Overcrowded Prisons in California

Problem Narrative

The number of incarcerated persons in the California State Prison System has soared to astoundingly high numbers over the past four decades; thus, resulting to an immensely overcrowded prison system.  The California State Prison System is not only the largest in the United States but also the most overcrowded one, even despite the fact that California has invested 5.2 billion dollars into building new prison facilities and expanding previously built facilities since the late 1970s (Dungan).  The number of inmates in California in 1977, which was approximately 19,600 inmates increased by nearly eight times this number to approximately 161,000 inmates in 2000 (Dungan).  All of California's 33 prison facilities are overcrowded by at least 150 percent (Dungan).  The astronomical increase in inmates in California is widely attributed to harsher punishments for parole violators, severe mandatory sentences, and California's infamous three strikes law which has placed a little over 40,000 Californians in prison since it was implemented in 1994 (ACLU).  In addition more than half of the persons incarcerated under the three strikes law were non violent offenders and are now serving hefty sentences for crimes such as drug possession and petty theft.  These hefty sentences that are received under the three strikes law keep inmates in the prison system for a longer period of time than they would be serving if it was the first time they committed this non violent offense as opposed to the third one, which ultimately further contributes to the overcrowding problem.  Another effect of the the overcrowded prison system is nonviolent and violent offenders are forced to be housed together, which increases the probability of inmate violence and in turn decrease the chances the inmates will truly become fully rehabilitated.  The overcrowded prisons increase tensions within the prisons and creates an environment that no longer will serve the true purpose they were supposedly built for, which is the rehabilitation of the criminal offenders.

The impact that overcrowding has had on the prisoners and employees in the prison system are entirely apparent and have resulted in a dangerous environment for all.  The pressure of so many prisoners in such confined spaces has induced prisoners to riot and employees to commit shameful and atrocious acts.  If something is not done to stop this cycle the California prison system may not be able to expand enough to accommodate all offenders.

Problem Statement

The number of incarcerated Californian has increased eightfold over the past four decades and has put an immense strain on the housing capacities of the state prison system and ultimately led to atrocious overcrowding in all facilities statewide.

Key Variables

"Hard Variables"

• Number of persons incarcerated yearly
• Number of prison facilities built over time
• Percentage of overcrowding in each specific facility and region of the state

"Soft Variables"

• Public Pressure to lessen crime in CA
• Immense crack down and harsh punishments put in place by CA law makers
• Criminal motivations for committing crimes continuously
• Tensions increased with the prison system on employees and inmates

BOTGs

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