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"To save money on prisons, states take a softer stance"

By Douglas A. Berman

The title of this post is the headline of this new article from USA Today. Here are excerpts: [A]cross the nation, the deepening financial crisis is forcing dramatic changes in the hard-line, punishment-based philosophy that has dominated the USA's criminal justice system for nearly two decades. As 31 states report budget gaps that the National Governor's Association says totaled nearly $30 billion last year, criminal justice officials and lawmakers are proposing and enacting cost-cutting changes across the public safety spectrum, with uncertain ramifications for the public. There is no dispute that the fiscal crisis is driving the changes, but the potential risks of pursuing such policies is the subject of growing debate. While some analysts believe the philosophical shift is long overdue, others fear it could undermine public safety...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on March 18, 2009 (boomark / email).