The cost of a nation of incarceration

Which is why, not far from Tallahassee, the State of Florida is building a so-called re-entry center for 400 non-violent inmates.

Here they'll cost taxpayers HALF what the state would spend on keeping them in prison.

"This is the smart way of trying to deal with our prison population," said Chief McNeil. "We know that the vast majority of the people in prison are going to return to prison unless we do something different."

Doing something different at the Gadsden County Jail, a few miles away, means teaching prisoners basic skills they'll need when they get out - like how to dress for success, and how to interview for a job.

Wishful thinking? When non-convicts can't even find jobs? Hardliners scoff at the notion that prison education programs lower recidivism.

But criminologists don't. They see education as one tool among many that can help keep people from going back to prison.

At California's formidable San Quentin Prison, inmates are encouraged to enroll in the Prison University Project. In a class on Greek tragedy, every man here took the plays personally.

Henry, an avid reader, says everything that he reads is "one more tool that I have to keep me - I'm not going to say keep me from coming back here, because I'M going to keep me from coming back here."

But here are the statistics, from the U.S. Department of Justice: More than 50 percent of ex-prisoners will be back behind bars within three years.

So, how to keep them from going to prison in the first place, whether by rethinking the old lock-'em-up-throw-away-the-key mentality, or preventing crime with beefed-up policing in high crime areas?

That's exactly what the State of New York has been doing. Between 2000 and 2010, its prison population DROPPED by more than 13,000 - nearly 20 percent. And guess what: The crime rate also dropped, by 21 percent . . . in New York City, by nearly 30 percent.

"No one can really explain exactly why," said Jacobson. "The changing nature of the economy, change in drug use patterns, more targeted policing . . . But one of the things we know going forward, if we want to both continue and drive down crime even further, is that increasing the size of our prison systems will not get you there."

In 2009, the number of inmates in state prisons declined by just under 5,000. It was the first drop in nearly 40 years, since 1972.

Was it merely a drop in the bucket? Or was it the beginning of the end of our epidemic of incarceration?

EDITOR'S NOTE: A transcription error mis-stated the cost per inmate as $47,421 per year. That is the annual cost of an inmate's care in California. The average cost among 40 states surveyed by Vera Institute of Justice is $31,307.

For more info:

• Prison University Project
• Equal Justice Initiative
• Vera Institute of Justice
• Justice Mapping Center
• International Association of Chiefs of Police
• N.Y. Correction History Society (NYCHS)

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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.