The "million dollar inmate" : the financial and social burden of nonviolent offenders / Heather Ahn-Redding.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ahn-Redding, Heather.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prisoners.

Prisons.

Prison sentences.

Physical Description:

xiv, 241 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, MD : Lexington Books, [2007]

Summary:

What kinds of beliefs do most Americans hold about crime and violence, and where do these beliefs come from? What kinds of people are sent to prison? Are the average inmates dangerous criminals, or are they involved in low level drug-related, property or public order offenses? Who is ultimately paying for their time in prison? The "Million Dollar Inmate" highlights the financial and social costs of America's incarceration of non-violent offenders. With its focus on the specific population of non-violent offenders, this book provides a unique, sociological approach to the problem of handling such a large population at such tremendous costs-paid for the most part, by taxpayers. Basing her insights on extensive research into the origins of America's correctional systems, the visible and non-visible costs incurred by the practice of incarcerating non-violent offenders, and the goals of the prison system. Heather Ahn-Redding dares to expose flaws in current correctional practices and suggest ways they can be not only changed but also re-envisioned.

Contents:

An introduction to the "million dollar inmate"

Punishment in the twentieth century : run-on sentences

Sentencing today : a sentence is a sentence

period!

Prison conditions

The financial costs of incarceration

Expensive prisoners

The social costs of incarceration : the hidden yet expensive side of prison

Retribution : can we have our "just desert" and eat it too?

Incapacitation : if we lock them up, maybe they'll just go away!

Some specifics on deterrence, in general

Prison rehabilitation and treatment : where is the correction in our correctional facilities?

The benefits of incarceration

real and perceived

Policy recommendations.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-231) and index.

ISBN:

9780739114964

0739114964

OCLC:

165081872