NCJ Number
62167
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 450-462
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
PRISON SYSTEM PLANNING IN OKLAHOMA AND THE STATE PLAN TO UPGRADE PRISONS ARE EXPLORED. CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO REDUCING THE INMATE POPULATION, BUILDING NEW PRISONS, AND USING COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES.
Abstract
A 1973 RIOT IN THE OKLAHOMA STATE PENITENTIARY RESULTED IN THE ADOPTION OF A STATE MASTER PLAN FOR LOWERING INMATE POPULATIONS IN OVERCROWDED PRISONS, PRIMARILY BY REDUCING THE STATE'S INCARCERATION RATE AND SECONDARILY BY NEW PRISON CONSTRUCTION. SINCE 1975, OKLAHOMA HAS BUILT 2,000 NEW SPACES FOR PRISONERS, BUT ITS HARSH SENTENCING POLICIES REMAIN UNCHANGED. FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE USE OF PAROLE HAS BEEN DECREASING INSTEAD OF INCREASING AND, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A RESTITUTION PROGRAM, COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION ARE MINIMAL. AS A RESULT, THE BUILDING PROGRAM HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE RISING NUMBER OF COMMITMENTS AND THE PRISON SYSTEM STILL DOES NOT PROVIDE HUMANE AND CONSTITUTIONALLY-ADEQUATE LIVING CONDITIONS. A 1978 COURT ORDER REQUIRED THE STATE TO REBUILD OR SHUT DOWN TWO MAJOR INSTITUTIONS AND TO MEET A TIMETABLE FOR UPGRADING PRISON LIVING CONDITIONS. IN 1979, THE COURT APPROVED A COMPROMISE PLAN SUBMITTED BY THE STATE AND EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE TO 1982. ALTHOUGH THE COST OF KEEPING PEOPLE IMPRISONED IS AN APPROPRIATE CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING HOW MANY AND WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE TAXPAYERS WANT OR CAN AFFORD TO IMPRISON, THE MINIMUM FIGURE OF $10,000 PER YEAR TO MAINTAIN EACH INMATE IS SELDOM MENTIONED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. SUPPORTING 4,200 INMATES IN OKLAHOMA COSTS TAXPAYERS $42 MILLION PER YEAR. SENDING MORE PERSONS TO PRISON FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED SOLELY TO THE PUBLIC DEMAND FOR HARSHER SENTENCING. OFFICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS REINFORCE THE MISCONCEPTION THAT ALL CONVICTED FELONS ARE VICIOUS CRIMINALS. THE POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT TACTIC OF DEMANDING MORE PRISONS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HAS FURTHERED THE POPULAR NOTION THAT ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON ARE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. IN OKLAHOMA, BUILDING MORE PRISONS WITHOUT DEVELOPING MORE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION FOR NONDANGEROUS OFFENDERS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF CRIME. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)