NCJ Number
225940
Date Published
2008
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This chapter proposes that a systems-based approach to female offenders might benefit from an insurance-industry model of apportioning accountability among all participants, including offenders, service providers, and society.
Abstract
Funding the treatment of female offenders in any way other than general tax levies would be a revolutionary approach to the issue. An insurance model presupposes that the public would at least consider covering both at-risk women, and all other women, with an insurance premium in lieu of sales, income, or property tax levies as the system is now funded. However, in order for this approach to work efficiently and effectively, female offenders, as well as service providers must not be allowed to hide in the insurance pool, but be held accountable through increased premiums for at-risk individuals, through higher or lower profits for service-providing agencies, and through rewards directly paid to the general public (as investors in the system) for funding the most effective and efficient service providers. Accountability is frequently proffered as one of the most necessary traits of effective and efficient public policy. This chapter introduces concepts that apply principles of insurance to the problem of uncivil actors and the burdens they place on many of the systems of society. Rather than fund the treatment of female offenders by an indirect and unaccountable tax on society as a whole, it may pay in the long run to apply methods used by insurance companies to reward functional behavior among the pool of insured clients. 1 reference