The United States is now spending about $60 billion a year to build new prisons and maintain the populations of the prisons we already have. The larger part of the tab falls to the states. The sentencing commission has shown a new readiness for flexibility in the last couple of years.(TOM TEEPEN 2009)
Texas, like many other southern states tend to use prison punishment more extensively than other states and also tends to hand out longer sentences for many crimes (Janda, Berry, and Goldman (Page 789). The punitive criminal justice system in Texas has a disproportionate effect on the African American Community.Janda, Berry, and Goldman [Page Number(789). Black citizens are incarcerated at a rate seven times greater than that of white citizens.One of every four adult black men ( between the ages 21-29) is incarcerated , on parole or on probation.One of every four adult blackmen in Texas, is under some form of criminal justice supervision.Janda, Berry, and Goldman( pg789)