Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th Chapter 18 Incarceration Trends

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th Incarceration Trends  Explaining Prison Population Trends Increased Arrests and More Likely Incarceration Tougher Sentencing Prison Construction The War on Drugs State Politics Public Policy Trends  Dealing with Overcrowded Prisons The Null Strategy The Construction Strategy Intermediate Sanctions Prison Population Reduction  The impact of Prison  Does Incarceration Pay?

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th PRISON POPULATION TRENDS

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th why the growth in incarceration rate?  demographic change changes in the proportion of people in “crime prone” ( ) & “incarceration prone” ( ) age groups  increased arrest rates & more incarceration (including for probation/parole violations)  tougher sentencing practices less probation, longer sentences, fewer paroles  prison construction  war on drugs  public policy trends: “getting tough”

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th Incarceration Rates and Violent Crime Rates in Selected Contiguous States

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th strategies to address prison crowding crisis prison population reduction construction strategy null strategy intermediate sanctions strategies

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th “null strategy”  the strategy of doing nothing to relieve crowding in prisons on the assumption that the problem is temporary and will disappear in time

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th prison population reduction  states rarely control prison population 9 states with sentencing guidelines have required guideline framers to consider prison capacity when stipulating sentences F e.g., Minnesota has had 2d lowest incarceration rate in U.S. from Texas county “shipping” formula, 1990 “back door” strategies more typical: F parole, work release, good time

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th “construction strategy”  a strategy of building new facilities to meet the demand for prison space  cost of average prison cell (in 500 bed facility):  $75,000 base construction cost (= $31 million)  $22,000architects’ fees, furnishings, site prep.  $82,000actual cost per cell  $41,000,000to build 500 bed facility  operating cost:  $19,000per inmate per year ($9.5 mill)  30-year bill for 500 bed facility:  $326 million  NOT the $30 million originally claimed.

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th impact of prison crowding post-release recidivism offender misconduct ill health violent behavior results of crowding

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th does incarceration pay?  Debate over cost-effectiveness of prison. marginal savings of locking up each offender?  Zedlewski:$430,000 vs. cost of $25,000  DiIulio:$28,000 vs. cost of $14,000  Marvell:would save 21 crimes/year per offender

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th hidden costs of incarceration post-release recidivism loss of young men to communities offenders’ families & children opportunity costs of not having other social programs hidden costs