https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE Expo
    • Calendar of Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Public Safety


Article

Challenge to reduce prison populations

Challenge to reduce prison populations

The Safety and Justice Challenge aims to reduce over-incarceration and over-reliance on prisons at the state and local level.
  • Written by Derek Prall
  • 11th March 2015

Prison overpopulation is a growing concern. Resources are stretched thin, and local and state leaders are looking for solutions. The Safety and Justice Challenge is one available resource.



The $75 million program, launched by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, seeks to reduce over-incarceration by changing the way American political leadership thinks about and uses jails and prisons. The challenge will support cities seeking to create justice systems that will improve public safety, save taxpayer dollars and lead to better social outcomes, according to program materials.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2013 1.57 million adults were incarcerated in state and federal prisons, and 731,200 were housed in local jails. Those on probation numbered 3.91 million and 853,200 were on parole. Overall, the number of adults under correctional supervision is down – it is at its lowest level since 2003. 



However, the American prison population is staggering when compared to other developed countries. According to The New York Times, the U.S. has less than five percent of the world’s population, but nearly a quarter of the world’s prisoners.

Additionally, a common criticism is that minorities are disproportionately targeted by the American Justice system. In her book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, author and civil rights lawyer Michelle Alexander says that the U.S. imprisons a larger percentage of its black population than South Africa did at the height of apartheid.

The Safety and Justice Challenge seeks to mitigate the problem. “For too long America has incarcerated too many people unnecessarily, spending too much money without improving public safety,” Julia Stasch, MacArthur’s interim president said in a statement. “Jails are where our nation’s incarceration problem begins; there are nearly 12 million jail admissions every year, and jails too often serve as warehouses for those too poor to post bail, nonviolent offenders, or people with mental illness. With this substantial, long-term commitment and investment, MacArthur hopes to support and demonstrate alternatives to incarceration as usual, and to create demand and momentum for change across the country.”

The challenge will support jurisdictions across the country working to safely reduce over-reliance on jails with a particular focus on addressing impacts on the poor and minorities. The foundation will fund up to 20 jurisdictions to design and implement plans for creating fairer, more effective local justice systems. The foundation recently released a request for proposals.

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on Youtube

Tags: News Public Safety Article

Most Recent


  • White House publishes climate resilience framework, announces more than $500M for resilience projects
    While communities across the United States scramble to recover from the impact of increasingly devastating natural disasters—and prepare for whatever comes next—the federal government is taking unprecedented steps to guide local governments through a first-ever White House Climate Resilience Summit and its National Climate Resilience Framework. “In just the first eight months of the year, […]
  • disasters
    10 Safest Cities from Natural Disasters
    September is National Preparedness Month, which helps to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies. This year’s theme is “Take Control in 1,2,3,” focusing on preparing older adults for disasters, specifically those that live in areas impacted by all-hazard events. As a way to mark National Preparedness Month, Gutter Gnome recently […]
  • Advocacy organizations call for congressional action ahead of looming federal shutdown
    The political spat that’s frozen congressional action on the budget, potentially leading to a government shutdown if an agreement isn’t reached by midnight Saturday, could create ripple effects felt far beyond the jurisdictional lines of the United States Capitol. If a shutdown happens, ‘nonessential’ federal government functions would hault. Federal employees wouldn’t receive paychecks. Benefits […]
  • How governments can help older adults age in place during a housing crisis
    As a shortage of 6.5 million homes confronts the nation, the population of the U.S. skews increasingly older. The lack of affordable housing, compounded with the growing population of Americans over age 65, means that older adults who desire to age in place are finding it much more difficult to stay in their communities. The […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • How governments can keep employees safe as they return to work
  • Preventing cyber-attacks needs to be a priority for local governments
  • Building community and officer wellness through data sharing
  • California city combines advanced technology with dedicated public safety team for comprehensive emergency management

White papers


7 Resources to Level-up Your Federal Grants Administration and Compliance

5th September 2023

Elevator Phone Line Replacement Strategy | A Guide to Reliable, Code-Compliant Solutions

29th August 2023

2023 State of Public Sourcing Report: The Bright Future of Public Procurement

23rd August 2023
view all

Webinars


Grant Preparedness: Unlocking Funding Opportunities for Your Success

10th August 2023

2023 State of Public Sourcing: Taking Local Governments into a Bright Future

1st August 2023

Stop Playing with Fire: How to Manage Infrastructure Asset Risk So You Know You’re Covered

20th June 2023
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


10 of the leafiest city capitals in the United States

2nd October 2023

10 Safest Cities from Natural Disasters

29th September 2023

Gallery: Hottest temperatures recorded in American cities during July

12th September 2023
view all

Twitter


Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.