NCJ Number
44264
Date Published
1977
Length
23 pages
Annotation
INFORMATION ON PRISONS AND CRIME RATES IS PRESENTED IN A BOOKLET ARGUING AGAINST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INCARCERATION AS A METHOD OF REDUCING CRIME.
Abstract
FACT SHEETS ARE PRESENTED ON THE INCREASING USE OF PRISONS AND JAILS, THE SEVERITY OF SENTENCES IN THE UNITED STATES, THE COSTS OF PRISONS AND JAILS, NONDANGEROUS OFFENDERS IN THE PRISON POPULATION, AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S SPECIAL TREATMENT OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS. IT IS NOTED THAT THE PRISON AND JAIL POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES HAS INCREASED BY 200,000 OVER 5 YEARS. THE AVERAGE SENTENCE IMPOSED ON FEDERAL OFFENDERS HAS INCREASED STEADILY FROM 16.5 MONTHS IN 1945 TO 45.5 MONTHS IN 1975. WHILE OTHER COUNTRIES ARE PHASING OUT PRISONS AND SYSTEMATICALLY REDUCING PRISON POPULATIONS, THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO CONSTRUCT PRISONS. AS OF JANUARY 1977, MORE THAN 800 LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PENAL FACILITIES WERE EITHER PROPOSED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION. A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF INMATES ARE NONASSAULTIVE CRIMINALS WHO POSE NO DANGER TO SOCIETY AND WHO SHOULD BE DEALT WITH COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTION PROGRAMS. ALTHOUGH WHITE-COLLAR CRIME COSTS THE ECONOMY 11 TIMES AS MUCH AS CRIMES AGAINST PERSONAL PROPERTY, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DIRECTS MOST OF ITS ENERGIES TOWARD PROPERTY CRIMES, WHICH ARE COMMITTED LARGELY BY THE POOR. IF THE SAME STANDARDS OF JUSTICE (E.G., FULL RESTITUTION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS) APPLIED TO WHITE-COLLAR CRIME WERE APPLIED TO STREET CRIME, PRISON AND JAIL POPULATIONS COULD BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PRISON IS APPROPRIATE ONLY FOR OFFENDERS WHO ARE SO DANGEROUS AND ASSAULTIVE THAT RELEASING THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY WOULD MEAN A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO SOCIETY. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.