barack Obama）米大統領は16日、米オクラホマ（Oklahoma）州エルレノ（El Reno）にある連邦刑務所を視察した。現職の米大統領が連邦刑務所を訪れたのは初めて。オバマ大統領は、受刑者であふれ巨額の費用がかかっているとされる刑務所制度の改革を推進している。

 オバマ大統領が訪れたのは、エルレノ連邦矯正施設（El Reno Federal Correctional Institution）の「B」ブロック。薬物関連の罪で服役中の受刑者6人と面会した。

 米国の人口は世界の人口の5％にも満たないにもかかわらず、世界全体の受刑者のうちほぼ4分の1が米国内の刑務所に収容されている。

英検の問題は受刑者増加の背景についての考察なので今回の大統領の寄稿内容とは直結しないのですが、以下のように改革の提言を述べたパラグラフの後に具体例として成果をあげている州を紹介しているあたりの論の進め方は参考になりますね。

Barack Obama: Why we must rethink solitary confinement
By Barack Obama January 25
Barack Obama is president of the United States.

The Justice Department has completed its review, and I am adopting its recommendations to reform the federal prison system. These include banning solitary confinement for juveniles and as a response to low-level infractions, expanding treatment for the mentally ill and increasing the amount of time inmates in solitary can spend outside of their cells. These steps will affect some 10,000 federal prisoners held in solitary confinement — and hopefully serve as a model for state and local corrections systems. And I will direct all relevant federal agencies to review these principles and report back to me with a plan to address their use of solitary confinement.

States that have led the way are already seeing positive results. Colorado cut the number of people in solitary confinement, and assaults against staff are the lowest they’ve been since 2006. New Mexico implemented reforms and has seen a drop in solitary confinement, with more prisoners engaging in promising rehabilitation programs. And since 2012, federal prisons have cut the use of solitary confinement by 25 percent and significantly reduced assaults on staff.

全体的な内容について触れている部分は以下になるでしょうか。But too many others, especially nonviolent drug offenders, are serving unnecessarily long sentences.は英検で触れていましたね。

Reforming solitary confinement is just one part of a broader bipartisan push for criminal justice reform. Every year, we spend $80 billion to keep 2.2 million people incarcerated. Many criminals belong behind bars. But too many others, especially nonviolent drug offenders, are serving unnecessarily long sentences. That’s why members of Congress in both parties are pushing for change, from reforming sentencing laws to expanding reentry programs to give those who have paid their debt to society the tools they need to become productive members of their communities. And I hope they will send me legislation as soon as possible that makes our criminal justice system smarter, fairer, less expensive and more effective.

「英検に受かるためには過去問をやれば十分」というのは確かにその通りですが、現状を考慮しながら作成されていることは確かなようです。