Question

From prison system annual budget, Identify if there are externalities being generated by the policies and actions adopted through the annual budget?

If there are, are they negative or positive? If negative, is the jurisdiction taking any steps to mitigate the impacts?

Answer 1

Most of it has to do with the way the American legal system works and how it has changed over the last 40 years. In the 1970’s, lawmakers were dealing with a nationwide rash of drug-use and crime. By declaring a nation-wide war on drugs in 1971, President Richard Nixon set a precedent for hard-line policies towards drug-related crime.

New York governor Nelson Rockefeller followed suit declaring “For drug pushing, life sentence, no parole, no probation.” His policies once put into action promised 15 years to life in prison for drug users and dealers. His policies catalyzed the growth of a colossal corrections system that currently houses an estimated 2.2 million inmates.

A positive externality is a benefit that is enjoyed by a third-party as a result of an economic transaction. Third-parties include any individual, organisation, property owner, or resource that is indirectly affected. While individuals who benefit from positive externalities without paying are considered to be free-riders, it may be in the interests of society to encourage free-riders to consume goods which generate substantial external benefits.

Most merit goods generate positive consumption externalities, which beneficiaries do not pay for. For example, with healthcare, private treatment for contagious diseases provides a considerable benefit to others, for which they do not pay. Similarly, with education, the skills acquired and knowledge learnt at university can benefit the wider community in many ways.

Unlike the case of negative externalities, which should be discouraged to achieve a socially efficient allocation of scarce resources, positive externalities should be encouraged

If budget is negative than Government should focus on these topics which are as follows:-

The Population

Levels of Supervision

Intensive Supervision

Intermediate Supervision

Treatment Levels and Treatment Components

Residential

Outpatient

Halfway Houses

Day Reporting

Treatment Components

What Treatment Services Can Reasonably Be Provided for People Under Community Supervision?

Basic Needs

Housing

Reintegration With Family Members and Social Support

Vocational Training and Employment

Case Management

Relapse Prevention

Treatment Issues for People Under Community Supervision

Self-Esteem and Identity

Financial Concerns

Barriers to Treatment

Motivation for Treatment

Negative Counselor Attitudes

Lifestyle Changes

Self-Help Groups

Adherence to Supervision Conditions

Vulnerability to Relapse

Roles as Workers and Taxpayers

Treatment for Specific Populations

Treatment Issues Specific to People on Parole

Continuum of Care

Aftercare and Continuing Care

Case Management

Recidivism

Treatment Issues Specific to Probationers

Strategies for Improving System Collaboration

Memorandum of Understanding

Information-Sharing and Confidentiality Issues

Program Violations

Personnel and Training

Sample Programs

Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities (TASC)

The Amity Project

Breaking the Cycle

Probationers in Recovery

KEY-CREST

Special Offender Services Program