NCJ Number
134880
Journal
Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies Pages: 259-300
Date Published
Unknown
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This author maintains that the crime rate in the United States is increasing because the cost to the criminal, even if apprehended and punished, is so low.
Abstract
Using data from the National Crime Survey, the author tabulates figures related to expected time in prison for various crimes; these figures rest upon the probabilities of being arrested, indicted, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to prison. As a result of these factors, a criminal's overall probability of imprisonment has fallen dramatically in the past 40 years and the effectiveness of deterrence has deteriorated. The author explores the impact of the Warren Court and the crime fighting policies of the past few Presidential administrations in understanding the virtual collapse in the probability of imprisonment. The U.S. must create more crime deterrence in order to lower the crime rate. But first, prison costs should be reduced through better management practices, early release of elderly prisoners, boot camps, electronic monitoring systems, and privatization of prison construction and operations. Finally, the laws obstructing productive employment of inmates must be relaxed to take full advantage of the benefits of privatization. 7 tables, 3 figures, 37 notes, and 1 appendix