The cost of a nation of incarceration

(CBS News) Is it fair to call the United States the "incarceration nation"? That's what some experts say. And even some veteran law enforcement and correction officials think something's gone wrong. Our Cover Story is reported now by Martha Teichner:

At the Gadsden County Jail near Tallahassee, Fla., there are bunks, and mattresses on the floor.

The jail has a capacity of about 150 inmates, but there are presently 230 inmates in the facility right now.

Walter McNeil, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, sees the same story everywhere he goes in the U.S.

A sign of overcrowding at Gadsden County Jail in Florida, where there are more inmates than beds.

/ CBS

In one "pod" of Gadsen jail, in which there are 24 bunks, there are 28 inmates - and by the time the weekend comes, there will be five or six more inmates.

That's nothing compared to California. Overcrowding was so bad there, the U.S. Supreme Court called it "cruel and unusual punishment," and last May ordered the state to cut its prison population by more than 30,000.

Nationwide, the numbers are staggering: Nearly 2.4 million people behind bars, even though over the last 20 years the crime rate has actually dropped by more than 40 percent.

"The United States has about 5 percent of the world's population, but we have 25 percent of the world's prisoners - we incarcerate a greater percentage of our population than any country on Earth," said Michael Jacobson, director of the non-partisan Vera Institute of Justice. He also ran New York City's jail and probation systems in the 1990s.

A report by the organization, "The Price of Prisons," states that the cost of incarcerating one inmate in Fiscal 2010 was $31,307 per year. "In states like Connecticut, Washington state, New York, it's anywhere from $50,000 to $60,000," he said.

Yes - $60,000 a year. That's a teacher's salary, or a firefighter's. Our epidemic of incarceration costs us taxpayers $63.4 billion a year.

The explosion in incarceration began in the early 1970s - the political response to an explosion in urban violence and increased drug use.

"So 'Tough on crime,' 'three strikes, you're out,' 'Let 'em rot, throw away the key' - all that stuff resulted in more mandatory sentencing, longer and longer sentencing," said Jacobson.

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[bobhimell]

Please review this and share with the White House. Give a dollar amount to each crime. Set up manufacturing plants next to the prison. Let those wanting to work a job and pay them based on the job. Let them pay for rent, food, recreation and their crime. If they do not want to work they get bread and water and will never be able to pay for their crime. Give credit toward their crime for each educational class that they pass with a C or better. Eliminate parole boards and replace it with paying off the cost of their crime. If you want more information, contact me. Thank you, Bob Himell

[TimeToEvolve]

Of the long, long list of really, really bad things that the fake, fraudulent and failed "free market" has given us, this might be the most ignorant, tragic and immoral. Making it a profit making business to lock people up. No wonder one of the only things were lead the world in anymore beside waste and consumption, is how many citizens are in jail. And all the wrong ones too. The ones who should be in jail are many of the Wall Street CEOs and their right wing corrupt puppets.

[kboccia]

I am new into the system because my 22 year old son was recently convicted of armed robbery after being arrested last year. His crime was a frat party fight - he had no weapon, he stole nothing. It is our DA who wants to prove something. What a nightmare this is. I am now trying to be the voice of the families of the incarcerated.

[JustSayinBro]

Oh you guys are finally paying attention now? Does this mean I can say I told you so now? Wont get me any of my money or my life back, but at least I can say I told you so now.

[fbcooper]

Hi Martha - thank you again for such great reporting. Here's one thing I believe about the marijuana laws. They are clearly corrupt - most police KNOW someone who smokes pot. Usually a family member or friend. But they aren't arrested.
Here's one way to prove then that pot at least should NOT be illegal: Ask everyone in the US of A 2 questions: Question 1) Do YOU know someone who smokes pot? Answer: I believe 99% of American adults would answer YES. Question 2: Should THAT person be in jail? Answer: Again, I believe 99% would say NO.
If this is in fact the case, then NO ONE should go to jail for pot. The basis of any democracy must be the law is the same for all. Since people do NOT want to see their friends, family or acquaintances in jail for pot, then NO ONE can go to jail for pot. Otherwise, we have massive and systemic corruption of the legal system. Hence pot not only should not be illegal, it really is NOT illegal anymore. What should be illegal is the systemically unfair enforcement of pot laws.
The lawyers have lost sight of this system-wide, clear cut and legally valid test. When the people decide that a specific act alone does NOT warrant jail, then that act cannot be illegal. I don't believe one would get the same answers for crack, heroin, or some other drugs. But I do believe pot is already defacto legalized by the public and their opinion invalidates the various draconian laws still on the books in the US of A.
Its time for the police of this country to either arrest ALL THE PEOPLE THEY KNOW who smoke pot, or STOP ARRESTING ANYONE. Since they won't arrest their friends or family, they have become corrupted by the system.

I do agree though that, if you ask people whether pot smokers should go to jail, many people would instead answer: No - but that son/daughter/nephew/niece of mine needs to stop smoking it, put down the Nintendo, get off the couch, and get a job! Smoke only AFTER work people, please!

[SursumATX]

Thank you, CBS, for covering this!

The reforms needed in our criminal "justice" system are far and wide, from overzealous prosecutors and tunnel-vision investigations that lead to conviction of the innocent, to the programs in the prison, mandatory illogical sentences, the use of the death penalty in an unequal and error-ridden system, to victim-less crimes and a war on drugs that's only succeeded in creating war in Mexico and on our border, to prison programs that don't rehabilitate. And I agree the public ed is the root of many problems. We are not graduating enough from high school, and not giving them the skills there needed to make a living, not giving the academically-adept ones a means to go to college unless they are born well-off or are extremely lucky.

[captainowow]

It's few times as an avid viewer that this was just depressing. 1. Because we actually spend large amounts of my money on these inmates for not only rehabilitation but the initial imprisonment. More than I make in salary each year. Theres is tax free. 2. I am getting screwed on that deal 3. Because we are one of the very few countries that don't support the "death penalty".
I'll guarantee, as with a child, you go through with a promise of severe punishment for severe actions, they will adhere to the rules (laws) set forth without question.

I'm just saying.

[SursumATX]

@captainowow -- did you mean that we are one of the very few countries that DO have a death penalty? Because that would be true, not the reverse.

[captainowow]

I mean our nation ( all states, certainly not California) enforce the death penalty. We do not. Enforce is the KEYWORD here.

[lisa_teach]

Dear CBS Sunday Morning,

I appreciate that you have taken the time to report on this important issue in the United States, but I am very upset that in your discussion about what can be done to help or fix. You missed a very important point, public education funding. We spend anywhere from $31,000 to $60,000 per year per prisoner. In Colorado, tax payers pay around $8000 per year per student. You did not share the statistics about the average reading level of inmates or their high school graduation rates. Look them up. They are staggering. You want to reform the prison population, reform the public school system!

[HomebuilingRH]

Thank you, CBS, for covering this very important topic.

It bears mentioning that the USA incarcerates at a rate SEVEN TIMES that of Europe....

but then, again, we had out ritalin to school boys at FOURTEEN TIMES the rate of Europe...

how exceptional are we, anyway ? ?

[honestabe8]

the land of the "free" and the home of the incarcerated

[Lerianis4]

by August100 April 23, 2012 5:02 AM EDT
Welfare is designed to keep people ON WELFARE; a few are allowed to succeed as "Success Stories".
_____________________

Wrong. Welfare is meant to allow people to survive and not protest for higher wages, better schools, etc.

The fact is that NOT EVERYONE IS CUT OUT FOR COLLEGE. Period, done with, and argument finished, shut up to be slapped shut!

We need to realize that and that the 'menial laborers' are usually doing HARDER work than the people with college degrees are, by far. More physically strenuous, at least.

[Lerianis4]

The bigger cost is with the denigration of law and order that comes from having so many people in prison for mainly victimless crimes like using 'illegal' drugs and having sex with someone who 'the state' doesn't like them to that was totally consensual.

We need to get rid of the drug laws, get rid of most of the sexual morality laws, and stop trying to make people kowtow to religious morality and the personal likes/dislikes of other people by fiat of law.