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Connecticut, Louisiana, and North Dakota all repealed mandatory minimum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.
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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