16 Sep 2016
The U.S. is undoubtedly the incarceration capital of the world. Our prison population is way out of line statistically with our share of the global population. We have about 5% of the world’s people, yet we house 22% of its prisoners. And among the states, Texas historically has been one of those in the upper brackets when it comes to the percentage of prisoners compared to the state’s overall population.
There are several theories on why the United States feels the need to jail so many of its citizens. And there are a number of reasons for the disparity in our prison population compared with other countries. Mandatory minimum sentencing is one. But certainly one of the most significant factors is that a relatively large percentage of our inmates are in jail because of low-level drug crimes and other non-violent offenses. The effect is a massive drain on public resources, along with the damage to the lives of those who have made, in many cases, just a single mistake.
Many law and order folks believe that this is a zero-sum game. By that we mean failing to incarcerate people will automatically lead to an increase in crime. As a corollary to that notion, people also believe that throwing people in jail is the only way to deter crime, and the longer you incarcerate people the more deterrence there will be. Well, we disagree, and recent figures from Texas support our position.
According to the FBI, the crime rate in Texas declined by 29% between 2005 and 2014. While the rate nationally also declined during that period, the reduction seen in our state exceeded that of the country as a whole. At the same time – and this is the important aspect of the analysis – Texas has reduced not only the number of prisons, but also the number of inmates in the state. How what this accomplished?
It’s simple, really. It was accomplished by establishing alternative sentencing for low-level non-violent offenders who would otherwise be imprisoned, and for many others who are headed for parole, Specifically, the availability of diversionary and treatment programs has accomplished what was thought by some to be impossible. Simultaneously lowering crime and lowering the prison population.
Law Office of David D. White, PLLC
1201 Rio Grande Street #200
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 369-3737