Something New: A Falling Prison Population

• NCJ Number: 194581
• Journal: Community Corrections Report: On Law and Corrections Practice Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: November/December 2001 Pages: 1-2, 12,13
• Author(s): Todd Clear
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: News/Media
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses the falling prison population and its implications for future correctional policy and public concerns.

Abstract

This article explains that for the first time since 1971, the U.S. prison population declined. This decline, the author explains, is due in part to a decline in crime rates. However, he is quick to point out that the rising prison population between 1971 and 2001 did not necessarily correlate with a rise in crime rates. Rather, the rising prison population was due to tougher sanctions for criminals that have been imposed over the past 30 years, including mandatory prison terms and longer prison sentences. The current decline in prison population, while partly due to declining crime rates, is mainly due to more prisoners being released from prison while less prisoners enter. The author predicts that a result of the falling crime rate and rising release rate will be that public scrutiny and concern will shift from concern over high crime rates to concern over prisoner release programs. The author suggests that the public will be more concerned with services aiding in the transition between prison and the community than they will be with keeping more prisoners incarcerated. Another result of the falling prison population will be the economic uncertainty facing industries built around the prison system. The author concludes that these industries will have to branch out into related public safety duties if they are to survive. These industries will also have an economic interest in keeping more prisoners incarcerated by lobbying for new laws that will increase penalties and create more prisoners. The author concludes the article by suggesting the advantages of a falling crime rate and prison population mean that the American public will focus more attention on political matters other than crime, such as the economy and, now, terrorism.