Overcrowding in Jails

In America today there is a large overcrowding of the jail and prison systems and something needs to be done to prevent such overcrowding.

The jail is was in is intended to house 65 women and instead had 73 and reached record numbers exceeding 100 while I was there. Women are sleeping on floors and in conference rooms. Supplies intended for 65 women have to be spread out and shared amongst them. The dining are is intended for 65 and leaves women sitting on the floor for meals. The one single officer is at times overwhelmed due to the extra flux of women.

There are 5 women in that jails that have been there since 2005 and 13 that have been there since 2006. Of these 18 women, 15 of them have no active sentence yet. 12 of those 15 women will undoubtedly face prison time but the prisons are just as overcrowded as the jails.

If you sit in a courtroom today you can see that the crowding starts there. Courtrooms across America are overcrowded and crime in on the rise in many places. Judges and attorneys are overwhelmed with cases and no end is in sight. Police are overworked and the job grows more dangerous daily. Where is the damn on this problem? Is there an end in sight?

Taxpayers spend millions of dollars a year to house, feed, clothe, medicate and otherwise care for the detained. North Carolina has a bill up for vote that would charge incarcerated individuals $5 per day. The bill states that such fees would be deducted from inmate's funds and other non-paid amounts collected from taxes filed after their release. Although it costs far higher than $5 a day to incarcerate these individuals, at lease it's a start. This does not account for those who die in prison or those who don't receive monies while incarcerated. Although not a perfect solution, it does generate some revenue for new jails and prisons to help reduce the problem of overcrowding.

Society needs to develop better rehabilitation to help people to change and stay out of jails. Many criminals are released from jail with no inclinations to change and their first thought is often where to get their next high or find their next trick. This thought process only lands them back in jail and does nothing to decrease the jail population.

Society needs to develop systems to help criminals succeed in change and make jail less desirable. Jail is often an easy way out for many individuals. Jail is a free bed, three square meals a day, cable TV and little in the way of punishment. Whatever the solution something needs to be done to help reduce overcrowding in jails and prisons as well as reduce crime and work loads for police, judges and lawyers.