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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 12:32 am
Time: 12:32 am
Results for federal prisoners
3 results foundAuthor: James, Nathan Title: The Federal Prison Population Buildup: Overview, Policy Changes, Issues, and Options Summary: Since the early 1980s, there has been a historically unprecedented increase in the federal prison population. Some of the growth is attributable to changes in federal criminal justice policy during the previous three decades. An issue before Congress is whether policymakers consider the rate of growth in the federal prison population sustainable, and if not, what changes could be made to federal criminal justice policy to reduce the prison population while maintaining public safety. This report explores the issues related to the growing federal prison population. The number of inmates under the Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) jurisdiction has increased from approximately 25,000 in FY1980 to nearly 219,000 in FY2012. Since FY1980, the federal prison population has increased, on average, by approximately 6,100 inmates each year. Data show that a growing proportion of inmates are being incarcerated for immigration- and weapons-related offenses, but the largest portion of newly admitted inmates are being incarcerated for drug offenses. Data also show that approximately 7 in 10 inmates are sentenced for five years or less. Changes in federal sentencing and correctional policy since the early 1980s have contributed to the rapid growth in the federal prison population. These changes include increasing the number of federal offenses subject to mandatory minimum sentences; changes to the federal criminal code that have made more crimes federal offenses; and eliminating parole. There are several issues related to the growing federal prison population that might be of interest to policymakers: The increasing number of federal inmates, combined with the rising per capita cost of incarceration, has made it increasingly more expensive to operate and maintain the federal prison system. The per capita cost of incarceration for all inmates increased from $19,571 in FY2000 to $26,094 in FY2011. During this same period of time, appropriations for the BOP increased from $3.668 billion to $6.381 billion. The federal prison system is increasingly overcrowded. Overall, the federal prison system was 39% over its rated capacity in FY2011, but high- and mediumsecurity male facilities were operating at 51% and 55%, respectively, over rated capacity. At issue is whether overcrowding might lead to more inmate misconduct. The results of research on this topic have been mixed. One study found that overcrowding does not affect inmate misconduct; but the BOP, based on its own research, concluded that there is a significant positive relationship between the two. The inmate-to-staff ratio has increased from 4.1 inmates per staff member in FY2000 to 4.9 inmates per staff member in FY2011. Likewise, the inmate to correctional officer ratio increased from 9.8 inmates per correctional officer in FY2000 to 10.2 inmates per correctional officer in FY2011, but this is down from a high of 10.9 inmates per correctional officer in FY2005. The growing prison population is taking a toll on the infrastructure of the federal prison system. The BOP reports that it has a backlog of 154 modernization and repair projects with an approximate cost of $349 million for FY2012. Past appropriations left the BOP in a position where it could expand bedspace to manage overcrowding but not reduce it. However, reductions in funding since FY2010 mean that the BOP will lack the funding to begin new prison construction in the near future. At the same time, it has become more expensive to expand the BOP's capacity. Should Congress choose to consider policy options to address the issues resulting from the growth in the federal prison population, policymakers could choose options such as increasing the capacity of the federal prison system by building more prisons, investing in rehabilitative programming, or placing more inmates in private prisons. Policymakers might also consider whether they want to revise some of the policy changes that have been made over the past three decades that have contributed to the steadily increasing number of offenders being incarcerated. For example, Congress could consider options such as (1) modifying mandatory minimum penalties, (2) expanding the use of Residential Reentry Centers, (3) placing more offenders on probation, (4) reinstating parole for federal inmates, (5) expanding the amount of good time credit an inmate can earn, and (6) repealing federal criminal statutes for some offenses. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2013. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: CRS Report R42937: Accessed January 29, 2013 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42937.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42937.pdf Shelf Number: 127433 Keywords: Federal InmatesFederal Prison PopulationFederal PrisonersFederal Prisons (U.S.) |
Author: Pollack, Shoshana Title: Locked In, Locked Out: Imprisoning Women in the Shrinking and Punitive Welfare State Summary: Women represent a small proportion of people in jails and prisons in Canada. In 2003/04, 9% of prisoners in provincial and territorial jails were women and 6% of federal prisoners were women (Statistics Canada, 2006). However, despite decreasing crime rates, the rate of women federally incarcerated in Canada is steadily increasing. In 2003 there were 822 federally sentenced women, 374 (45%) of whom were in prison and 448 (55%) were out on bail or under community supervision. By 2006-07, there were 476 women in federal prisons. Between 1997 and 2006, the population of women in federal prisons jumped 22% (Correctional Service of Canada, 2006). Similar trends are seen in other industrialized countries. In the US, for example, Chesney-Lind (2002) states that there is a "women's imprisonment boom." Both Australia and Great Britain are also experiencing an increase in numbers of women being imprisoned (Balfour & Comack, 2006). Feminist activists and researchers have expressed great concern about this growing worldwide trend and many have pointed to neo-liberal policy changes as contributing to the dramatic increase in the imprisonment of women. Drastic cuts to social assistance, the creation of a precarious low-wage job market, reduction in publicly funded daycare, and cuts to social services, addictions treatment and mental health services have eroded the social safety net. It is the already disadvantaged members of our communities who are most hard hit by neo-liberal socio-economic policies. The dismantling of social services and welfare state provisions have resulted "in the increased criminalization of the most marginalized and vulnerable members of our communities" (Neve and Pate, 2005: 27). An overwhelming majority of imprisoned women are convicted of property offences whereas 3% are convicted of violent offences (Statistics Canada, 2006). The most common charge for women charged with property crimes is theft under $5000 or fraud. Many women have committed income-generating offences such as fraud, shoplifting, prostitution and robbery to support addictions (AGC, 2003). In Canada, the fastest growing group of incarcerated women is Aboriginal. The rate of imprisoned Aboriginal women jumped 72.5% between 1996 and 2004 (Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2006). Although Aboriginal people comprise 3% of the Canadian population, 19% of federal prisoners are Aboriginal. For women this number is even higher: 32% of federal female prisoners are Aboriginal. Research has illustrated that well over the majority of imprisoned women in North America have histories of childhood abuse, have experienced violence in their intimate relationships with men, often live in poverty, endure systemic racialized violence and have addictions (Gilfus, 1992; Comack, 1996; Richie, 1996; Owen, 1998; Task Force on Federally Sentenced Women, 1990). This research, often referred to as the 'pathways to crime' literature, illustrates that attempts to cope with victimization experiences such as childhood abuse and violence against women, propel many women into situations that put them at risk of being criminalized. Details: Toronto: Wilfrid Laurier University, 2008. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2016 at: http://www.efryottawa.com/documents/LockedinLockedout-SPollockresearchreport.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Canada URL: http://www.efryottawa.com/documents/LockedinLockedout-SPollockresearchreport.pdf Shelf Number: 138722 Keywords: AboriginalsFederal PrisonersFemale InmatesFemale OffendersFemale Prisoners |
Author: United States Sentencing Commission Title: Life Sentences in the Federal System Summary: Life imprisonment sentences are rare in the federal criminal justice system. Virtually all offenders convicted of a federal crime are released from prison eventually and return to society or, in the case of illegal aliens, are deported to their country of origin. Yet in fiscal year 2013 federal judges imposed a sentence of life imprisonment without parole on 153 offenders. Another 168 offenders received a sentence of a specific term of years that was so long it had the practical effect of being a life sentence. Although together these offenders represent only 0.4 percent of all offenders sentenced that year, this type of sentence sets them apart from the rest of the offender population. This report examines life sentences in the federal system and the offenders on whom this punishment is imposed. There are numerous federal criminal statutes that authorize a life imprisonment sentence to be imposed as the maximum sentence. The most commonly used of these statutes involve drug trafficking, racketeering, and firearms crimes. Additionally, there are at least 45 statutes that require a life sentence to be imposed as the minimum penalty. These mandatory minimum penalties generally are required in cases involving the killing of a federal official or other government employee, piracy, or repeat offenses involving drug trafficking or weapons. In fiscal year 2013, 69 of the 153 offenders who received a sentence of life imprisonment were subject to a mandatory minimum penalty requiring the court to impose that sentence. Details: Washington, DC: United States Sentencing Commission, 2016. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 7, 2016 at: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-projects-and-surveys/miscellaneous/20150226_Life_Sentences.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-projects-and-surveys/miscellaneous/20150226_Life_Sentences.pdf Shelf Number: 145309 Keywords: Federal PrisonersLife ImprisonmentLife Sentences Life Without Parole (U.S.) Punishment Sentencing |