Policies on Prison Overcrowding

Prison overcrowding presents a legitimate social and economic concern.

Prison overcrowding is breaking records with federal prisons operating an average of 34 percent above capacity. Statistics from the Pew Center on the States indicate that in 2008, more than one in 100 American adults is in jail or prison. The result is that politicians and law enforcement personnel alike are searching for ways to reduce prison overcrowding while protecting public safety.

Balance

Society struggles to maintain the balance between prison overcrowding and community safety. Health and safety at correctional facilities remains a significant concern. High incarceration costs present further considerations.

Alternatives

Most public policy experts agree that prison should be the last resort. Alternative sentencing options, such as community supervision in the form of probation and parole, have alleviated some overcrowding.

Projections

The U.S. prison populations is expected to increase by 13 percent, up to 1.7 million adults, by 2011.

References

• American Legislative Exchange Council: A Plan to Reduce Prison Overcrowding and Violent Crime
• Alcohol Monitoring Systems: Resource for Jail Overcrowding Solutions
• National Criminal Justice Association: Policy: Prison Overcrowding