NCJ Number
195291
Date Published
2002
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This article presents suggestions for changes in corrections policy and expenditure patterns.
Abstract
The authors discuss the effect of increased prison populations on State and local government budgets and the competing effects of decreased revenue on corrections programs. The authors present suggestions for reducing corrections costs without compromising public safety goals. The report is divided into three sections, a discussion of the State prison population, a review of public perceptions regarding corrections, and cost saving policy suggestions for corrections officials. In general, the authors assert that the majority of inmates are non-violent offenders and public opinion is in favor of reducing the number of non-violent offenders sent to prisons. In order to reduce corrections costs, the authors make suggestions that include returning judicial discretion to judges regarding the sentencing of nonviolent offenders, drug policy reform, sentencing reform, and parole reform. The report also discusses the tactics employed by individual States to reduce corrections costs. Case studies presented include the emergence of drug courts and programs designed to de-escalate the effects of parole violations in terms of returns to incarceration for parolees. 9 tables, 99 references