Local Jail Population Drops—Positive Change or Risky “Social Engineering”?
The Public Policy Forum released a report this week showing the number of people incarcerated in Milwaukee County has dropped significantly over the past few years. Daily adult and juvenile incarceration rates have fallen a combined 16% according to the Journal Sentinel. But, not everyone is happy about it.
The falling jail numbers have resulted in a savings of $11 million to the taxpayers. The biggest drop is seen in juvenile populations where the number sentenced to state facilities fell 35% and those in local detention fell 17%. Adult populations in the county jail and County Correctional Facility-South fell 14.4%.
There are several possible reasons for the decrease and the crime rate is no doubt part of the equation. But better diversion programs definitely play a role. Chief Judge Jeffrey Kremers pointed to programs like drug treatment court, jail alternative programs, and more thorough needs assessments of inmates as playing a part in the drop.
But Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. doesn’t see all of these diversion programs as positive. He refers to them as “unwise social engineering” and says they hide and potentially worsen a public safety problem, particularly in low income and minority neighborhoods.
Both those who applaud the new programs and the Sheriff know that more research needs to be done on their effectiveness, in an effort to see what’s driving the falling jail populations and if the drop can truly be seen as positive.
In regards to juvenile incarceration, the trend to lock up kids is fading across the country. Studies have shown that incarceration of the youth can negatively impact their life indefinitely and put them at a greater risk for criminality as an adult. As a result, the legal community has begun more readily embracing alternatives to youth detention.
Done correctly, jail diversion programs are a benefit to all. The offender can remain in the community, among family, and be provided with the legal support system needed to make changes and pay their dues for the crime they were convicted of. Jail programming is often far less intensive than the programming offered to probationers and other offenders within the community.
Millions in savings is definitely a positive change. Also, with jail numbers lower, those who are sentenced to incarceration are more likely to find programming options because they jail isn’t overcrowded and attempting to serve far too many people.
There are many jail diversion and other options available to those people accused of crimes. When you are charged with a crime, even a felony, it doesn’t always mean you will definitely serve time—there are other options.
If you are charged with a crime and are curious what options are available to you, contact me today.
