The Pros And Cons Of Prison Overpopulation

204 Words1 Pages
Ok, so let me get this right imprisonment is supposed to reduce crime in two ways: it takes criminals off the street so they can’t commit new crimes (incapacitation) and it discourages would-be criminals from committing crimes (deterrence). If this is correct then I see why our prisons are so overpopulated. It is my belief that overpopulation of our prisons is due in part to a large number of those incarcerated are for nonviolent crimes (property crimes, drug related offenses, public order) and not so much violent crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, assault) that many people believe. Of the nonviolent crimes, drug related offenses are the most prevalent. So why is this so? Partly due to legislators around the country enacting harsher mandatory