Running head: LEPS 500 MODULE 1: CORRECTIONS & RECIDIVISM

LEPS 500 Module 1: Corrections & Recidivism

Sean Kearney

University of San Diego

Module 1: Corrections & Recidivism

After researching the material contained within the module, it is quite apparent that the

mass incarceration that has occurred in this country since 1970 is ineffective, costly, and

disproportionately imposed upon people of color. The causes and consequences of crime,

incarceration, recidivism, and other related issues have been studied at length, and we are

presently no closer to an overarching solution. Travis and Western (2014) as well as the United

States Bureau of Prisons [LEPS 500 Presentation 1 (2019)] and the History and Development of

Corrections [LEPS 500 Presentation 1 (2019)] concur with the notion that the size and

composition of the prison population is unacceptable to a civilized society, and that efforts to

improve particularly since the 2010 timeframe have fallen short. In the opinion of this writer, the

most compelling and important theme facing the American correctional system is that of the

perceived need to change. A change to effectively reform a criminal justice system that feeds the

correctional element beyond its capacity without succeeding in its rehabilitative goals is the ever-

elusive goal that drives this discussion.

It is clear that the American criminal justice system’s incarceration rates, particularly

in the 1980s and 1990s, fueled the huge prison, parole, and probation population that is under

discussion at this time. The “warehousing model” and the “just desserts era” of the 1980s and

1990s [LEPS 500 Presentation 1 (2019)] in reaction to failed attempts at criminal rehabilitation

in previous decades led to a remarkable increase to incarceration numbers. Up until

approximately 2010, the number of people incarcerated or under supervision continued to rise at

an unsustainable rate, both in cost and in societal impact. Well-intentioned efforts to reduce

populations through reduced sentences, early parole, changes in crime definitions, and other
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measures since 2010 have attempted to stem this flow of prisoners and probationers in our

society, with an efficacy that is yet to be adequately measured [LEPS 500 Presentation 1 (2019)].

In this writer’s home state of California, legislative initiatives such as AB109,

Proposition 47, and Proposition 57 were intended to reduce prison populations by housing

convicted felons in county jails, reducing many felony crimes to misdemeanors, and allowing

early parole to certain state prisoners. However, according to Los Angeles Deputy District

Attorney Michele Hanisee, the unintended consequences, as well as the deception of voters into

thinking these measures would improve public safety, have proven exactly the opposite [Los

Angeles District Attorney (n.d.)], and the crime rate continues to rise at an exponential rate.

Closer to home in this writer’s jurisdiction of Carlsbad, California, all reported categories of

violent and property crime have risen between 7 and 9 percent from 2017 to 2018 [San Diego

Association of Governments (2018)] after implementation of AB109, Propositions 47 and 57,

and a massive influx of homeless drug addicts being “supervised” under these programs.

The future may hold additional transformations as politicians and others attempt to

reverse the trends of the past 50 years. Change in the justice and correctional systems, as noted

by Professor Fritsvold [LEPS 500 Presentation 1 (2019)], is driven substantially by the “Big

Four” states: California, New York, Texas, and Florida. These states are politically dissimilar,

but the tail of the “Big Four” dog tends to wag the rest of the country as it relates to correctional

issues. As an example, California’s new governor, Gavin Newsom, has promised to do even

more in the area of criminal justice reform. Newsom has been an advocate of Proposition 64

which legalized marijuana possession in the state in 2016, along with several other initiatives

such as the concept of restorative justice. Restorative justice includes repairing harm,

involvement of stakeholders, and the transformation of community and governmental roles and
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relationships [Thomas, Bilger, Wilson, and Draine (2018)]. These scholars note that many

prisoners have a mental health diagnosis and could benefit from restorative justice in order to

successfully reintegrate with society after release from jail or prison. It is yet to be seen what the

true consequences of these “soft” approaches to criminality might be.

In conclusion, Greek philosopher Heraclitus’ adage of “the only constant in life is

change” is most assuredly applicable to this discussion of compelling issues in the justice and

correctional systems. Changes in policy and practice over the years have resulted in the

pendulum swinging in both directions as it pertains to crime and punishment, and change is

clearly needed as current methods are lacking efficacy. As we continue to examine this subject

as law enforcement professionals, we are certain to increase our understanding in search of

meaningful change in the criminal justice system.

References

Bureau of Prisons: Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.bop.gov/about/history/timeline.jsp

History and Development of Corrections 1700 to Present Timeline (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.preceden.com/timelines/23091-history-and-development-of-corrections-

1700-present

LEPS 500 Presentation 1 (2019). Retrieved from USD Blackboard.

Los Angeles District Attorney. (n.d.). Impacts of AB 109, Propositions 47 & 57. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkW_H1fyf2w

San Diego Association of Governments (2018). Crime in the San Diego Region Mid-Year 2018

Statistics - CJ Bulletin September 2018. Retrieved from

https://www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_4532_24498.pdf

Thomas, E. C., Bilger, A., Wilson, A. B., & Draine, J. (2018). Conceptualizing restorative justice

for people with mental illnesses leaving prison or jail. American Journal of

Orthopsychiatry. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ort0000316

Travis, J., Western, B., & National Research Council (U.S.) (Eds.) [Electronic Edition].

(2014). The growth of incarceration in the United States: exploring causes and

consequences. Washington, D.C: The National Academies Press. Retrieved from

https://www.nap.edu/read/18613/chapter/4