Challenges and Opportunities for Change

Challenges in reducing crime and promoting a more just society continue to present themselves to the nation. Despite declining crime rates since the mid-1990s, the US incarceration rate is by far the highest. The number of people under every kind of supervision, especially prison populations, has skyrocketed since 1970. As of 2006, prisons in the US held over 2.2 million of its citizens. Despite these burgeoning correctional populations, our streets remain unsafe. The financial burden each of us bears for expensive and ineffective crime control policies is enormous; the social costs are immeasurable. Punishment alone will never be an answer to America’s crime problem or a solution for injustice.

Our Approach Rests on Three Basic Assumptions

Crime control policies must be based on data and best practices, not political rhetoric. The crime rate in the U.S. is intolerably high and will remain so under current criminal justice, economic, educational, and social welfare policies.

The correctional system can only have a limited impact on crime rates. Our prisons must be used sparingly for those offenders who are a threat to public safety and cannot be safely managed in the community. Incarceration is expensive and often leads to increased criminality. Prevention strategies and well-planned alternatives to incarceration can reduce the fiscal and social costs of current policies.