REMARKS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL, IN REPLY TO A NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY REPORT CONCERNING THE COST OF INCARCERATION IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

• NCJ Number: 48480
• Author(s): W CIUROS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DELIVERED AT THE MANHATTAN HOUSE OF DETENTION FOR MEN (TOMBS), 125 WHITE STREET, NEW YORK CITY, MARCH 7, 1978

Annotation

DESPITE CONTINUING CALLS FOR EXPANDED USE OF ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, SUCH OPTIONS ARE ALREADY WIDELY USED FOR ALL BUT THE HARDCORE CRIMINAL POPULATION.

Abstract

IN A NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY (NCCD) REPORT, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT NEW YORK CITY PAYS APPROXIMATELY $26,000 A YEAR TO KEEP A PRISONER INCARCERATED. HOWEVER, THIS FIGURE IS MISLEADING BECAUSE IT ASSUMES THAT THE LEGAL, MEDICAL, AND EDUCATIONAL COSTS OF THE INMATE WOULD NO LONGER BE BORNE BY THE CITY IF THE INMATE WERE NOT INCARCERATED. THE NCCD REPORT ALSO IDENTIFIED THE SOCIETAL COSTS OF INCARCERATION RESULTING FROM THE UNEMPLOYED STATUS OF THE INMATE. THIS TOO IS BASED ON A FALSE ASSUMPTION. UNEMPLOYMENT IS A MAJOR FACTOR LEADING TO INCARCERATION, NOT VICE-VERSA. IN REALITY, A MAJORITY OF DEFENDANTS ARE UNEMPLOYED, AND ONLY 5 PERCENT WHO ARE EMPLOYED HAVE INCOMES OVER $10,000 PER ANNUM. THE REPORT ALSO CITES THE COST TO THE CITY OF MAINTAINING THE INMATE'S FAMILY. AGAIN, STUDIES OF THE PRISON POPULATION HAVE SHOWN THAT MOST DEFENDANTS RECEIVED SOME KIND OF WELFARE AID PRIOR TO IMPRISONMENT AND THAT MOST ARE SINGLE. THE NCCD REPORT NOTES THAT INCREASED USE OF ALTERNATIVES COULD SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION WHILE STILL PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM DANGEROUS OFFENDERS. HOWEVER, A STUDY OF 1,184 INMATES AT THE RIKERS ISLAND HOUSE OF DETENTION DEMONSTRATED THAT 93 PERCENT OF THE INMATES WERE CHARGED WITH FELONIES, AND OF THESE, ALL BUT 5 PERCENT WERE CHARGED WITH CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE, SUCH AS MURDER, ARSON, RAPE, AND ARMED ROBBERY. MOREOVER, ON ANY GIVEN DAY 40 TO 50 PERCENT OF THE DETENTION POPULATION ARE REMANDED WITH NO BAIL AT ALL. IN SUMMARY, MOST DEFENDANTS IN JAIL ARE JAILED FOR VIOLENT CRIMES, HAVE LENGTHY PRIOR RECORDS, AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN UNSUCCESSFULLY EXPOSED TO ALTERNATIVES IN PRIOR CONTACTS WITH THE LAW. IN DEMANDING EXPANDED USE OF ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, IT MUST BE ASSURED THAT THE ALTERNATIVE IS APPROPRIATE AN THAT A MEANS STILL REMAINS FOR REMOVING DANGEROUS OFFENDERS FROM THE COMMUNITY. AN ANALYSIS OF STATISTICS BETWEEN 1969 AND 1976 SHOWS THAT ALTHOUGH ARRESTS HAVE INCREASED, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS INCARCERATED PRETRIAL OR POSTTRIAL HAS DESCREASED: ONLY 5 PERCENT OF THOSE CHARGED WITH FELONIES WIND UP IN STATE PRISONS, WHILE THE REMAINDER RECEIVE ALTERNATIVE DISPOSITIONS. THIS IS PROOF THAT THE NCCD RECOMMENDATION FOR EXPANDED USE OF ALTERNATIVES IS, AT LEAST IN NEW YORK CITY, ALREADY A REALITY. (JAP)