NCJ Number
88660
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
As a workable alternative to new prison construction in New York State, this paper outlines a 2-year program to provide immediate relief for overcrowding, focus resources more effectively on the dangerous offender, and restructure the statewide correctional system.
Abstract
The State initially should establish a new office to coordinate the criminal justice system and oversee the following reforms. To relieve overcrowding, the State should pass a prison emergency powers act allowing the governor to reduce certain minimum sentences when prison populations exceed capacity for an extended period. Other suggested measures include correct computation of jail time credits for inmates, applying good time credits to minimum sentences, and developing alternative punishments for ex-offenders who commit minor parole violations. Other reforms would concentrate resources on confining dangerous offenders: modifying the second felony offender law so that nonviolent second crimes would not require incarceration, using restitution and community service for nonviolent offenses, standardizing bail review procedures, expanding intensive supervision probation, and establishing presumptive parole guidelines. In the reorganization sphere, State-county relations should be analyzed and restructured to give incentives to localities for handling nondangerous offenders. The new criminal justice coordinator should have authority to coordinate programs and planning for all criminal justice agencies. Finally, new prison construction should be halted until the impact of this 2-year program can be evaluated.