NCJ Number
46873
Date Published
1978
Length
28 pages
Annotation
A VARIETY OF NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY (NCCD) REPORT SUMMARIES AND ARTICLES ARE PRESENTED, TOGETHER WITH SYNOPSES OF CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY, UPCOMING LEGISLATION, AND JUDICIAL DECISIONS.
Abstract
AN NCCD STUDY OF PRISON COSTS IN NEW YORK CITY REVEALED THAT, AS OF 1976, THE CITY WAS SPENDING $26,000 ANNUALLY PER PRISONER. THIS FIGURE INCLUDES PERSONNEL AND OTHER DIRECT COSTS AND OUTSIDE SERVICES COSTS. IN ADDITION TO PRISON COSTS, IT INCLUDES THE COST TO SOCIETY IN TERMS OF LOST REAL ESTATE TAXES, WELFARE PAYMENTS, AND LOST EARNINGS AMOUNTING TO $39.95 PER DAY PER PRISONER. USING A CONSERVATIVE 6 PERCENT PER YEAR INFLATION RATE, THESE COSTS ARE EXPECTED TO DOUBLE WITHIN 10 YEARS. A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS DESIGNED TO CUT PRISON COSTS, INCLUDING DIVERSION AND DECRIMINALIZATION, ARE ALSO PRESENTED. COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS IN THE U. S. AND GREAT BRITAIN ARE DISCUSSED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS WHICH COULD PROVIDE GREATER COST EFFICIENCY, A TRUER FORM OF JUSTICE, AND GREATER REHABILITATIVE POTENTIAL. A BRIEF CRITIQUE OF PRISON CONDITIONS IS ALSO PRESENTED. TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE (FEBRUARY 21, 1978) SUPPORTIVE OF H.R. 6869, THE BILL FOR REVISION AND REFORM OF THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL CODE, IS PRESENTED. FOLLOWING TESTIMONY BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CONCERNING PRISON REFORM GOALS AND APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1979, COMMITTEE MEMBERS QUESTIONED THE DIRECTOR ABOUT PRISON SAFETY, INCARCERATION COSTS, OVERCROWDING, AND PRISON INDUSTRIES. REPRESENTATIVE CONYERS OF MICHIGAN CRITICIZED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS MISPLACED PRIORITIES, ASSERTING THAT EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON CRIME PREVENTION RATHER THAN ON FORTIFYING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. CONYERS, AND OTHER RESEARCHERS AND ECONOMISTS, SUGGEST THAT REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT COULD PROVIDE ONE MEANS OF REDUCING CRIME. ATTORNEY GENERAL BELL TESTIFIED BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON THE PROPOSED THREE-PART REORGANIZATION PLAN FOR LEAA. THE PLAN SPECIFIES A RESTRUCTURING OF PLANNING AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS, FUNDING GUARANTEES FOR UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND THE ELIMINATION OF RED TAPE. PROBLEMS AND CONTRADICTIONS IN THE 'FAMILIES IN NEED OF SUPERVISION' (FINS) PROPOSAL FOR DEALING WITH THE JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDER ARE IDENTIFIED. FOR EXAMPLE, THE FINS LABEL MAY BE MORE STIGMATIZING THAN THE CURRENT JURISDICTIONAL CATEGORY, THE FINS CATEGORY PURPORTS TO BE A NO-FAULT INTERVENTION-BASED CATEGORY AND YET FOCUSES ON PROVING THE CHILD'S ALLEGED BEHAVIOR, AND PROBLEMS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERVICE PROVISION AND COURT INTERVENTION HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. A CRITIQUE OF DECISIONS OF THE BURGER COURT, LIMITING THE USE OF CLASS ACTION SUITS FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION, IS PRESENTED. A LEAA NEWS RELEASE ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF $30 MILLION DURING THE NEXT 3 YEARS FOR THE SUPPORT OF JUVENILE OFFENDER RESTITUTION PROGRAMS. QUOTES PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE TOPICS ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)