Justice only prevails when convicts suffer the proper consequences for their actions. Whatever happened to the “just deserts” model of criminal sentencing, providing appropriate corresponding punishment commensurate with criminal severity, which our criminal justice system advocates?
Additionally, without deterrence, recurring recidivism results since the system psychologically reinforces negative behavior by rewarding them. It takes no rocket scientist to understand the flaws of ineffective punishment. Elected representatives unjustifiably “pamper convicted criminals,” eventually releasing them back into society, “to relieve overcrowding,” (Bowman, Kearney, 447).
The unwarranted appeasement and accommodation of prisoners signals a wrong message, inevitably them to repeat crimes. What recklessness! According to the MPC, someone satisfies culpability for recklessness when one “consciously” disregards a, “substantial and unjustifiable” risk, consequently resulting from their conduct (Samaha, 113).
As administrators of justice, our government officials possess the reasonable cognizance, prudence, and common sense to reform these substantial defects. Yet, they recklessly dismiss culpable conduct with perfunctory disregard. Unfortunately, their phlegmatic, pathetically slothful nature translates into incompetence, thereby preventing them from attempting resolution. Still, such inaction renders them accountable.
Furthermore, federal, state, and local governments invest approximately, “$62 billion” annually on correctional adult/juvenile correctional facilities (State Corrections Spending, 1). Since 1986, State Corrections expenditure aggrandized from $10,085,000,000 to “27,598,000,000” in 1996, surpassing $30 billion for 1998, and eventually, culminating at a total of “$42,890,000,000” (State Corrections Spending, 1). Current numbers supersede this astronomical statistic.
Following this pattern, projected federal and state funds expect to reach at least, “$27 billion”, “$15 billion” of which constitute operational funds and another “$12 billion,” in capital funds (State Corrections Spending, 1).
Fiscal year 2006 State Corrections expenditure metastasized, “10%” from 2005 levels, with anticipated growth of “10%” projected for 2007 (State Funding for Corrections Spending, 1). Operational costs include, “utilities, food, medical supplies, communication services, transportation, program services, and a variety of contracted support services,” among other correctional resources (Public Safety, Public Spending, 18).
Based on the abovementioned calculations, reasonable predictions suggest increases anywhere from, “$2.5 – 5 billion annually by 2011,” (Public Safety, Public Spending, 18). How abhorrent! Essentially, the taxpayer spends billions of dollars each year not to punish, but rather reward criminals for their misconduct. Why the frivolous expense?
High recidivism rates characterize the current American prison system. Consider national statistics. According to data collected by the Bureau of Justice indicated that among prisoners released in 1994, “67.5% became arrested for a new offense, with 46.9% convicted for committing new crimes,” (State Corrections Spending, 1).
Additionally, “51.8%” returned to prison either for committing a new offense or repeating crimes, violating the conditions of their release (State Corrections Spending, 1). The 1994 national study evaluated, “272,111 prisoners released from prison in 15 states,” which comprised, “2/3” of all discharged prisoners during that year (Bureau of Justice, 1). Recidivism stems directly from a flawed prison system, one that rewards its prisoners with recreation, psychologically reinforcing criminal behavior.
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