What is the most common reason people are incarcerated?
Drug offenses still account for the incarceration of almost 400,000 people, and drug convictions remain a defining feature of the federal prison system. Police still make over 1 million drug possession arrests each year, many of which lead to prison sentences.
Shock Incarceration: Target Population
Shock Incarceration is an intervention program by the government to provide short-term solutions to the prison overcrowding. The program generally focuses on certain target population.
Young Offenders
Most shock incarceration programs target youth offenders. These programs typically last for shorter time periods, often in combination with substance abuse treatment. The goal of these programs is often to provide structure to the everyday lives of these young offenders, helping them to see the consequences of their actions.
Low-Level Offenders
Shock incarceration programs also target low-level offenders. These programs often combine educational and job-training components with the traditional military style discipline and physical training. The goal of these programs is to instill discipline while providing practical training and job skills.
Drug Offenders
Other shock incarceration programs specifically target drug offenders. They generally involve a period of incarceration followed by supervised probation and drug treatment. These programs focus on providing education and addiction treatment to people who are at risk of entering, or already engaged in, a lifestyle of crime and drug use.
Benefits
Shock incarceration programs offer a number of potential benefits. They can provide an opportunity to get individuals off the streets and into a program that can potentially give them the skills they need to make better judgments. They can help to reduce recidivism and, in some cases, help to reintegrate individuals into society.
In conclusion, shock incarceration is designed with different target populations in mind, such as young offenders, low-level offenders, and drug offenders. The goal of these programs is to provide structure, discipline, and job training to people who need a second chance. By providing these services, shock incarceration programs are helping to reduce recidivism while also assisting individuals in breaking the cycle of crime and addiction.
References
- Shoemaker, D. J. (2015). Shock incarceration and boot camps: What are their effects on recidivism? Criminal Justice and Behavior, 42, 644-
665. - La Vigne, N. G., Sorensen, J. B., & Visher, C. A. (2004). Keeping prisoners and ex-offenders connected to their families. Urban
Institute Press. - Dickey, T. (2012). Shock incarceration: An overview. Journal of Correctional Education, 63, 4-9.