Realizing that jails and prisons cost state and federal governments millions of dollars each year, should that be a consideration in the length of sentences given? For your assignment, write a one-page (-300 words) paper with your reflection as it relates to the costs vs the necessity to incarcerate.

Incarceration cost tax payers many millions of dollars each year. In many instances, these dollars appear to be wasted as many inmates are ill-equipped to matriculate back into society once they are released. What ensues in a cycle recidivism in which criminals often repeat the crimes that caused them to be in prison. This ultimately results in a constant cycle of prison for many inmates. Unfortunately, the actual length of the sentence does not have a strong correlation to the overall costs. It reality, it is the behavior of the inmates that contributes heavily to prison costs. In the United States nearly 1 in 4 prisoners are repeat offenders. Of those who are not, many have very limited job prospects as many companies do not want to hire individuals with a past criminal record. As a result, many have little alternative to earn money (Andrews, 2006).

Unfortunately, the costs are a necessary element with the criminal justice system. They are needed to help keep criminals off the streets. These costs are also needed for remediation and training for inmates. This is important as inmates gain the skills needed to better matriculate back into society. Through investing initially into these systems, society can lower costs in the future as prison inmates look to become more productive members of society. It can be argued the more dollars are needed to help further enhance the skills of inmates so that they can better matriculate into society. This helps all involved as the higher costs ultimately result in more productive members of society (Billy, 1989)

References

1. Andrews, D.A. (2006). Enhancing adherence to risk-need-responsivity: Making quality a matter of policy. Criminology and Public Policy, 5, 595-602.

2. Billy L. Wayson; and Gail S. Funke, What Price Justice? A Handbook for the Analysis of Criminal Justice Costs (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 1989, NCJ 106777).