“Human Capital”- The Insidious Reality Of The American Criminal Justice System Essay Example
“Human Capital”- The Insidious Reality Of The American Criminal Justice System Essay Example

“Human Capital”- The Insidious Reality Of The American Criminal Justice System Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (646 words)
  • Published: January 13, 2022
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Human capital is the combination of knowledge, personal attributes, habits, and creativity that individuals possess to engage in productive labor. Conversely, the criminal justice system comprises different agencies and procedures established by governments for handling crime and imposing punishments on lawbreakers. While the United States lacks a singular criminal justice system, it does have multiple comparable individual systems.

Experts have acknowledged the opportunity to maximize every aspect of human resources in criminal justice systems. There are multiple techniques to alter these systems and guarantee the most effective utilization of human capital. The subsequent conversation centers on diverse design approaches.

A considerable number of states have witnessed a substantial growth in their prison population over the years, with 36 states experiencing a threefold increase in their prison population as a proportion of the state populatio

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n since 1978. This rapid expansion has been excessive, persisting despite significant declines in crime rates during the 1990s.

Currently, corrections spending ranks as the third-largest expenditure category in many states, following education and human services. If states were to maintain the same level of corrections spending as they did in the mid-1980s after adjusting for inflation, they would have an additional $28 billion annually that could be used for more productive investments or a combination of investments and tax reductions. However, despite increased funding for corrections, there is still a lack of investment in the education of children and young adults living in high-poverty neighborhoods. This year, at least 30 states are providing reduced comprehensive funding per student for K-12 schools compared to pre-recession levels; when adjusted for inflation, this reduction exceeds 10 percent in 14 states. Cuts to higher education have been eve

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more significant: on average, states have decreased funding per student by 23 percent since the recession began.

In 2013, eleven states chose to prioritize corrections over higher education in their allocation of general assets. Additionally, some states with reduced education funding experienced high incarceration rates, which is an ineffective approach. By investing more in education and other sectors that support long-term economic growth instead of maintaining a large prison population, state economies would strengthen significantly. This reallocation of funds could particularly benefit low-income neighborhoods with disproportionately high incarceration rates. States can utilize resources in various ways, including expanding access to high-quality preschool programs, reducing class sizes in disadvantaged schools, and adjusting state financing formulas to invest more in economically marginalized regions.

The increase in state incarceration rates is primarily caused by the growing number of offenders sent to prison and their longer stays. However, states can reduce these rates without compromising public safety by reclassifying certain low-level offenses as misdemeanors, utilizing alternative options such as fines and victim restitution instead of imprisonment, decreasing jail and prison sentences, and eliminating prison terms for technical probation violations where no new crime has been committed. It is important to acknowledge that criminal justice reforms alone will not fully finance the increased investments in education that states need. The timing of this issue is significant as substantial funds resulting from reduced incarceration are expected to accumulate over several years through prison closures and a decrease in the prisoner population. Nevertheless, states must allocate more resources to education at an accelerated pace.

References

  1. Akers, R. ; Sellers, C. (2004). Criminological Theories: Introduction, Evaluation and Application. New York: Oxford University Press.
  2. Benson, B. L. (1997). To

Serve and Protect: Privatization and Community in Criminal Justice. New York: New York University Press.

  • Bohm, R. (2006).
  • "McJustice: On the McDonaldization of Criminal Justice." Justice Quarterly, 23: 127-146.

    • Dyer, J. (2000).  The Perpetual Prisoner Machine: How America Profits from Crime.  Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
    • Gunnison, R. B. (1997).

    A private prison may be constructed in the Mojave region, as reported in an article titled "Privately Run Prison Planned for Mojave: Firm Says It Can House Inmates Cheaper" published on August 1st by the San Francisco Chronicle. The company behind the project asserts that their facility will offer lower-cost accommodations for inmates.

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