Prison Overcrowding Essay

3920 Words16 Pages
ITT-Technical Institute Senior Thesis Prison Overcrowding By Arlene M. Schwenke Chastity Miller – Instructor The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ITT-Technical Institute or any of its agencies. ITT-Technical Institute ABSTRACT AUTHOR: ARLENE SCHWENKE TITLE: PRISON OVERCROWDING FORMAT: SENIOR THESIS RESEARCH PAPER DATE: 20 MAY 2012 PAGES: 21 Prison overcrowding has been an issue in almost every state for the past twenty years. With all department of corrections, state and federal, receiving such a small portion of the state and federal expenditure, overcrowded prison were inevitable. Since the 1980s and the “War on Drugs” prisons in the United States have seen the inmate population increase by 84 percent in the past two decades. With mandatory minimum, fixed and longer prison sentences for non-violent drug related convictions, it has put a strain on every state’s correctional department. Overcrowded prisons results in lack of programming and the available resources are being stretched even further, limited access to mental health resources, and there is an increased possibility of disarray. In this paper, we will discuss the history, causes and effects of overcrowding as well as alternatives to incarceration. TABLE OF CONTENT ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………..…….2 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………..…………4 HISTORY OF PRISON OVERCROWDING………………………………………..….……..5 DEFINE OVERCROWDING……………………………………………………………..…….6 CAUSES OF OVERCROWDING….………………..…………………………………..…….7 HOW CROWDED ARE U.S. PRISONS…………………………………………….….…….8 PRISON CAPACITIES…………………………………………………….………………….11 EFFECTS OF OVERCROWDING…………………………………………….……………..13 ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION……………………………………….………….16 REDUCING THE

More about Prison Overcrowding Essay

Open Document