reducing the prison population

ALEX HEIDT The United States has a high incarceration rate and lawmakers know they need to look into it and work toward change. Lots of people feel that the amount of people imprisoned for victimless or nonviolent crime is outrageous and focus their efforts on targeting these specific issues. The question is often asked, “can we reduce our prison populations without also having an increase in crime?” In this post, I’m going to address various ways governments are actively attempting to lower the astronomical prison rate, along with other solutions that are not currently implemented. To many people, the biggest issue with the high rate of incarceration is excessive sentences for drug-related offenses that are usually excessively long. There would be a significant decrease in the prison population if these individuals weren’t handed long sentences for just possessing drugs. They can be given shorter prison sentences so there are more space and resources for the people who commit more serious crimes. While prisoners getting out on good behavior occasionally happens, prisons could increase the use of this incentive. By positively rewarding inmates who display exemplary behavior behind bars, they can reduce their sentences if they committed a nonviolent or lower level crime. Encouraging good behavior will positively reinforce prisoners and make them more likely to continue this behavior when outside of jail. SHORTER OR NON-EXISTENT SENTENCES FOR DRUGS CREDIT GOOD BEHAVIOR REDUCING THE PRISON POPULATION By providing ample opportunities for prisoners to educate themselves and learn skills they can use in a future career, they’ll be less likely to revert to crime once they leave prison. These programs can be incentivized so prisoners are encouraged to participate in them. Also, make employers more open to hiring a former prisoner through incentives for that employer. These are just a few of the examples I cite in my blog post. See the full text here: http://alexheidt.net/reducing-the- prison-populations/ WORK AND EDUCATION INCENTIVES

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ALEX HEIDT

The United States has a high incarceration rate and lawmakers know they need to look into it and work toward change. Lots of people feel that the amount of people imprisoned for victimless or nonviolent crime is outrageous and focus their efforts on targeting these specific issues. The question is often asked, “can we reduce our prison populations without also having an increase in crime?” In this post, I’m going to address various ways governments are actively attempting to lower the astronomical prison rate, along with other solutions that are not currently implemented.

To many people, the biggest issue with the high rate of incarceration is excessive sentences for drug-related offenses that are usually excessively long. There would be a significant decrease in the prison population if these individuals weren’t handed longsentences for just possessing drugs. They can be given shorter prison sentences so there are more space and resources for the people who commit more serious crimes.

While prisoners getting out on good behavior occasionally happens, prisons could increase the use of this incentive. By positively rewarding inmates who display exemplary behavior behind bars, they can reduce their sentences if they committed a nonviolent or lower level crime. Encouraging good behavior wil l positively reinforce prisoners and make them more l ikely to continue this behavior when outside of jai l .

SHORTER OR NON-EXISTENT SENTENCES FOR DRUGS

CREDIT GOOD BEHAVIOR

REDUCING THE PRISON POPULATION

By providing ample opportunities for prisoners to educate themselves and learn skil ls they can use in a future career, they’ l l be less l ikely to revert to crime once they leave prison. These programs can be incentivized so prisoners are encouraged to participate in them. Also, make employers more open to hiring a former prisoner through incentives for that employer.

These are just a few of the examples I cite in my blog post. See the full text here: http://alexheidt.net/reducing-the- prison-populations/

WORK AND EDUCATION INCENTIVES

http://alexheidt.net/reducing-the-prison-populations/

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