OVERCROWDING IN SOUTH CAROLINA PRISONS

Overcrowding in South Carolina Prisons



Overcrowding in South Carolina Prisons

Introduction

Prison overcrowding, also called “prison crowding,” is a matter of great contention and concern in current criminal justice public policy debates in both Canada and the United States. Davis, et al (2004) mention coming to public attention as a social problem most recently in the South Carolina in the late 1970s, prison overcrowding has coincided with the unprecedented growth in the nation's prison population over the past several decades. This paper discusses Overcrowding in South Carolina Prisons in a concise and comprehensive way.

Overcrowding and Correction System In South Carolina Prisons

Prison overcrowding in South Carolina prisons includes a lack of appropriate programming available to the incarcerated. With high levels of illiteracy, few educational or substantive employment programs, as well as limited access to mental health resources, the potential for disorder in prisons is high. In addition, corrections staff may face greater difficulty in managing an inmate population that exceeds a building's planned capacity, particularly if those professionals are understaffed or inadequately trained.

In the South Carolina Prisons, one reason for the increase in inmate population is that the response to certain types of offenses and certain types of offenders (e.g., repeat offenders, drug offenders, violent offenders, immigration violators, and those convicted of drunk driving or weapons offenses) has become harsher (Davis, et al, 2004).

Another reason for overcrowding in South Carolina prisons is that convicted inmates are remaining incarcerated for a larger portion of their prison sentence. Traditionally, judges had discretion in sentencing an offender under felony class guidelines. Following the mandatory sentencing laws of 1986, however, states began implementing minimum sentence requirements for certain crimes. If a crime under these guidelines called for a minimum of 10 years and no greater than 30 years, the offender must serve at ...