A policy change whereby there is a buildout of humane prison housing with incentives for good behavior is both required and appropriate.
The proposal for prison reform (the “Prison Reform Proposal”) anticipates small cottages with gardens, a central hall containing a gym, mess hall, game room, commissary and other relevant amenities (some of which would only be usable based upon good behavior).
The proposed cottage (the “Cottage”) would contain a sleeping area, bathroom area, cooking area and a sitting area with a television and a desk. A closet with stacked washer/dryer unit would be included. Total square footage would be approximately 450 square feet. If mass-produced, the cost of each unit is anticipated (simply furnished) at approximately $100 per square foot or $45,000.
With decriminalization of drug use and prostitution (see policy positions in this website), it is anticipated that the US prison population would be reduced by at least 25%. It is therefore further anticipated that current rates of incarceration of about 1,200,000 convicts would be lessened to approximately 800,000.
There are substantial funds available to house convicts more humanely and productively. At $45,000 per unit, therefore, for approximately four billion dollars the Cottages and associated general buildings could be constructed to house the entire anticipated prison population in the United States. “Based on FY 2022 data, the average annual COIF for a Federal inmate housed in a Bureau or non-Bureau facility in FY 2022 was $42,672 ($116.91 per day). The average annual COIF for a Federal inmate housed in a Residential Reentry Center for FY 2022 was $39,197 ($107.39 per day). (Please note: There were 365 days in FY 2022.)” Federal Register. Obviously, staffing, energy and other associated costs of housing and feeing would be involved, but the cost of the physical plant itself would be a small fraction of the federal budget and well within the range of outlays currently associated with the construction and maintenance of current prisoner housing.
In addition, prisoners would tend their own garden and therefore grow fresh vegetables and fruits to help supply a healthy fraction of the food needs for the prison population thus also reducing prison funding costs.
The Prison Reform Proposal, however, would incentive several positive behavioral aspects. First, if the prisoner in the Cottage does not behave in a manner that allows that prisoner to remain in the Cottage, then that prisoner would be reallocated to existing prisons. However, if the prisoner does act appropriately, then that prisoner would tend its own garden, do its own wash, have incentives of media access and entertainment access that would lessen untoward behavior.
The Prison Reform Proposal would also include mandatory educational courses for prisoners in practical applications such as plumbing, electrical, nursing, truck driving, construction, landscaping, source coding and other occupations that are highly desired within the marketplace and not disciplines requiring a four-year college degree. Failure to meaningfully participate in one of these educational courses would also mean the return to the traditional prison environment for the prisoner.
It is envisioned that the Cottage community would be replete with lawns, trees and landscaping. Of course, the community would have robust security perimeters. It is envisioned that two perimeters would be established. The inner perimeter would provide barriers to exit designed to preclude escape. The exterior perimeter would be 100 yards further out from the inner perimeter with even more robust barriers to escape. The inner perimeter would also provide camera coverage so that even there was a breach of the inner perimeter, then that breach would be viewable on camera and the prisoner attempting to escape could be apprehended prior to breaching the second outer perimeter. The space between the two perimeters would also house guard dogs that would be provided well-suited kennels that afford the guard dogs with a high quality of life.
With good behavior and demonstration of having achieved an employable skill, then early release would be favorably evaluated. It is anticipated that with the humane approach to folks convicted of crimes and the training enabling employability, then crime recidivism would be greatly reduced.