NCJ Number
128759
Date Published
1990
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This paper suggests alternatives to prison expansion in New York that are more cost-effective to relieve prison overcrowding and reduce crime.
Abstract
Since 1983, State spending for New York prisons has more than doubled, growing faster than spending on any other State service or program. The major force driving up prison costs has been New York's decision to rely on prison capacity expansion as virtually its only response to the increasing number of people committed to State prison. This population explosion has been caused mainly by an increase in the number of people sent to prison for nonviolent offenses and an increase in the length of term they are serving, the passage of mandatory sentencing laws during the 1970's, and increased emphasis on Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) approaches to law enforcement. Six cost-effective recommendations are offered to relieve prison overcrowding and reduce crime: (1) establish a statewide, community-based alternative program for nonviolent felony offenders; (2) establish a community protection program for nonviolent, second felony offenders; (3) develop a statewide, community-based network of alternative programs for nonviolent offenders; (4) amend New York law to permit earning good-time credits off minimum prison sentences; (5) require release on parole after the completion of a minimum term unless the parole board determines that release should be postponed; and (6) release selected inmates early to intensive parole supervision and/or community-managed day and residential programs. 5 footnotes