The question to consider is whether the changes in laws which has resulted in an increased number of inmates, construction of new prisons, renovation of existing facilities, and spending tens of billions of dollars to house prisoners are good public policy. As noted previously, the absolute number of violent and dangerous offenders in prison has not increased significantly. The largest portion of the growth has come from the incarceration of drug offenders. Whether our nation can withstand another decade of a policy to try to build our way out of prison overcrowding is a question that must be addressed in a thoughtful and pragmatic manner by corrections and elected officials.

The dramatic differences in the incarceration rates among various states require the view of perhaps the most important policy issue regarding corrections in the United States:

• Does the increase in the use of incarceration reduce the risk to citizens of being victimized and, if so, is that reduction of risk worth the additional cost of such incarceration? Explain.