Prison Reform: The Cost of Prison for Inmates, Families, and Society

Abstract

Prison Reform is front-and-center in America today. The cost of prison is higher than ever - but not just in economic terms. More and more Americans are being incarcerated every day when there are so many other options that could take its place. The cost of prison is taking its toll on the quality of the family unit, the quality of society, and on the quality of the perceived self-worth of the individual incarcerated. Most incarcerated Americans are forgotten and unloved. They are treated, many times, worse than animals. Extensive sentencing and unnecessary incarceration for first-time, non-violent offenders must stop. Please join me in the fight to change policy in America’s prison system by sharing this with your Senators, Congressman, or any others who may appreciate it, may benefit from it, or who can otherwise help instigate change.

Keywords: prison reform, incarceration, cost of prison, inmate rights, criminal justice, corrections, institution, justice, prisoners

JEL Classification: I129, I139, K14, K40, K41, K49, Z18