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The Budget Costs and Effects of Prisons in the Us

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THE BUDGET COST AND EFFECTS OF PRISONS IN THE UNITED STATES

Christina Adonia Turner
June 15, 2013
Introduction to Public Administration
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Table Of Contents…………………………………………………………2

2. Executive Summary………………………………………………………..3

3. Scope and Statement of the Problem………………………………………4

4. Literature Review………………………………………………………….5

5. Methodology………………………………………………………………7

6. Analytical Results………………………………………………………....8

7. Discussion………………………………………………………………...10

8. Bibliography………………………………………………………………16

9. Appendix………………………………………………………………....17

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In summary, the cost of housing an incarcerated inmate does affect the budget of the United States. Whether, the inmate is sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty. The facts in this research paper leans heavily in favor of life imprisonment as a cheaper form of punishment verses an inmate being sentenced to death row. The judicial system and politicians have formed several alternatives to assist our country with the ability to lower the cost of housing an inmate in our prison system. For example, the United States detaining systems are concentrating more on issuing a fair sentence to nonviolent offenders, such as, substance abusers and prostitutes. They realize that the majority of the inmates are in need of drug rehabilitation and have a mental illness. Also, the research shows that women offenders are the most affected with drug addiction and substance abuse. They also have the greater risk of recidivism and mental illness, due to, the drug addiction and substance abuse. The judicial system formed an alternative called “sex courts” to address the situation with female prostitutes. The alternative addressed the need of therapeutic rehabilitation (drug treatment and mental health counseling), instead of, incarcerating the

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