Date: 10-29-2023
States spend billions of dollars each year on corrections. Imagine if these resources were redirected to jobs, education, health care, and other solutions that help people lead safe and healthy lives. |
From Vera Institute of Justice:
When politicians sought to convince voters in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, to fund a new jail, they touted the fact that the facility would not have air conditioning. This strategy—used in a climate where incarcerated people suffer and even die each summer due to extreme heat—reflects a pervasive notion in the United States that jails and prisons shouldn’t be “country clubs” and that punishment is productive. It isn’t.
At least 95 percent of the people confined in state prisons will someday come home. They are our neighbors, friends, and co-workers. They are part of our communities and, like everyone, shape our shared future.
Research shows that incarceration can actually increase the likelihood of future crimes by traumatizing people before releasing them back into their communities. If the goal is public safety, punishing people behind bars isn’t the answer. Here’s why. Continue reading >>>
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