When doing research for another thread on PE I came across studies that showed the majority of felons end up back in prison after their release. Not a small majority either, over 68% in one study. The United States also has the most draconian imprisonment rate on the planet. By percentage of population the United States has the highest imprisonment rate of any country at 686 per 100,000 people. (Compare that to the worldwide average of 141 per 100,000) This tells me there’s something fundamentally wrong with our justice system, and the way that we reintroduce felons into society.
Do people agree that this is a problem? If so how would you fix it? If not, whats the benefit of keeping such a large percentage of the population in prison?
Some thoughts I had:
1) Shorter first offense sentences, much much longer sentences for repeat offenders. – One of the other major statistics that is “out there” is that a person who’s reoffended once is much more likely to offend again on subsequent releases than the average felon on his first release. It would seem to me that if you can’t learn your lesson that crime is bad in a 1 year prison sentence, the odds are you aren’t going learn your lesson in a 2+ year prison sentence. If thats true whats the point of say a 4 or 5 year prison term? Implementing “two strikes” or “three strikes” policies should save the population from people who are non-responsive to the prison system as a deterrent, while getting people who are rehabilitated out of the system and into creating productive lives.
2) More liberal use of the death penalty, possibly in crimes outside murder. – For example in crimes that unintentionally lead to death, or armed robbery, or rape. I have mixed feelings about the death penalty, but ultimately there comes a time when someone’s continued existence is a detriment to society. To the extent that such a situation can be reliably determined the death penalty should become an option. Making the death penalty an option only after a “second strike” situation might be an appealing option.
3) Improved support structures in the parole system. – Many parolees end up back in jail because they cannot hold down steady jobs, do not have family for a support system, or simply don’t have the skills and education to succeed outside of prison. While there’s a cost associated with providing a nationalized network of this support, I believe it could be designed to actually reduce government expenses by way of reduced overall recidivism rates leading to less jail time leading to a reduced need for prisons and all their associated costs.
My Sources:
http://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/forum/forum3_Art3.pdf
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/reentry/recidivism.htm
Do people agree that this is a problem? If so how would you fix it? If not, whats the benefit of keeping such a large percentage of the population in prison?
Some thoughts I had:
1) Shorter first offense sentences, much much longer sentences for repeat offenders. – One of the other major statistics that is “out there” is that a person who’s reoffended once is much more likely to offend again on subsequent releases than the average felon on his first release. It would seem to me that if you can’t learn your lesson that crime is bad in a 1 year prison sentence, the odds are you aren’t going learn your lesson in a 2+ year prison sentence. If thats true whats the point of say a 4 or 5 year prison term? Implementing “two strikes” or “three strikes” policies should save the population from people who are non-responsive to the prison system as a deterrent, while getting people who are rehabilitated out of the system and into creating productive lives.
2) More liberal use of the death penalty, possibly in crimes outside murder. – For example in crimes that unintentionally lead to death, or armed robbery, or rape. I have mixed feelings about the death penalty, but ultimately there comes a time when someone’s continued existence is a detriment to society. To the extent that such a situation can be reliably determined the death penalty should become an option. Making the death penalty an option only after a “second strike” situation might be an appealing option.
3) Improved support structures in the parole system. – Many parolees end up back in jail because they cannot hold down steady jobs, do not have family for a support system, or simply don’t have the skills and education to succeed outside of prison. While there’s a cost associated with providing a nationalized network of this support, I believe it could be designed to actually reduce government expenses by way of reduced overall recidivism rates leading to less jail time leading to a reduced need for prisons and all their associated costs.
My Sources:
http://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/forum/forum3_Art3.pdf
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/reentry/recidivism.htm
