| Many people think that the judicial and incarceration | | | | make the overcrowding in prisons a vicious never |
| system should be a simple one. You do the crime, | | | | ending cycle, since these inmates will be more likely |
| you do the time. However, many states are realizing | | | | to become repeat offenders and end up right back in |
| that although maybe it should be that simple, in | | | | prison. |
| reality, it just is not. Many states' prisons are | | | | In addition to increased recidivism rates, there is also |
| overcrowded. Arizona inmates are among those that | | | | the additional expense. The state of Arizona has paid |
| are feeling the crunch these days. It leaves the state | | | | over three times the cost of housing Arizona inmates |
| in a very difficult situation - where do they put their | | | | in its own prisons, to the state of Indiana just to |
| inmates when there is not enough money to build | | | | have some place to put the inmates. Tens of millions |
| new facilities? It is a question that has forced some | | | | of dollars. And then there are the inmates. While |
| states, such as Arizona to get creative. | | | | some may say that they should not have committed |
| Several years ago, Arizona's state prisons were | | | | the crime in the first place and while that may be |
| beyond full. They had thousand more inmates than | | | | true, extremely disgruntled inmates who have been |
| they had beds. One idea that they put into action | | | | cut off from their family can have consequences too. |
| was moving Arizona inmates to Indiana. Indiana's | | | | Rioting has been more common in prisons that |
| prisons had the beds and were happy to accept | | | | inmates are relocated to. |
| Arizona's inmates and money. It seemed like a win | | | | Obviously, there are no easy answers. Cutting back |
| win situation. However, the inmates and experts may | | | | prison terms has been considered, but putting |
| not agree. This situation put the inmates further from | | | | potentially dangerous criminals back on the streets |
| their family and loved ones. For most of these | | | | earlier is not an idea that appeals to many people. |
| inmates' families it was no longer possible for them to | | | | Building a larger facility would be the best option and |
| visit. Studies have been done that have shown that | | | | hopefully in time that will be an option for Arizona |
| recidivism rates drop when inmates stay in touch | | | | inmates. But until that day comes, they will most |
| with their family. It would seem that sending inmates | | | | likely face being moved around, state to state. |
| further away from their family, would in the end | | | | |