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"To Cut Costs, States Relax Prison Policies"

By Douglas A. Berman

The title of this post is the title of this new piece from the New York Times.  Here are excerpts: For nearly three decades, most states have dealt with lawbreakers in two ways: lock more of them up for longer periods, and build more prisons to hold them. Now many governments, out of money and buried under mounting prison costs, are reversing those policies and practices. Some states, like Colorado and Kansas, are closing prisons. Others, like New Jersey, have replaced jail time with community programs or other sanctions for people who violate parole. Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill this month that enhances the credits some inmates can earn toward release.... Being tough on crime and sentencing has long been the clear path toward job retention for state lawmakers ? Republicans and Democrats alike...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on March 24, 2009 (boomark / email).