Investigating Factors Contributing to Prison Overcrowding in the USA - Research Proposal Example

The high demand for prison space has led to a relatively high population, despite the fact that the nation aims to construct new prison beds. This study will focus on prison overcrowding in the United States of America. Inmates’ data over the years will be studied carefully, as this is a concern due to the increased number as days pass by. Moreover, the cost of an inmate will be analyzed, as well as a choice to add new facilities. One particular prison will be selected, whereby the inmates and guards will be the research population.

This paper will discuss critically how funding is a vital role in overcrowding and its impact on the prison system. Prison overcrowding impacts all criminal justice agencies. According to statistics, one of the largest prisons in the country is overcrowded and every one out of 99.1 adults is currently in prison. The generation-long growth of inmates’ population is not because of growing crime rates, but of changes in sentencing policy. The skyrocketed population of American prisons severely strains the criminal justice system logistically and financially.

Prison overcrowding has more than a few negative effects on inmates. Studies have revealed that prison overcrowding leads to competition for limited resources, higher illness rates, increased recidivism, higher suicide rates, and aggression. In addition, the overcrowded conditions are degrading and dehumanizing for the inmates, this is incongruous to the contemporary correctional reforms, which insist on maximizing the opportunities to inmates. There are several ways to reduce prison overcrowding, more comprehensive alternative is house arrest and community service, which are alternatives to incarceration, and new prison buildings.

In the year 1980, the number of inmates was roughly 500,000. In the year 2006, the number of inmates was 2,245,189. Currently, this of the inmates was 2,245,189. Currently, this number has been elevating drastically (Levitt, 1996). The prison population is currently estimated to be more than 1.6 million. This means that the rehabilitation facilities are beyond capacity.