NCJ Number
100284
Journal
Public Administration Review Volume: 45 Dated: special issue (November 1985) Pages: 771-779
Date Published
1985
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A cost-benefit analysis of whether society spends more money punishing than it gains from punishment reveals overwhelming support for more prison capacity.
Abstract
The author weighs the social cost of a year in prison, estimated as $25,000, against social costs incurred by the release decision. The latter is based on the number of crimes likely to be committed by freed borderline offenders, individuals who would have been imprisoned had additional space been available. This analysis concludes that $50 million in confinement investments would account for $107 million in social costs. The statistics that argue for additional prison capacity also support the notion that some offenders are not worth imprisoning. It appears that social costs would be reduced if more probationers were given either prison terms or fines. This analysis also indicates that punitive fines for first offenders would have a deterrent effect and reduce expenditures on prison supervision while producing revenues and perhaps compensating victims. Tables, graphs, and 31 footnotes.