Incarceration, Studies, and ALEC
REDUCING INCARCERATION
In the United States, it
is evident we need to reduce the inmate population.
In Oklahoma, we are 100%
overcapacity, despite sentencing reforms.1 Our state is not
addressing problems of education, re-entry, and recidivism. Legislators remain divided on the answer.
A 2011 survey conducted by the VERA
Institute estimated the total prison cost of 40 states was $39 billion, not sustainable.2. Our
lawmakers have led us into this crisis with the war on drugs, which led to
partnerships with bill mills such as the American Legislative Exchange Council
(ALEC). Large corporations fund ALEC, and many members are American lawmakers. Lawmakers
and corporations often vote on and edit these bills before they make it to the
public. ALEC was responsible for
providing boilerplate legislation to state lawmakers to present across the
country. One of ALEC’s most significant
contributors is the private prison industry, legislation such as the “Truth in
Sentencing Act,” and the “Three Strikes Laws.” It is apparent we have
corruption currently in statehouses. ALEC created the need and the customers
for their donors’ prisons.
One of the most obvious ways to start reducing
the number of people incarcerated is to begin assessing inmates for release, which
are: (1) over the age of 60, (2) non-ambulatory, (3) terminally ill, (4) Incarcerated on technical violations, (5) eliminate “Truth
in Sentencing” and (6) inmates who have served 1/3 of their sentence. Studies show that after the age of 60,
recidivism is almost non-existent in all offender categories, including violent
offenders.3
If these inmates are not a risk, help
them apply for community services and transition, the state will save money, and
we reduce the number of inmates. It would be a great start, but by no
means is this a solution.
1. Barry A. Krisberg, Marchionna, S., &; Hartney, C. J. (2019). American Corrections Concepts and Controversies 2nd Edition (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
2. Press, A. (2020, Feb 28). US News and World Reports. Retrieved Jan 29, 2020, from usnews.com: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oklahoma/articles/2020-01-29/oklahomas-prison-population-falls-but-system-still-crowded
3. Laub, J. L.,R.J. Sampson (2006). SHARED BEGINNINGS, DIVERGENT LIVES :Delinquent Boys To Age 70. In J. L. Laub, & R. J. Sampson, SHARED BEGINNINGS, DIVERGENT LIVES :Delinquent Boys To Age 70 (pp. 110-113). First Harvard University Press.
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