How to Correct the Corrections Facility

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How to Correct the Corrections’ Facilities

The purpose of this paper is to reduce crime by analyzing the corrections’ system and adjusting it based on statistics to be more efficient. Adjusting the finances in schools, mental health systems, and prisons/corrections’ facilities will provide the necessary funds to implement the new policies that will reduce the number of inmates in the facilities. The overall goal is to aid individuals to become well-functioning people that contribute to society. Based on statistics of facilities that have incentive programs compared to systems that have no incentive programs used in specific areas around the country will be a main focus in rebuilding the corrections system. The main group of inmates this paper will address is returning inmates. The objective is to decrease the factors that lead to crime in the beginning stages, beyond to the point of incarceration, and after focusing on the reentry into society. The goals and objectives will be based on conservative economic perspective with concentration on 1. Individual has value 2. Individual is responsible for actions 3. Small government.

Introduction

There are many things to consider when moving to a new area. Some considerations include job opportunity, cost of living, quality of schools, and crime rate. According to The Bureau of Justice Statistics as of December 31, 2015 the total number of people incarcerated was 1,526,800 (2015). With so many people behind bars it is easy to see how the prisons are overcrowded. Having so many people plucked out of society to serve their time begs the questions: What did they do? Why did they do it? And how does society prevent this in the future? The answers to these questions require a breakdown of perspective. Section the population of inmates into a few different categories containing, first timers, returners, and mentally ill. Once the view switches from one whole community to the subsections, applying a conservative economic stance, and analyzing the ways to address each group will ultimately reduce the amount of people in the corrections’ system and contribute to society. The goal is to use incentives, education, and rehabilitation to convert a group of people with individual shortcomings into a group of people who can contribute and live lives that are self-sufficient.

First Time Inmates

        First time inmates only account for 1/3 of the population held in America’s state and federal prisons (US Department of Justice). The first time population is not as significant as the alternative; however, 1/3 of a very large number is still an issue when referring to such a serious topic. Breaking this category of first time prison inmates down even farther shows, according to Crime Victims United, “Many "first-time offenders" are convicted for multiple offenses in their first trip to court. Very few property criminals, robbers or sex offenders are caught after their first crime. Many domestic violence offenders have a long history of battering their victims before the get their first conviction. There is a huge difference between a person with no prior felony convictions and a true first-time offender. "First-time convicted" does not mean "first-time offender"” (2004). This highlights that the first time inmates begin their poor life decisions long before the first time they are caught. Deciding cost effective ways to prevent the continuance of the lifestyle choices that people make start in a place where people are taught and grow, the education system.