9781422280003

Why Do We Need Alternatives to Prison? Words to Understand Electronic monitoring: Electronic or telecommunications system, such as an ankle bracelet transmitter, used to track and supervise the location of an individual. House arrest: State of being kept as a prisoner in one’s home rather than a prison; also called home detention. Parole: The release from prison, either early or after the sentence is fulfilled. Probation: A period where an offender is released from prison, but placed under su- pervision. Recidivism: The repeating of or returning to criminal behavior. The recidivism rate is

the percentage of released prisoners who go on to commit new crimes. Rehabilitation: To help someone return to good standing in the community.

In 1967, when he was 16 years old, George B. stole $60,000. He didn’t steal it all at once, though. Instead, he took a little at a time: $50 here, $100 there. Sometimes he got it by robbing strangers. If he saw a woman walking down a Manhattan street looking a little scared, he would push her up against the nearest wall and threaten to hurt her if she didn’t give him her money. George was six feet tall and weighed about 250 pounds, and since he only picked on people smaller than he, no one fought back. He had never, he said, been in a fight in his life.

The number of people currently incarcerated in the United States is about 2.2 million. As the number of inmates has risen, so have the costs.

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Prison Alternatives and Rehabilitation