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More evidence that prison crowding will prompt sentencing reform and/or more technocorrections

By Douglas A. Berman

Regular readers know how many states are struggling with overcrowded prisons and the lack of ready or easy solutions (especially in tough fiscal times with budgets getting tighter and tighter).  Two effective articles this morning from very different part of the country ? Massachusetts and Idaho ? highlight that sentencing reform and/or technocorrections are going to have to play a major role in on-going efforts to deal with state and county prison crowding problems. First, consider this piece from the Boston Globe headlined "Prison to double-bunk inmates: Sentencing changes urged to ease overcrowding in system." Here is how it starts: The number of inmates in Massachusetts prisons is projected to reach about 12,000 next year for the first time, prompting the head of the prison system to call for sentencing changes that ease overcrowding and to proceed with a controversial plan to double-bunk inmates at a maximum-security facility...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on November 16, 2008 (boomark / email).