Earleywine Chapters
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Ten Reasons Why Sentencing Reform Makes Sense For Arizona
1. Arizona's prison growth is grossly out of step with the rest
of the nation. Arizona now leads the western states in its incarceration
rate. In 2001, Arizona 's prison growth was three times the national average.
2. More than half (55.3%) of Arizona 's prisoners are non-violent
offenders and three-fourths (77.5%) are first-time offenders.
Truly violent, repeat offenders are a tiny minority in our prison system.
The "get tough" laws passed in the 90's served only to overcrowd
our prisons with minor offenders.
3. Arizona can't afford it. It costs about $21,000 per
year to house the average prisoner in the Arizona system. Some populations,
such as women, the elderly, and the chronically ill, cost even more. The
Arizona Department of Corrections has the second largest budget of any
single state agency, consuming about 10% of the General Fund.
4. Building more prisons will only exacerbate the problem.
Once a prison is built, it must be filled. Once it is filled, without
sentencing reform, you have to build another. If we continue building
prisons, we will continue to devote a larger and larger portion of the
state budget to incarceration, at the expense of needed services such
as education.
5. Arizona 's prison system doesn't work. With a recidivism
rate of over 50%, it is obvious that our prisons are not adequately rehabilitating
offenders. In fact, they may be creating future crime by mixing non-violent
offenders with those who have committed violent offenses, basically becoming
a "crime school" turning out more sophisticated criminals.
6. Sentencing reform is not "soft on crime," it's smart
on crime. The only way to reduce crime is to combat the causes
of crime. This takes smart programs that address the problems people have-like
drug addiction-that cause them to break the law. Fortunately, these kinds
of programs are more successful than prison sentences in lowering recidivism
and are far less expensive , even when combined with intensive supervision.
There are many proven alternatives that not only preserve public safety,
but actually enhance it.
7. Many other politically conservative states have already enacted
sentencing reforms, or are in the process of doing so. In 2001,
Connecticut, Louisiana, and North Dakota all repealed mandatory minimum
sentences for some offenses. Also in 2001, California, Idaho, and Texas
created new alternative drug sentences. In that same year, Texas allowed
supervised releases for its chronically ill inmates and Virginia began
permitting early releases for elderly prisoners. Mississippi has amended
its Truth in Sentencing law to exclude non-violent offenders. This is
just a partial list of the states that have made good decisions about
how to address crime.
8. Public opinion supports sentencing reform. A random
telephone poll conducted in January of 2001 by the private firm Belden,
Russonello & Stewart (BRS) found that a majority of Americans support
alternative punishments for non-violent offenders, believe that rehabilitation
is an important goal for the courts and prisons, and are strongly dissatisfied
with the current state of the criminal justice system. In separate polls
in California and Pennsylvania, respondents said that prison budgets should
be the first to be cut when making state budget decisions ( San Diego
Union Tribune , "New prison policies for times of fiscal crisis,"
12/20/02).
9. Arizona has a history of enacting successful reform.
Arizona 's Prop 200, which diverted first time drug users into treatment
has been a model for other states seeking to reduce prison populations.
This was a ballot proposition supported by the majority of Arizona voters.
Our use of drug courts has also been highly successful.
10. Sentencing reform works. It is possible to spend
less money and have better results. When Louisiana eliminated mandatory
minimum sentences for some non-violent offenses, it was predicted that
the state would save $3.4 million in the first 12 months, $4.2 million
per year for the next two years, and $6.2 million annually for the following
two years. In spite of lower costs, well-designed programs and alternatives
can reduce recidivism rates, thus reducing future crime. This approach
lowers costs significantly down the road.
Many options
Lawmakers fortunately have a huge range of possible alternatives available
to them that have been proven to work in other states. Suggested reforms
include:
* Eliminating mandatory minimum sentences which remove discretion from
judges and give it to prosecutors
* Allowing early releases and/or resuming the correctional practice of
awarding "good time" for positive behavior and participation
in educational, vocational, or treatment programs
* Amending Truth in Sentencing to apply only to certain violent crimes,
or to be lower across the board (65% rather than 85% of the sentence)
* Reinstituting parole
* Releasing special populations, such as the elderly or chronically ill,
who cost significantly more to house and pose little risk to public safety
* Increase use of community sentencing alternatives, such as treatment,
home arrest, and probation. Sentencing reform makes good fiscal sense,
is smart on crime, and is supported by many Arizonans. It's the right
choice.
Sentencing reform
makes good fiscal sense, is smart on crime, and is supported by many Arizonans.
It's the right choice.
American Friends Service Committee
Criminal Justice Program
Contact: Caroline Isaacs, Program Coordinator
931 N 5 th Ave.,
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520)623-9141
afscazcj@dakotacom.net
www.afsc.org/AZ
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See http://www.afsc.org/az/prisons/sentencing-reform.htm
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