The Growth & Increasing Cost of the Federal Prison System: Drivers and Potential Solutions

The federal prison population has been growing dramatically; its current population exceeds 218,000, with projections of continued growth for the foreseeable future. A wide array of actors -- Members of Congress, administration officials, a bipartisan cast of policy advocates, and researchers -- has concluded that this growth and its associated costs are unsustainable. The basis for this conclusion varies:Fiscal impact. Resources spent on the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) eclipse other budget priorities.Overcrowding risks. Overcrowded facilities can jeopardize the safety of inmates and staff and limit opportunities for effective programming that can reduce recidivism.Fairness/equity concerns. High levels of incarceration may have disproportionate impacts on certain subpopulations and communities.Inefficient resource allocation. Current research and recent evidence-based policy changes implemented in states raise questions about the cost-effectiveness of existing federal sentencing and corrections policies.The focus on this burgeoning population provides an opportunity to explore the drivers of population growth and costs and to develop options for stemming future growth that are consistent with public safety goals

Release Planning for Successful Reentry: A Self-Assessment Tool For Corrections

Offers tools for evaluating prison services to help exiting prisoners meet basic needs including financial resources, housing, employment, and education; setting goals for improvement; and developing strategies for policy change. Lists best practices

Mapping Community Data on Children of Prisoners: Strategies and Insights

Based on input from Reentry Mapping Network sites, presents best practices in mapping local data on children with parents in prison, in local jails, on probation, or on parole, to highlight their needs and the impact of parental incarceration on children

Prisoner Reentry in Houston: Community Perspectives

Outlines the views of community members, local government, and the nonprofit sector on housing, employment, substance abuse, and other issues of prisoner reentry; policies and practices that affect reentry; and the roles of the community and stakeholders

Stemming the Tide: Strategies to Reduce the Growth and Cut the Cost of the Federal Prison System

The federal prison population has escalated from under 25,000 inmates in 1980 to over 219,000 today. This growth has come at great expense to taxpayers and other important fiscal priorities. As policymakers consider the array of options to stem the tide of inmates, our research concludes that a combination of strategies is the best way to make a real impact. In this report, we evaluate various policy options for cutting the size and costs of the burgeoning federal prison system

Charting a New Direction: Exploring the Future of Justice Mapping

Outlines how new mapping technologies help analyze the spatial dynamics of crime, prisoner reentry, poverty, poor health, low education levels, and homelessness, and the impact of criminal justice policies on communities. Discusses promising applications

Broken Bonds: Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Children With Incarcerated Parents

Describes the shared characteristics of children with parents in prison, reviews current research on the emotional and behavioral challenges they face, and discusses what charities, practitioners, and policy makers can do to address those challenges

Release Planning for Successful Reentry: A Guide for Corrections, Service Providers, and Community Groups

Outlines the concept of release planning, identifies the fundamental needs released prisoners face in reentering society, and recommends ways for corrections agencies and community organizations to help meet those needs through improved release planning

Understanding the Experiences and Needs of Children of Incarcerated Parents: Views From Mentors

Provides qualitative insights from mentors on how parental incarceration affects children emotionally, behaviorally, and developmentally, as well as their relationships with their parents, and how their needs differ from those of other at-risk children