NCJ Number
138046
Journal
Common Cause Magazine Dated: (January/February 1990) Pages: 13-19
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The tough Federal mandatory minimum prison sentences for ever decreasing amounts of drug possession are not cost effective, since they typically involve street-level dealers and users, many of them first-time offenders, in lengthy and costly incarcerations.
Abstract
In the summer of 1989, the Federal Bureau of Prisons director told the U.S. Congress that the Federal prison population is expected to nearly double by 1995, and the percentage of drug offenders will increase from 47 percent to 70 percent. In October Congress approved $1.4 billion for 25,000 new Federal prison cells, a 50-percent increase in capacity. Since 1978 local, State, and Federal governments have spent some $29 billion to construct new jails and prisons. Mandatory sentences will prove increasingly costly. During the 12-month period ending last July, Federal judges handled approximately 400 cases that involved first-offender possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine. Three out of four offenders were given probation at a cost of approximately $1.5 million. In 1988 Congress imposed a 5-year mandatory prison sentence for such offenders. Under that law the cost could rise to approximately $30 million, not including the $50,000 to $100,000 unit cost of providing more prison space. Most of those sentenced under the law are easily observed street dealers or users whose incarceration will have little impact on the overall drug problem. Prison overcrowding prevents such offenders from receiving effective treatment, education, and vocational training while in prison.