NCJ Number
127310
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 11 Issue: 10 Dated: (April 1987) Pages: 1,5-7
Date Published
1987
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the extent and causes of prison overcrowding in U.S. States and the problems and futility of attempting to remedy it with new prison construction.
Abstract
Forty State prison systems are operating under court orders because of crowding violations. One of those States, Florida, has set up canvas tents to hold 504 men at the Starke, Fla., prison so as to keep the main facility within the court-ordered 32,000-inmate cap. Tough new laws are sending more criminals to already distended prisons. Legislatures enact mandatory sentencing laws to meet the public's demand for tougher sanctions, but it is impossible for State revenues to cover the cost of prison space for the expanding inmate population. California voters face another $2-billion expense to keep up with prison population growth, and prison capacity will still be short of projected inmate populations. Tennessee has attempted to deal with prison overcrowding by increasing the number of less-costly work release centers that house inmates and put them to work in public service projects. New York has attempted to combine diversion programs with a 4-year, 10,000-bed expansion project. Even with this strategy, the State had a 3,400-inmate increase last year. It is clear that incarceration has not reduced crime; a more cost-effective strategy for sanctioning offenders must be found.