Alternatives to Prison Over the last 30 years, the prison population in the United States has increased exponentially. For instance, California's prison population has increase eightfold, from 20,000 prisoners in the early 1970's to more that 160,000 in the early 2000's. (Haney) In Texas, from just 1992 to 1997 the prison population doubled, adding an additional 70,000 prisoners. (Haney) Because of the massive overpopulation in America's prisons, there have been advances in alternatives which allow for sentences other than incarceration.

Since many of those incarcerated in prisons are there for non-violent offenses, there are some who advocate that non-violent criminals be allowed alternatives to prison. The benefits of such alternatives are that they give courts more options, they save taxpayers money, strengthen families and communities, reduce crime, and are supported by the public. ("Alternatives to Incarceration Fact Sheet.")

One type of alternative to prison is what is referred to as "boot camps." According to professional sociologists,...

By being in the camp, prisoners usually are allowed a reduction in their sentences by up to 6 months. (Blaum)
Another alternative is the concept of "drug courts;" which would concentrate on substance abuse related crimes and focus on treatment rather than punishment. Probation, also called community corrections, is another alternatives and can include a number of different options to keep an offender out of prison. There is Intensive Supervisory Probation (ISP) in which offenders are released from prison but kept in a "half-way" house. There the offenders are intensively monitored and must maintain "fulltime employment, pay taxes, abide by a…