Homeland Security and Neighborhood Security

by Carl Wicklund, Executive Director and
Karen Fuller, Information Coordinator  

In spite of the necessary concern about homeland security, now is not the time to forego our neighborhood security by reducing funding for community corrections, a vital component of the justice system.  

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, by the end of 2000 the United States had over 2 million people incarcerated in state and federal prisons. Roughly 1,600 persons a day were released and placed on parole (persons found guilty of a crime who have served time in a prison) in 2000. Conservative estimates report the cost to incarcerate one person for one day at $55.00. The total yearly cost for incarceration are staggering and the affect on state budgets is debilitating.  

At the end of 2000, there were over 3.8 million adult men and women on probation (persons found guilty of a crime and not sent to prison), according to an August 2001 Bureau of Justice Statistics news release. Approximately 5,047 people are being placed on probation each day. At the end of 1998, the cost to supervise one adult under probation was just under $6.00 per day, according to the Criminal Justice Institute.  

A recent public opinion poll by Belden, Russonello and Stewart and a February 2002 report by the Open Society Institute reported the public believes laws should be changed to reduce the incarceration of non-violent offenders and rehabilitation should be the top priority of the justice system. Based on the latest prison statistics, it is estimated at yearend 2001 there were over 1,240,000 non-violent prisoners in the United States.  

While under community supervision probationers and parolees are required to have contact with their probation or parole officer as well as adhere to a number of ordered conditions that may include, but are not limited to, drug or mental health treatment, restitution, and community service work. Ensuring adequate resources for an acceptable level of supervision, effective treatment and other needed services (e.g., housing, job training/placement, education) for probationers and parolees are essential to long-term public safety.  

With more than 95 percent of those incarcerated eventually returning to the community, it is sound economic policy to re-examine sentencing practices and to utilize community corrections programming for non-violent offenders while at the same time protecting the public. There are research-supported, recidivism reducing programs being utilized by community corrections agencies nationwide offering an alternative to prison for non-violent, low-risk offenders. Placing these offenders under community supervision allows them the opportunity to be employed, support their family, pay taxes, and repay victims and communities for the harm that they have done while avoiding the costly budget allocations necessary for incarceration. In the year 2000, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 826,559 probationers and 181,277 parolees successfully completed the terms of their community supervision.  

Federal and state budgets are being cut as allocations are being redirected due to budget shortfalls and new priority demands. Indeed, policy makers face tough decisions given the concerns about deficits and homeland security. Nevertheless, now is not the time to reduce funding for vital programs that provide for our neighborhood safety.

Now is not the time to ignore neighborhood security in our efforts to ensure national security.