Do Prisons Work?Sean Allan, Jordie Boyle, Quinn Connolly, Austin Gabriel, and Chris Yak

Guiding Questions1. Who should be in charge of running and organizing the

prison system of the US or any country?2. What types of prison/rehabilitation facilities are most

effective?3. In what cases is it acceptable to substitute going to a

rehabilitation facility rather than serving time in prison? 4. Is the American prison system cost effective? If not,

how could the system be changed to be more cost effective?

Your Opinions

Survey Results● Is the current US prison system effective?

o 73% Noo 23% Yeso 4% Other

What is the American Penal System?

What Is the American Prison System?-Conviction

-Jails v.s. Prisons

-“Closed” system

-Solitary confinement

-Average cellhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhEOLLi7DTk&spfreload=1

-Work/Behavior/Recreation

-Capital Punishment

-The amount of violence in the nation has gone down, but the amount of arrests have increased.

-52% recidivism rate in US

-1 in every 108 Americans are in prison

American System (continued)

Privatization of the American Prison System

http://youtube.com/v/7-VArdOiu8k

For-Profit Prison Industry● Became popular in 1980s● $70 billion industry● 2 Largest Companies:

o Correctional Corporation of America (CCA)

o Wackenhut● In 2013, private prisons held 8% of

prison populationo 133,000 prisoners

“Lockup Quotas”● What is it?

o A prison occupancy rate guarantee ● How many private prisons have these “lockup quotas” in their contracts?

o 65% of private prisons● 90% occupancy is the most common lockup quota● 3 Arizona prisons have 100% occupancy rate guarantees

What do these “lockup quotas” mean?● If a prison is not at or above the guaranteed

occupancy rate, the government must pay for the empty bedso This money comes from taxpayers

● If the rate of incarceration goes down, private prisons still get the same amount of money from the government.

● Incentive to throw more people in jail and lengthen sentences

How They Increase Profits

● Russell Boraas is a private prison administrator in Virginiao “the secret to low operating costs is having a minimal number of

guards for the maximum number of prisoners”● CCA Prison in Lawrenceville, VA

o 750 prisonerso 5 daytime guardso 2 nightwatch guards

Low Operating Costs

Behavior PolicyHow They Increase Profits

● What is the “Behavior Policy?”o Good behavior = reduced sentenceo Infraction = 30 days added to sentence

● New Mexico Prisonso CCA inmates lost “good behavior time” at a rate 8x higher than

inmates in state prisonso More time in prison = more money for private prisons

● Prisoners work 6-8 hour days● Wages

o Many are unpaido Others receive $0.93-$4.73 per day

Prison LaborHow They Increase Profits

Rehabilitation in Prisons

Stress● “For some prisoners, incarceration is so stark and psychologically painful

that it represents a form of traumatic stress severe enough to produce post-traumatic stress reactions once released. “ Craig Haney University Of California Santa Cruz

● What exactly is stress doing to the human body?

Conforming To This Change ● Neuroplasticity can be defined as the process by which the brain

produces more morphological changes in response to environmental stimuli.

● When the brain is in a new environment it will change and conform to this new environment.

● Negative neuroplasticity can come from mood disorders, poor sleep, anxiety, and stress. This negative neuroplasticity will result in the brain shrinking, and becoming less efficient over time.

● Long term effects of incarceration can cause brain conformation that is adapted to prison norms.

Forms of Rehabilitation ● Laughter in prisons

● Guidance in education and work

Laughter ● Emotional Release, helps get rid of anger

● Improves health and reduces stress

● Decreases depression and psychological problems

Education Rehabilitation ● California Rehabilitation- example Johnny Ames

● Houses of Healing

● The Prison Education Project

International Prisons● Norwegian Prisons

○ An “open” Prison system○ Emphasizes Rehabilitation

● Chinese Prisons ○ Makes citizens want to avoid prisons more○ Emphasizes justice

Norwegian “Open” Prisons

● -Open Prisons● -Luxuries● -Rehabilitation● -The Norden

Norwegian Prisons (cont)● Successes of the “open” prison system● Prison population has dropped since the implementation of this

system○ 1950 - 200 prisoners per 100,000 citizens ○ 2004 - 65 prisoners per 100,000 citizens

● Recidivism rate is only 20%● One of the most successful systems in the world

Chinese Prison System● Has a heavy emphasis on justice

○ People should pay for their crimes○ Is a more preventative approach to criminal activity○ Executes 5000 - 6000 a year

Chinese System Results● The Chinese system’s results

○ In China there are 119 prisoners for every 100,000 prisoners○ It has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world

■ Generally around 6-8%○ New legislation has reduced the number of executions a year

■ Before 2007 may have been as high as 20,000 people a year

Comparing the SystemsUSA China Norway

Prison Population

2,217,000 1,657,812 3,842

Prisoners/100,000 citizens

698 119 75

Executions 42 5000-6000 Abolished in 1979

Recidivism Rate

52% 6 - 8% 20%

Cost of Prisons

What do you think is the average cost of an inmate per

year in the US ?

US Prisons CostAll data according to Vera Institute of Justice● A cumulative of $39 billion were spent in the 2010 fiscal year for 40 states

to run their prisons ● Average of the 40 states taxpayers pay $31,286 per inmate in 2010● Highest paying state is New York at $60,076 per inmate ● Lowest paying state is Kentucky at $14,603 per inmate● Washington payed $46,897 per imated

Spending of Prisons Money LA Times breakdown of how Prisons spend money in California ● California spends $43,421 a year per inmate ● 50% of the money goes to security● 5% toward teaching inmates to read and other rehabilitation tools● 45% towards everyday materials ● In California the state pays about $15,000 per student at state schools● California minimum wage worker make $18,720 per year

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/14/states-spend-times-incarcerating-educating-studies-say-464156987/

“People come back. Over 90% of these inmates come back to communities...And we can do a better job.” Aarriet Salarno, President of Crime Victims United of California.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation● Rehabilitation experts think California should give prisoners and parolees

incentives● Paying prisoners and parolees 8 to 95 cents and hour ● Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mike Neustrom devoted $2.5 million of his annual

salary● “The bottom line is, most of them are going to come back to Lafayette--it’s

where they grew up. If they’re better when they come back, that’s good. That’s the intent.” Mike Neustrom Louisiana Sheriff

● In San Francisco a re-education program saved taxpayers $4 for every $1 spent

Project ReturnProject Return was ran by Tulane University in the late 90’s● It was ran by and for ex-cons

o 100 people every year. 50 girls and 50 men each year● Cost $2,000 per person for Tulane● They helped with

o Educationo Counselingo Job Placement Assistance

● 5.6% recidivism rate to prison ● They get $2.50 a day for going to work

Halden in NorwayIt cost Norway £116,000 per year to house an inmate

● $125,089.76 in US dollars● They get payed £5.60 ($6.40) a day for working● They get £70 ($75.49) each month for food● The recidivism rate is 20%

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