Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

The population of state prisons across the country has grown 700% since the 1970s. The United States prison system currently houses 192,096 federal inmates. In 1980, the population was 24,640. The prison population for state and federal facilities was estimated as 1,561,500 in 2014. In many states prisons and jails are overcrowded. In Pennsylvania the state prison population was 48,309 in August 2016, which is 4% “over capacity” and 2000 people more than standard capacity.

 Are we successfully reducing crime and protecting the community through incarceration? As this paper will explore, incarceration is just one solution. States and policy makers are looking to many other ways to reduce crime and protect public safety. A growing array of evidence suggests community supervision programs are a cost effective alternative that reduces recidivism rates while protecting the community, and reintegrating past offenders in society. Aleph Institute, a humanitarian Jewish organization located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a proponent of community solutions that help our clients refrain from criminal activities and return to their communities. As a religious organization, Aleph’s solutions are tailored to the Jewish community’s needs but are open to all who request assistance. Aleph is one example of the many nonprofits changing the mold through evidence based rehabilitation. 

Alternative sentences carry multiple benefits to society and to individuals. Half way houses, work release programs, house arrest, and day reporting programs are much lower cost to operate, so local, state and federal governments can invest in other programs such as victim services and addiction treatment. Furthermore, these solutions mean people are closer to their families, friends, and communities. Many families cannot afford to miss work or travel long distances to visit family members in prison. The Urban Institute found that prisoners with high level of family support and involvement have a higher chance of success when they leave the criminal justice system. Ex-offenders that participate in religious activities and education are less like to re-offend.

Alternative sentences help people make amends by serving the community through volunteering and repairing the harm caused by their actions. Restorative justice approaches such as these emphasize repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior in a way that benefits the community.  Aleph hopes that alternative sentencing practices will become more widespread in Pittsburgh and around the country. Community solutions and alternative sentencing provide options for rehabilitation and successful reentry. They benefit clients through provide health treatments, employment options, family relationship counseling, religious community and support, and much more. Community supervision reduce rates of reoffending and saves money for society. The Aleph Institute is committed to providing services to help our clients achieve their goals.