With the number of offenders in prison, there is a desperate need for more jails to be constructed. The Chief Justice in England has called overcro

There have also been many petitions to help benefit and support the alternatives. The escalation of overcrowding has been a major issue that keeps arising. Because it is impossible to build all of these prisons, there should be alternatives used to keep overcrowding to a minimum (Altprison). "We can have order without new jails and prisons if we pursue social and economic justice we will have chaos, even with a thousand new prisons, if we deny it," reports former prison warden William Nagel (Sonic). The damage that imprisonment brings to victims of drug addiction and their families as well as the tax burden on state revenues is extremely high. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University reported that states are spending too much on imprisonment or substance abuse problems. There are a number of agencies actually based on just finding alternatives to prisons (Altprison).

Additional Measures taken with Under 18 is the referral order, in which any youth found guilty must visit a Youth Offender Panel. This panel is a ground of 5 or 6 members that decide where and how long the youth will be under a certain program. Absolute discharge is when the youth is found guilty, but no further action is taken against them. Conditional discharge is when no immediate punishment is taken, but if the offender commits an offence within a certain period of time he/she will be brought back and be resentenced (Payback).

Not all of these alternatives are best for each person, and ofcourse, everything can be improved for nothing is perfect. Some great ways to improve the system would be helpful in making it as helpful and working society. Implementing a Statewide Drug Court Program would allow the offender to decide between jail or treatment. This way money is not wasted for someone who does not intend on being an active participant. He/she will be able to attend weekly meetings, hold jobs, pass regular drug tests, and pay court fees. If they improve their addiction, they will be saving an emmence amount of money, and this could actually become a modest investment for them. Expanding a House Arrest Program should be part of a judge's sentencing option. If the offender violates his/her requirements, then he/she should be sent to the Department of Corrections facility. This is a good improvement for those who are incarcerating nonviolent offenders. Requiring offenders to make restitution should be a priority. It will aid the victims of their losses and allow the criminals to redeem themselves (Hattiesburg).

The Drug Treatment and Testing Order is more of a specific crime based alternative. The offender must go through drug treatment for dependency and take regular tests to prove that they are responding. The major problem is that the offender must consent to this order, allowing them to recover anywhere from 6 months to 3 years (Payback). Some offenders will not agree to participate in the treatment center, and therefor will take a longer time to recover. This program allows the offender to reevaluate his/her life, and try to straighten it out in order to pursue a better future. Though this alternative has no direct payback into the community, it benefits the offender in making his/her life more progressive, and therefore, becoming an involved part of the society.

These alternative have actually been quite beneficial. Theft and handling is down one third to one fourth, burglary is down 12% to 6%, and reduction in prison crowding is actually on a decrease (Rethinking). An important factor to consider is that prisons

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