NCJ Number
106247
Date Published
1986
Length
11 pages
Annotation
In a speech to State legislators, the Deputy Attorney General discusses the problems of prisons and suggests ways that States, localities, and the Federal Government can work together to solve these problems.
Abstract
On June 30, 1986, the Nation's prison population totaled more than 500,000. One thousand new prison beds are needed each week. The increase in incarceration reflects a growing willingness to confine serious offenders and the new awareness that spaces are needed for this confinement. Prisons are a sound social investment, as shown by studies showing that the average prisoner would commit approximately 10 crimes per year if free and that high-rate drug offenders average 187 crimes and $430,000 in social damage per year. However, the suffering of crime victims cannot be quantified, and it is essential to provide adequate prison space for violent offenders. Unfortunately, half of all convicted murders in State prisons serve less than 7 years and half of all rapists serve less than 4 years. Lack of prison space has made the premature release of hardened criminals a serious problem. In addition, many serious felons are never confined. To help States expand prison capacity as economically as possible, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is publishing bulletins describing efficient construction methods. To make prisons more than warehouses, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has made education and training a top priority. In addition, NIJ has completed a national survey on private sector business involvement with prison industry. The National Institute of Corrections awarded more than $11 million in grants last fiscal year for various State and local corrections projects. Federal, State, and local governments need to continue their cooperative efforts in corrections and on the major problems of organized crime and drug abuse.