Addressing the Corrections Crisis with Software Technology

More than 2.3 million people currently live in US prisons or jails, 25 percent of the world's total inmate population, a comparatively much higher rate than in other Western countries. Denmark only incarcerates 66 of every 100,000 citizens, compared to 760 in the US (www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/rel/icps/worldbrief/world_brief.html). This situation results from tough sentencing policies that focus on drug use and habitual offenders. Over three decades, these policies contributed to high incarceration rates. While most states have stopped enforcing these policies, the legacy remains, with high recidivism rates perpetuating the cycle. This situation has resulted in rampant overcrowding, with facilities operating at levels above design capacity and inmates frequently housed on bunks in recreational areas. Faced with rising costs and rampant overcrowding, correctional facilities are turning to software technologies for help.