The prison system was made to provide the means of justly dealing with criminals while having them in a controlled environment. Offering four goals including: retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, and rehabilitation (Purposes of Prisons). And although the prison system aims to complete its four goals it often fails to do so, which causes the overall function to fail. Although crime rate has been steadily decreasing over the past few years, we are incarcerating more people than ever before. Which is a direct result of changes in law and policy, rather than changes in crime rates (Sentencing Project). Often times incarcerating people for non-violent crimes, and without proper rehabilitation it causes more than 50 percent of prior inmates to return to prison in less than three years (Why Justice Reform). Which is why “the United States now leads the world in the number of people incarcerated” (Why Justice Reform). Although prison reform is a big problem federally, we must focus on significant reform of the system at the state level in order to create a solution for the bigger issue. The growth of incarceration in the United States has greatly affected states like Illinois. We must reform the prison system in Illinois because it is one of the leading states in the Midwest and much of the country in expenditures per inmate (Jackson-Green), as seen in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Downfalls of Mass Incarceration
Illinois’ prisons are substantially overcrowded, while they are only made to hold 32,075 inmates they are currently holding 48,887 inmates, which means the prisons are holding over 150% of their design capacity. Due to the overcrowding state prisons Illinois spends $1.4 billion a year on them (Jackson-Green). And without initiating serious changes these numbers are expected to continuously rise. Because the prisons often fail to rehabilitate properly it has been reported that the average cost for one incidence of recidivism in Illinois is nearly $151,700. Which will eventually add up to a total of $13 billion over the next five years and this is because more than 40% of those who are released from prison each year return within a year (Caruso, V). Along with the economical toll that mass incarceration has on Illinois it also has a toll on the families of the inmates.
The majority of inmates have children who are minors, while around 45% were living with their kids before they were incarcerated (Studies Document). Fathers and mothers who were recently incarcerated are also much less likely to have economic security and social mobility (Studies Document). Without economic security and social mobility it can have a negative impact on disadvantaged children and families. While children who do not have a father figure around between the ages of one to nine tend to display more behavioral problems and early juvenile delinquency than their peers (Studies Document). Along with the collateral damage that families of inmates face, inmates often face psychological damages due to the high rates of incarceration. One of the leading causes of deaths in the U.S. prison system is suicide, coming to about 34% of all deaths (Keehn and Boyd). A lot of incarcerated individuals often suffer from mental illnesses, which can be worsened while in prison (Keehn and Boyd). These are just some of the many negative downfalls that mass incarceration creates for the economy, families, and inmates themselves.
Policy Solution
In order to address prison reform in Illinois and eventually nationwide, I would propose to eliminate prison for lower level crimes such as drug possession, petty theft, etc. and releasing those who were imprisoned for these lower level crimes. Illinois lawmakers must also end mandatory minimum sentencing in order to allow punishment to be tailored to an individual’s criminal history and the threat they pose to the public (Illinois can cut). By eliminating prison for lower level crimes and releasing those who are currently in prison for such crimes it will lower the incarceration rate, which will lower the crime rate. We need more states to participate in eliminating lower level crimes in order to have more evidence, especially if Illinois participated in this since it has such a high incarceration rate.
Evidence for Policy Solution
While many believe that increasing punishment on crimes will lower crime rate, it is proven to be wrong. Instead reducing the incarceration rates will lead to a decrease in crime. This has been proven by research done by Pew Charitable Trust, they compiled data from 2008-2013. This was a crucial time as the data showed that while states decreased their imprisonment rates it lowered their crime rate as well (Illinois can cut), as seen in Figure 3. Besides this data from Pew Charitable Trust’s research there is little to no other articles or evidence that shows eliminating prison for lower level crimes because many states have the idea that in order to reduce crime rates the punishment must be harsher. Although there isn’t much more evidence to support eliminating prison for lower level crimes there are many articles that suggest it as an option to end mass incarceration.
Conclusion
The prison system of the United States is currently failing to complete one or more of its four goals. This failure is leading the states to high incarceration rates. Many believe that high incarceration rates will lower the crime rates but this has been proven to be a myth. One of the leading states in expenditures per inmate is Illinois, and while we want to reform the nation’s prison system we must start of slowly reforming states like Illinois in order to have a bigger affect nationwide. Mass incarceration in Illinois is causing multiple downfalls to its residence. This includes creating a high budget of $1.4 billion a year, causing collateral damage to the families of incarcerated inmates, as well as causing psychological and health risk to the inmates. We can lower incarceration rates by eliminating prison for lower level crimes as well as eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing this will allow for more tailoring punishment based on the individuals criminal history and risk factor. Illinois must reform their prison system as they are currently holding at 150% of their design capacity. By reforming the system it will help out Illinois’ budget, residence, and current incarcerated inmates.