Apply It: Chapter $01$ You Decide Part I $-$ Choose Your Path: Challenges in Prison Management

slashed for a system that remains overcrowded. As a result, administrators must weigh the costs and benefits of each decision they make.

You are the jail administrator for a facility that has a housing capacity of $400$ individuals. You were appointed to this position by the sheriff, who is up for reelection later this year. According to state law, a jail that houses fewer than $500$ individuals is considered at capacity when it is $90\%$ full. According to county policy, any time the general prison populatio exceeds or threatens to exceed capacity for seven consecutive days, the population must be reviewed for candidates for early release.

Over the last fiscal year, the jail has regularly been at or over capacity. The overcrowding at the jail is seen as a problem both citizens and local politicians. Citizens worry that the regular early release of individuals from the jail puts their safet$)$ at risk. This is a concern for elected officials as well, as they are also critical of the expanding corrections budget. Because is an election year, the sheriff has a keen interest in getting the situation under control so that it does not have a negativ impact on his prospects for reelection.

Let's review a few concepts before you make a decision about this scenario.

Corrections activities make sense to the public when they