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"America's Jail Crisis"

By Douglas A. Berman

The title of this post is the headline of this effective new piece in Forbes.  Here are excerpts: Amid budget crises, falling tax revenue and national unemployment approaching 10%, jails ? usually city- or county-run holding facilities for those serving short sentences or awaiting trial ? saw their populations grow nearly twice as fast as state and federal prison populations during the first half of the decade, according to a 2008 report by the Justice Policy Institute. The report says that local governments spent $97 billion on criminal justice in 2004, up 347% since 1982, while detention expenses climbed 519% to $19 billion. Between 2006 and 2008, Harris County's jail population grew 21%, adding 1,900 more mouths to feed three times a day...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on July 13, 2009 (boomark / email).