The cost of the US prison system has almost quadrupled in the past 2 decades, as seen in a survey by Vera institute, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit center for justice policy and practice. The survey referenced above included 40 states where the price of incarceration has skyrocketed to an unignorable $33,495,070 for imprisoning persons. Prison costs are now the 2nd largest cost to the US taxpayer, behind Medicaid (Vera). In a study conducted by Professor Donald Black, an instructor at the university of Iowa’s department of psychology, it was found that 20% of prisoners have antisocial personality disorder or ASPD, consequently this data shows a large amount of prison costs can be attributed to those with ASPD. However, in comparison …show more content…
Unlike therapy this method is more costly to the American taxpayer as in some cases if the person in question cannot afford the institutionalization it falls to the court, along with the fact that three US states have laws in which the court or the prosecutor must pay to limit the financial strain on the person. However due to recon legislation passed in 2008 called the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, most healthcare plans are required to cover rehabilitation as a medical cost and to help pay for it reducing the cost for America as a whole (drug rehab.org). Additionally it is more effective than therapy alone and treats comorbid disorders such as substance abuse (Greenhouse treatment center). This creates an environment for those with ASPD to gain control over their impulsivity. It is also much cheaper for the american taxpayer, however it is not for the person with ASPD. Meaning if they cannot afford it it may be the duty of the government to provide it for them, currently this is not the case, however current trends are leaning toward that direction. Despite these worries it is most effective in keeping persons with ASPD out of the prison …show more content…
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“The Price of Prisons.” Vera, Vera Institutes of Justice, Feb. 2012, www.vera.org/publications/price-of-prisons-what-incarceration-costs-taxpayers.

“DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder (301.7).” Psychiatric News, American Psychiatric Association, 2 Jan. 2004,