Pubdate: Tue, 15 Apr 2003
Source: Gambit Weekly (LA)
Copyright: 2003, Gambit Communications, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/current/gw_index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2406
Author: Randy Boudreaux

THE COSTS OF CRIME

Katy Reckdahl's critique of the "prison-industrial complex" in her article 
("Big Picture," April 1) unfortunately looks at only one small part of the 
picture. Families of felons are hurt when their loved ones are incarcerated 
(whatever the likelihood prisons are teaming with good parents). However, 
we must also calculate the benefits to everyone of fewer felons on the 
street, not the least of which are the residents of Treme.

Ms. Reckdahl discussed the costs of policing and jailing criminals in 
certain areas. Certainly this is a tiny percentage of the cost to 
individuals and society from crime. Most career criminals will commit 
dozens of crimes during a lifetime. Keeping felons in prison (especially 
until middle age when men commit many fewer violent acts) greatly reduces 
the number of crimes.

The costs to victims and society resulting from crimes are enormous. The 
murder victim leaves orphans to be cared for. Theft increases the costs to 
everyone through higher product prices and insurance costs. Can a price 
ever reflect the damage done to a victim of rape or child abuse? Perhaps 
Ms. Reckdahl should visit the victims of crime and their families when she 
writes about the "prison-industrial complex."

 From the late 1950s to the early '90s the crime rate stubbornly increased. 
This occurred through periods of recession and prosperity. Curiously, 
incarceration rates fell during this period. However, since the early '90s, 
there has been a dramatic increase in incarceration rates as a result of 
reforms like "three strikes" laws. Not surprisingly, this has coincided 
with a dramatic decrease in crime throughout the nation. This has been 
expensive, but arguably a very wise investment when we think of the 
murders, rapes and assaults prevented.

Instead of attacking incarceration, Ms. Reckdahl should have focused her 
energy on our pointless and expensive imprisoning of those possessing small 
amounts of drugs. By reforming drug laws, we free up lots of prison space 
so that we can incarcerate more violent criminals for longer periods of 
time. An actual big picture approach takes into account not just the cost 
to felons' families but also the benefits to victims' families and, most 
importantly, the benefits of fewer crimes to everyone.

Randy Boudreaux
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MAP posted-by: Beth