Cost-benefit analysis of state and federal corrections expenditures

¶ … Justice

The objective of this study to is examine the expenditures on corrections at the state and federal level and perform a cost benefit analysis of the modern American conception of justice.

Justice -- What Is It?

Justice is many things to many people. To some individuals justice is viewed as a form of punishment and to other justice is equity. Broadly defined, justice can be viewed as a means to exact equality from an inequitable relationship between two individuals or entities. Justice, according to the Bible, in terms of punishment is "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." (Exodus 21:22) What the Bible speaks of in this instance is that transgressions shall be rewarded with appropriate punishment.

IV. Costs -- Benefits

The Council on Crime in America stated in its January 1996 report "that the justice system could do a better job of 'restraining known, convicted, violent, and repeat criminals. In its February 1997 report, the Council argued that the justice system could do a better job of promoting crime prevention programs, especially those in which responsible caring non-parental adults 'monitor, mentor, and minister, to at-risk youth, juvenile delinquents, and young adults on probation." ( ) Empirical research states that a cost-benefit analyses "leads us to conclude that policy makers in the states need to revisit mandatory-minimum drug laws that are increasingly prison populations without demonstrably and cost-effectively increasing public safety." (Piehl, Useem, and DiIulio, 1999) A cost-benefit analysis to corrections was conducted in 1987 by Edwin Zedlewski, a staff economist for the National Institute of Justice. This analysis was conducted by dividing the yearly cost to keep on inmate in prison ($25,000 per annum) by the product of the number of crimes the 'typical' inmate would commit if on streets (187) and the average cost of a crime to society. Simple arithmetic showed that the benefits greatly outweighed the costs" however, there were challenges to these findings. Cost-Benefit analysis includes: (1) identification and specification of the elements of the program or policy at issue; (2) gathering the best information about the potential impacts of the program; (3) calculation of all compliance and implementation costs; (4) calculating all benefits; (5) tallying costs and benefits; and (6) analyzing feasible program alternatives. (Piehl, Useem, and DiIulio, 1999) In a cost-benefit analysis of a crime prevention program involving early intervention family therapy (EIFT) for Juvenile property and drug offenders, the results are clear as shown in the following table labeled Figure 1.

Figure 1

Summary of Cost-Benefit Analysis of Crime Prevention Program: Early Intervention Family Therapy (EIFT) for Juvenile Property and Drug Offenders

Source: Rosenberg and Mark (2011)

As shown in Figure 1, the net benefit to preventive programs in the area of juvenile criminal justice is $82.9 million and added to this the greater quality of life that result from the improved psycho-social well-being and the improvement to communities and families although this benefit cannot be monetarily quantified.

V. Summary and Conclusion

The cost-benefit analysis can serve to bring about dramatic improvement to the policymaking in criminal justice. Cost-benefit analysis is an analytical tool that enables the consideration of policy matters in criminal justice sentencing and incarceration practices that is both thorough and objective and that utilizes empirical research in evaluating criminal justice programs. The cost-benefit analysis is a method for analysis that is neutral and transparent to enable better policy decisions on sentencing of offenders.