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"Fixed" Sentencing Reforms: The Effect on the Racial Composition of Imprisonment Rates Over Time
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Leymon 23
of locking criminals up is increasingly expensive
21
and “prison beds” are currently at critical levels in a
number of states (Jacobs and Carmichael, 2001; Levitt, 1996; Shane-DuBow, 1998). Rapid increases in
prison populations can be devastating to a system that is often slow to respond (Kruttschnitt, 2005). The
problem is exacerbated by other recent sentencing policies including truth in sentencing and three strikes
laws that further increase prison populations (Irwin and Austin, 1997).
21
In table 1, Model 3, the analysis reveals a coefficient of .519. The overall costs to individual states can potentially be
costly. For example, Oregon, a state that has implemented sentencing guidelines, spends $23,389.20 per inmate. When
the logarithmic growth curve variable is calculated out for seven years, the effect is about a 1-prisoner increase per 1000 for that year, indicating that guidelines have a relatively large effect (considering the overall imprisonment rates are about 4 inmates per 1000). In Oregon guidelines could cost the state 81.48 million dollars a year (based on 2003’s total state population). While considerable variation from state to state exists, the average cost per inmate across all states in 2003 was $22,650, suggesting that the cost is likely to be high in all states that implement sentencing guidelines (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2003).
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Leymon 23
of locking criminals up is increasingly expensive
21
and “prison beds” are currently at critical levels in a
number of states (Jacobs and Carmichael, 2001; Levitt, 1996; Shane-DuBow, 1998). Rapid increases in
prison populations can be devastating to a system that is often slow to respond (Kruttschnitt, 2005). The
problem is exacerbated by other recent sentencing policies including truth in sentencing and three strikes
laws that further increase prison populations (Irwin and Austin, 1997).
21
In table 1, Model 3, the analysis reveals a coefficient of .519. The overall costs to individual states can potentially be
costly. For example, Oregon, a state that has implemented sentencing guidelines, spends $23,389.20 per inmate. When
the logarithmic growth curve variable is calculated out for seven years, the effect is about a 1-prisoner increase per 1000
for that year, indicating that guidelines have a relatively large effect (considering the overall imprisonment rates are
about 4 inmates per 1000). In Oregon guidelines could cost the state 81.48 million dollars a year (based on 2003’s total
state population). While considerable variation from state to state exists, the average cost per inmate across all states in
2003 was $22,650, suggesting that the cost is likely to be high in all states that implement sentencing guidelines (Bureau
of Justice Statistics 2003).
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