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Prisons and Sentencing in Massachusetts: Waging a More Effective Fight Against Crime
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Prisons and Sentencing in Massachusetts: Waging a More Effective Fight Against Crime
Publication year:
1999
| Cataloged on:
Oct. 31, 2006
ANNOTATION: Even after 14 years of major expansion, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts needs more prison space in order to reduce crime and improve public safety. The Department of Correction is operating at 25 percent above designed capacity, while counties run at 50% above designed limits. Sentencing in Massachusetts has moved from the Concord sentence (indeterminate) to mandatory minimums to truth in sentencing designed to lengthen prison terms. This sentencing scheme has driven up prison populations. Imprisonment for tougher drug crimes has contributed much to inmate growth (31%). But the greatest number of inmates are incarcerated for violent crimes (52%).