Definitions of the Public Policy and the Law - Report Example

Public Policy (prison overcrowding) Public policy is a set laws and resources allocated to a certain government entity (Kilpatrick 1). The policy has to take into account important factors like the best strategies, funding and the target solutions. The policy makers have to check the public policy from time to time to ensure it serves the best interests and does not strain the society. If the policy serves the purpose, then funding should continue (Kilpatrick 4). On the other hand, if the public policy fails to meet the standard protocols, reforms to the public policy are necessary (Kilpatrick 5). Prison overcrowding is a major public policy issue in the United States. The number of people serving in the United States prison system has increased exponentially in the last four decades. Kirchhoff states that the prison population in the United States increased by 400% in just a few decades (2). The increased prison population calls for more workers increasing the local, state, and federal governments spending on corrections. This is a major problem because of the financial crises and recessions, which dictate the local, state, and federal government spending to shrink. In addition, the correction facilities report high levels of recidivism. These factors question whether the public policy on the corrections and prison system is working. With the current trend, it is evident that the public policy needs revision to reduce the number of people in the prison system, while ensuing corrections are well done. United States Prison Statistics The United States prison population is by far the largest in the world. The United States accounts for only 5% of the global population, yet it accounts for about 25% of the global prisoners (Kirchhoff 5). The American Legislative Exchange Council (2) implies that every state in the United States has a prison-overcrowding problem. Using a graphical representation, the American Legislative Exchange Council (6) portrays that all American states are more or less the same in the corrections and prison systems. According to Kirchhoff, one in every thirty-one adults in the United States is under the local, state, or federal watch in some way (5). Kirchhoff claims that approximately two million three hundred thousand adults were under local, state or federal custody, while approximately five million one hundred thousand adults were under local, state or federal probation or parole (5). An independent organization, the jail overcrowding points out the rate at which prisoners are growing in the United States is worrying. According to this organization, the projected growth for prisoners in 2011 was 13% (2). This was much higher than the annual population growth rate in the United States. At that rate, the number of prisoners in the coming years will be much higher. With the current population growth, for the last two to three decades, it would mean that more than 10% of the American population would be behind bars in the coming three decades (Kirchhoff 5). American Legislative Council and Kirchhoff indicate that the local, state, and federal governments need to do something soon (3) (6). Causes of Prison overcrowding What is causing overcrowding in the United States prisons is a major question. Many experts have varying theories on the causes of this problem in the United States. Kopel implies that the American foolish sentencing policies are to blame for the increased prison population (1). The American Legislative Exchange Council suggests that the strict crime legislations increase the prison population. On the other hand, Kirchhoff claims that the failure of the public policy relating to the corrections and prison system is to blame for the increased prison population. Some of the tough crime legislations are unnecessary for example, arresting and jailing alcohol offenders. The jail overcrowding organization questions whether alcohol offenders are the cause of the prison overcrowding in the United States (1). Connecticut government supports all these theories in addition to high recidivism rate and changes in the parole process (3). The economic Impact Prison overcrowding in the United States is a costly affair. Kirchhoff states that an increase in the prison population demands increase in resources (5). This includes more money to hire guards and other workers. Kirchhoff states that the prison staff will increase at an average of 9% from 2008 to 2018. In addition, the local, state, and federal government may find it necessary to construct new prisons to cater for the high number of convicted criminals. The jail overcrowding organization estimates the increased prison population cost the local, state, and federal governments an additional 27.5 billion dollars in 2011 (2). This cost will continue to increase with the increase in prison population. The increased prison budget and the harsh economic environment in the United States raise many concerns. Since the 2008/2009 recession, the local, state, and federal governments have been cutting budgets for most government activities. The Prison Policy Initiative states that the funding to the department of justice declined by 43% in the fiscal year 2010 (3). The decreased funding would not be enough to cater for the number of prisoners in the United States prison and corrections system. This makes the local, state, and federal government to think about adjusting the public policy on the corrections and prison system. However, this is a major challenge. Introducing new policies to reduce prison overcrowding and explaining the changes is a major hindrance to the justice systems across the world (Albrecht 66). Texas Like all other American states, Texas has been facing a prison crisis. The Texas case scenario is unique. The Texas Corrections committee refuted the idea of constructing new prisons despite the increase in number of arrested and charged (Boeri 11). However, the local and state governments in Texas, acknowledged they needed to change the public policy on corrections and prisons to handle the problem amicably. The Texas legislators agreed that constructing new prisons was not a sustainable solution. After all, it would encourage the state law enforcers to arrest and prosecute offenders, including low risk offenders because there is space for them (Boeri, 11). In that regard, the legislators agreed that Texas government would not construct new prisons. Texas legislators proposed some changes in the justice system to reduce prison overcrowding. The legislators in Texas introduced a zero growth policy in its prison system. Secondly, the legislators proposed to divert low risk offenders from the prison system to treatment and job training for example low-level drug offenders. Another proposal floated during the discussions was to increase supervision of the released prisoners to ensure they do not engage in rime again (Boeri 13). The harsh economic times necessitated the change in prison public policy in Texas. Although the new regulations faced some challenges at first, they worked well. The crime rate declined and the number of inmates committing crimes declined significantly. On top of all that, Texas saved billions of dollars that would have built new prison systems. The Texas legislators are advising other American state legislators to become smarter and not harder to address the prison-overcrowding problem in their respective jurisdictions (Boeri 17). California The California state is probably the state with the highest number of prisoners compared to the population. The state is a hub for the largest number of drug traffickers and dwellers in addition to street gangs (The New York Times Editorial Board 2). Many people associated with these illicit activities find themselves in the California prison system. As of 2011, the capacity in the California prison system exceeded the capacity by far yet the judicial system convicted more criminals (Lofstrom, Petersilia, and Raphael12). In the end, concerned judicial officials decided to take action. A three-bench, jury compelled the California prison system to reduce the number of prisoners to at least 137% of the capacity (Lofstrom, Petersilia, and Raphael 12). The case became a cause of major disagreement and escalated to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court claimed the number of prisoners in the California prison system had to decline (Lofstrom, Petersilia, and Raphael 12. The Supreme Court gave the California State government two years to reduce the prison population to at least a sustainable level. It is probable that California would still be having high prison population if the Supreme Court had not compelled the state to reduce the number (Lofstrom, Petersilia, and Raphael 12. The Policy Issue It is evident the overcrowding prison is a big problem to all American States. Unlike problems, the state can overlook, the local, state, and federal governments have to deal with the problem (Kirchhoff 13). The local, state, and federal governments have to come up with sustainable solutions to address the problem. Already, many local and state governments in the United States are taking the initiative to find solutions for the problem. States like Texas have already implemented a strategy that is already working (Boeri 22). It is certain that any local or state government that puts effort in improving the public policy on correction and prison system is getting desirable results. Although there are challenges in changing the public policy and explaining to the community the importance of these changes, the new policy reforms are working well (Albrecht 71). Conclusion The prison overcrowding in the United States is like a hot spark in the eye. The local, state, and federal governments spend billions of dollars on corrections and prison system every year. The financial crises in the United States and the world over forced the local and state governments to be creative in looking for the solution to the overcrowding in the prisons. Texas is a good example of states committed to addressing the prison overcrowding system. Texas legislators proposed ingenious but challenging strategies to tackle the problem. The strategies worked seamlessly and the state legislature is happy with the progress. Other states like California had to address the problem by force. The Supreme Court forced the state of California to reduce the prison population within two years. The current situation is dire and the individual American states cannot overlook the problem. They have to address the problem sooner with the harsh economic conditions. Works Cited Albrecht, Hans-Jorg. ‘Prison Overcrowding: finding effective solutions: strategies and best practices against overcrowding in correctional facilities.’ 2010. Web. 28 February 2014. American Legislative Exchange Council. ‘Prison Overcrowding: The problem.’ 2009. Web. 28 February 2014. Boeri, David.’ Prison Overcrowding, rising costs prompt surprising reforms.’ 30 March 2011. Web. 28 February 2014. Connecticut Government. ‘What is causing prison overcrowding? The findings.’ N.d. Web. 28 February 2014. Jail Overcrowding Organization. ‘Bursting at the seams.’ 2012. Web. 28 February 2014. Kilpatrick, G. ‘Definitions of the Public Policy and the Law.’ 2000. Web. 28 February 2014. Kirchhoff, Suzanne. ‘Economic Impacts of Prison Growth.’ 13 April 2013. Web. 28 February 2014. Kopel, David. ‘Policy Analysis: Prison Blues: How American Foolish Sentencing Policies Endanger Public Safety.’ 17 March 1994. Web. 28 February 2014. Lofstrom, Magnus., Petersilia, Joan, and Raphael, Steven. ‘Evaluating the Effects of California’s Corrections Realignment on Public Safety.’ 2012. Web. 28 February 2014. Prison Policy Initiative. ‘Prison and the economy.’ 2013. Web. 28 February 2014. The New York Times Editorial Board. ‘California’s Continuing Prison Crisis.’s 10 August 2013. Web. 28 February 2014. Read More