Introduction

• Author: Richard Kern,William Bales
• Date: 01 June 2010
• Published date: 01 June 2010
• DOI: 10.3818/JRP.12.1.2010.1
• Subject Matter: Special Issue on Sentencing and Corrections in the States

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Introduction

William Bales

Associate Professor

College of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Florida State University

Richard Kern

Director

Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission

JRP Guest Editors

Sp e c i a l iS S u e o n Se n t e n c i n g a n d co r r e c t i o n S i n t h e St a t e S

P

This special issue of Justice Research and Policy contains invited articles on crimi-

nal sentencing and corrections, a criminological topic that, arguably, generates the

most attention from criminal justice system policy makers, lawmakers, and judges.

Nationwide, the steep growth in our incarcerated population has generated a

prolif‌ic amount of discussion both in the academic literature and the popular

media. Over the last two decades, our national prison population has nearly

tripled to the point that it is estimated that more than one in every 100 adults

is now conf‌ined in an American jail or prison.1 The increased costs associated

with housing so many inmates are daunting. In 1987, the states collectively spent

$10.6 billion of their general funds on corrections, while in 2007 they spent more

than $44 billion – a 315% jump.2

With so many states struggling in these economically lean times to balance

their budgets, a question frequently asked is whether or not the huge investment in

corrections spending is reaping satisfactory returns vis-à-vis enhanced public safety

1 One in 100: Behind Bars in American 2008. The PEW Center on the States, Febru-

ary 2008.

2

Ibid