Alternatives To Incarceration Essay

As a Private Prison Design Specialist, it is critical to come up with long-term solutions to the current congestion problems at most of the prisons in the U.S. There is an urgent need to address congestion issues at prisons through long-term planning and seeking alternatives to incarceration especially in relation with individuals who commit minor crimes. Currently, more than half of those incarcerated are due to minor offences such as drug peddling, which can be addressed through other means to avoid overloading of the prisons. This paper addresses some of the alternatives to incarceration that the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) can adopt to avoid overloading of prisons.
Alternatives to Corrections
Those found guilty for various drug offences should undergo community corrections or probation. …show more content…
Restorative justice is another suitable alternative to incarceration that that Corrections Corporation of America can implement. Restorative justice is a form of punishment that entails holistic sentencing (FAMM, 2011). The main idea behind restorative justice is to bring healing to all individuals impacted by the act. In dealing with drug related offences, offenders should first undergo a mandatory therapy program or counselling. Those who fail to complete the program successfully should face severe punishment such as imprisonment for a particular period. On the other hand, those who successfully complete the program should help law enforcement officers reach out to drug addicts and other type of offenders in order to help them quit the vice. For instance, they can help fight drug abuse in schools and in community as part of their commitment to stop drug use for a particular period. Restorative justice may be cheaper to incarceration, which costs about $80 per prisoner per day. Therapy programs are effective to incarceration in helping drug addicts quit the vice. Majority of drug offenders who reenter the community face the risk of