Is Criminal Incarceration Effective

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the rising prison incarceration numbers and the effect of longer or shorter sentences for offenders. The paper focuses on recidivism and its possible causes and examines this in terms of public safety and the cost-effectiveness of incarceration. The paper also points out that, in addition to the recidivism rate of convicted offenders, the amount of crime in a community is influenced by several factors. The paper includes various studies which show both the negative and positive aspects of lengths of incarceration. Also discussed is the sentencing in European countries compared to the United States. The system in California is given special mention. The subject of African American mass incarceration is also examined.

From the Paper:

"The rising prison incarceration numbers in the United States and the effectiveness of prison incarceration has been an issue of considerable discussion within the media and within state and federal governments.
"According to the United States Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance, many jurisdictions throughout the country are implementing successful, cost-effective alternatives to traditional incarceration, while at the same time are improving efforts to reintegrate nonviolent offenders into the community (Alternatives). These corrections options programs promote sanctions other than incarceration, in which violators receive treatment combined with appropriate social services and vocational education in an effort to help them re-enter the community as productive and law-abiding citizens (Alternatives)."

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