NCJ Number
72953
Date Published
Unknown
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This booklet discusses facts on incarceration in the United States, how and why it is used, what it costs in human and financial terms, and some alternatives for dealing with offenders.
Abstract
Only the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and South Africa are known to have higher rates of imprisonment than the United States, while some States have the highest imprisonment rate in the world. Although the United States as a young nation was a pioneer in rejecting capital and corporal pusnishment in favor of imprisonment, now court cases enforcing limits on prison overcrowding are common. Costs of prison construction and operations are also creating financial pressures. At the same time, statistics and studies document the ineffectiveness of prison in protecting society (the average prison stay is only 3 years) and rehabilitating inmates. These facts dictate serious consideration of alternatives to imprisonment for many types of offenders. While prison is still appropriate for violent and career ofenders, alternatives such as probation, community service, restitution, and residential commuity-based centers can be used effectively with other offenders. Such alternatives have the benefits of punishing offenders, reducing offenders' exposure to the damaging experience of prison, providing a structure for assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens, providing a way to help victims, and reducing costs compared to prison and jail. Footnotes and photographs are provided.