Overcrowding In The Correction System Essay

Our Overburdened Corrections System We suffer from an epidemic in the corrections system in America, severe overcrowding. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were nearly 7 million people under supervision of the adult correctional system with 2,220,300 adults incarcerated in 2013. In total 624,200 of those people are being supervised by Georgia’s adult correctional system. There are many factors that cause overcrowding in prisons. High recidivism rates, housing special needs inmates, and strict “one size fits all” sentencing laws have continued to financially drain the system. Many of those who are sentenced to confinement could benefit from alternatives

Once a person is released, the hope is they will not relapse and continue with their previous life of crime. A high recidivism rate is a tell tale sign that the rehabilitative methods being used in our corrections system is falling short and alternatives should be considered. Once a person enters the system, there is a high probability they will return after released. Georgia releases about 20,000 convicts back into the community every year, and 2 out of 3 of those are rearrested within three years. We need to implement rehabilitation, education and job training for inmates to help them gain skills that will make them more employable when they are released. Research shows that strong community supervision programs for lower-risk, non-violent offenders not only cost significantly less than incarceration but, when appropriately resourced and managed, can cut recidivism by as much as 30 percent.

Georgia is addressing overcrowding in prisons, there are many solutions being implemented to help reduce the number of inmates flooding our system. Diversion programs, community corrections and early intervention are a few options. Some Georgia jurisdictions participate in drug diversion programs to avoid sending drug offenders to jail or prison. Instead of incarceration, an offender may be able to attend treatment programs, get much needed counseling, perform community service, and make restitution for the crime. If the wrongdoer successfully completes the terms of the drug treatment program, their charges would be dismissed. This protects offenders from employment discrimination, is intended to allow people to learn from their mistakes and resume their lives without the burden of a conviction. With technology, we are better equipped to monitor those who are serving house arrest instead of jail time. Early intervention is very important and could potentially change the way our system works. Statistics reveal that children raised without fathers, in low income families tend to commit more crimes. If more preventative measures were directed towards children there would be less juvenile court cases, which ultimately lead to fewer adults