 People who study incarceration in the United States invariably reach the conclusion that something must be done. Mass incarceration today is out of control, way too expensive, counterproductive, a social disaster, a trend that is clearly weakening America. Our correctional population of 7.3 million Americans cycles in and out of prison, forms a pariah class, destroys families and simply does not cause crime to decrease enough to justify the financial and social costs. Both political wings blame the other wing: Liberals blame race and class discrimination, the War on Drugs, mandatory sentences and conservative “law and order” politicians. Conservatives blame government programs, moral relativism, a rejection of religion, the defining of deviancy downward and activist judges.Running American prison systems is an extremely difficult job. Any softening of prison life is unpopular with our punitive-minded electorate. The public demands that prison life be a worse lifestyle than the lowest free classes enjoy. Early release is politically unpalatable. Overcrowding makes everything worse. Correctional costs are a least-favored budget item. With aging trends, medical expenses in prison are on the rise. Solitary confinement, gang activities and Death Row all add expense. Federal courts through the years step in when conditions became horrendous.
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