Category Archives: Economics

The geography of incarceration

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Nina

The Atlantic advises us about a disturbingly striking project to document prison geography. See more for yourself here.

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Cash for prisons

Posted on February 15, 2012 by k-sue park

Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) is the nation’s largest operator of for-profit prisons; it is a “Wall Street giant” that has grown more than five-fold during the last fifteen years. After 9/11, it capitalized on anxieties about national security and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Prison Conditions | 1 Comment

The Price of Prisons

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Nina

The Vera Institute of Justice has released a report entitled “The Price of Prisons,” outlining a new methodology to calculate the real cost of prisons for taxpayers. The Center on Sentencing and Corrections and Cost-Benefit Analysis Unit studied 40 states, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, National, Publications, Media and Advocacy | 1 Comment

More press urges MA legislature to rethink enacting Three-Strikes bills

Posted on January 6, 2012 by k-sue park

The editors of the Boston Phoenix weigh in on what Three-Strikes legislation would mean for Massachusetts, in a way consonant with the article discussed in this earlier post.

Posted in Economics, Legislation, Local, Prison Conditions, Sentencing | Leave a comment

New Massachusetts Three-Strike bills bode poorly for its already overcrowded prison system

Posted on January 4, 2012 by k-sue park

In this article in Metrowest, Leslie Walker and Jean Trounstine warn about the possible consequences of two Three-Strikes bills recently passed by the Massachusetts House and Senate for the already overcrowded Massachusetts prison system. With the prison population average at … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Legislation, Local, Prison Conditions, Sentencing | 1 Comment

Three-strikes reform in California? Make a wish for the new year.

Posted on December 22, 2011 by k-sue park

California, distinguished among other ways by having the country’s most “indiscriminately punitive” three-strikes law, has allowed a ballot initiative to go forward that would modify it to exempt non-violent criminals. This welcome change is largely financially motivated: the state’s economy is … Continue reading →

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Settlement requires reform in treatment of the mentally ill in Massachusetts prisons

Posted on December 22, 2011 by k-sue park

As a result of the high suicide rate and the growing problem of the treatment of the mentally ill in Massachusetts prisons, especially the consequences of placing this vulnerable population in solitary confinement, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections has entered … Continue reading →

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The link between new immigration laws and growth of private prisons

Posted on November 6, 2011 by k-sue park

This article describes the major role played by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the country’s largest private prison company, in proposing and drafting what became the notorious Arizona Senate Bill 1070. The language and the title of the bill … Continue reading →

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Starving prisoners to cut costs

Posted on October 22, 2011 by k-sue park

In news related to this post from last month, the New York Times now reports that prisons in states around the country are cutting costs in this strapped economy by depriving prisoners of basic meals. Prisons have exploited the gray … Continue reading →

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The problem of recognizing the problem of recidivism

Posted on October 21, 2011 by k-sue park

Despite indications that federally funded reentry programs have effectively reduced recidivism during the last few years, the Senate has earmarked no funds for the Second Chance Act program that oversees them. In contrast, it has set aside nearly $300 million … Continue reading →

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