Some of the nation's prisons have been reported to be in poor condition. Among the causal agents of the worsening of the state of prisons is overcrowding. Some state prisons have absorbed large numbers of inmates, thus exceeding the prisons' carrying capacity. The Department of Corrections has reported congestion as a significant threat to prison systems. Although measures have been taken to expand prison facilities to accommodate the growing number of inmates, overcrowding in prisons continues to be a significant problem. This posed a challenge for the prison department in adequately providing prisoners' basic needs such as food, healthcare and housing. The growing number of inmates has highlighted limited resources within prisons, compromising the prison department's effectiveness in meeting inmates' needs. Severe cases have witnessed an increase in deaths within prisons due to limited healthcare and food supplies. Below we will provide an overview of overcrowding in prisons, the historical context of the problem, the current ethical issues adopted by stakeholders on the matter, and recommendations on how to effectively mitigate the problem of overcrowding in prisons. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Overcrowding in prisons has undermined the prison department's ability to administer rehabilitation programs. Vocational training and recreational activities were hampered by the large number of prisoners that exceeded available resources. Most prisons have no privacy due to overcrowding. The prisoners spend their nights crowded into a single room. This has caused mental problems among prisoners, increasing cases of self-harm, violence and suicide. Research by Kaeble & Glaze (2016) shows that over 22 national prison systems in America house double their carrying capacity, averaging 150% to 200% of the number of prisoners housed. The highest rate of overcrowding observed in America is El Salvador, which reaches 310% of prison carrying capacity (Glaze and Kaeble, 2015).