NCJ Number
110533
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 67 Issue: 2 Dated: (Fall-Winter 1987) Pages: 67-70
Date Published
1987
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses prison overcrowding and the future of prisoners' rights litigation in the context of the Clark Foundation's role as a major supporter of prison litigation.
Abstract
It focuses on the Foundation's intention to create policies and programs that result in development of a broader spectrum of sanctions, a reduced reliance on incarceration, and programs that may be used to supplement probation are discussed. Specifically, the Foundation will assist States beseiged by overcrowding crises and prisoners' rights lawsuits and initiate a variety of programs to help States bring their penal policies within their resources and legal mandates. The overall goal is to end up with model penal systems in several States which offer sentencing judges a range of options, have prisons that are neither overcrowded nor unconstitutional, and have an array of sanctions that are credible and affordable. A study commissioned by the Foundation is cited. Findings indicate that the public is fearful of crime and disenchanted with the quality of justice, but does not believe that wall-to-wall prisons would solve either concern.