Greatest Correctional Myth: Winning the War on Crime Through Incarceration (From Criminal Justice in America: Theory, Practice, and Policy, P 289-302, 1996, Barry W Hancock and Paul M Sharp, eds. -- See NCJ-160206)

• NCJ Number: 160225
• Author(s): J W Rogers
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Prentice-Hall, Inc
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This chapter identifies the weaknesses in relying on incarceration to address America's crime problem and discusses the negative effects of such a policy.

Abstract

The belief that the greater use of incarceration will reduce crime is flawed. First, 99 percent of those who enter prison eventually return to society; second, the median stay in prison varies from State to State and is generally much less than the maximum sentence length; third, there is a yearly turnover that involves approximately a half-million inmates; fourth, a crime- prevention policy based primarily on increased imprisonment is at best inadequate; fifth, the bulk of offenders are never caught, much less convicted or imprisoned; and sixth, prisons can hardly claim any great success in making criminals law-abiding citizens. The current emphasis on incarceration should consider at least eight major consequences of such a policy. The greater use of imprisonment without funding to build or expand more prisons leads to prison overcrowding, and the cost of constructing facilities and housing ever more inmates is prohibitive. Overcrowding compromises the provision of humane prison conditions, which in turn leads to litigation against particular prisons and State prison systems in general. Further, prisons have long been known for their disproportionate housing of black Americans and Hispanics. The number of minority youth in prison is increasing even though overall rates of serious youths crime are declining. Long-term incarceration also presents new challenges for prison administrators, as programs must be adapted to these longer terms. AIDS has added still another negative factor to diminish the quality of prison life for both inmates and staff. Another negative aspect of deteriorating prison conditions is correctional officer stress. The increased imprisonment of those convicted of drug offenses requires expanded use of drug treatment programs in prisons. The author recommends the establishment of a high-level national commission to develop a workable plan for addressing America's crime problem. 67 references, discussion questions, and suggested student applications of the chapter material