INTRODUCTION TO PRISON OVERCROWDING IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

• NCJ Number: 47042
• Author(s): W E HENRY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: Washington State
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PRISON OVERCROWDING PROBLEM IN WASHINGTON IS EXAMINED IN TERMS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM'S INPUT, CAPACITY, AND OUTPUT FROM 1966 THROUGH 1976.

Abstract

THE PRESENTATION FEATURES A SERIES OF CHARTS ILLUSTRATING THE VARIABLES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE STATE'S OVERCROWDING PROBLEM. INCREASES IN INDEX CRIMES, FELONY CONVICTIONS, AND PRISON SENTENCES ARE NOTED. THE PRISON OVERCROWDING STUATION IS SAID TO REFLECT A VOLUME-CONTROL PROBLEM IN THE STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. OUTPUT (THROUGH PAROLE) HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH INPUT (ADMISSIONS). ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN CONTROLLING THE SIZE OF THE PRISON POPULATION IN WASHINGTON IS THAT DIFFERENT GROUPS CONTROL INPUT, CAPACITY, AND OUTPUT. THERE IS NO SOCIAL MECHANISM FOR REGULATING FLOW THROUGH THE SYSTEM -- NO INTEGRATED DECISIONMAKING FRAMEWORK FOR COORDINATING A RESPONSE TO THE OVERCROWDNG PROBLEM. SENTENCING POLICY, WHICH HAS SERIOUS IMPACT ON THE SIZE OF THE PRISON POPULATION, IS CONTROLLED LOCALLY. DEPARTURES FROM THE SYSTEM ARE CONTROLLED BY THE PAROLE BOARD. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CAN ONLY REACT TO INCREASES IN ADMISSIONS. THE POTENTIAL OF THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON LAW AND JUSTICE FOR DEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF OVERCROWDING IS POINTED OUT. (LKM)