Internet Article Analysis: Prison System (Essay Sample)

Internet Article Analysis
Name
Institution
Internet Article Analysis
Introduction
The article that I have chosen for review is titled Repeat Offenders in N.J. Prison System are Draining State Budget, Report Finds. This article by Chris Megerian explains how a large part of the state budget allocations for the New Jersey prison system goes to fund the jailing of repeat offenders. The article presents the findings of a report conducted for the Christie administration in the state of New Jersey prisons. The reason I have chosen this article is because there have been calls in the recent past to reduce the amount spent by different departments especially the prison system within the state.
The authors’ conclusions and Recommendations
In the article, Megerian claims that the New Jersey’s prison system needs great reforms to correct the high number of people who go back to prison after completing their terms. According to the author, the funding on criminal justice has risen significantly in recent years. However, what is worrying is that a large portion of these funds are used to support repeat offenders. According to Megerian, close to 60 percent of New Jersey’s former lawbreakers are re-arrested three years after leaving prison. In order to prevent this from happening, the article proposes that that the ex-offenders should be monitored closely immediately after leaving prison. The article also proposes that these offenders should be assisted to secure employments so that they might support themselves. The author identifies programs that might be used as prototypes by the New Jersey justice system.
Apart from being a source of funding, the article notes that employment is crucial since it offers the offenders dignity and hope. According to the author, the big number of offenders going back to prison has been a challenge to the criminal justice and social service institutions all over the United States. As a way of rising above this challenge, the author notes that New Jersey needs to restructure its approach. As a way of showing commitment, the article notes that the governor’s office needs to be closely involved in the coordination efforts. This coordination according to the article should span from job training to ensuring that the offenders do not carry out criminal activities.
The author of this article gives various reasons on why earlier attempts to prevent individuals who have left prison from being rearrested did not work. According to the author, one of the major reasons for this occurrence was due to the lack of coordination between the governor’s office and other stakeholders. The lack of coordination led to confusion in the system and lack of accountability. For the present efforts to succeed, the author notes that efforts should be made to ensure that those involved are kept accountable just in case that the program does not succeed.
Apart from assisting in job placement among offenders, the article notes that other options should be pursued too. Some of these alternatives include non-custodial sentences, as well as an alteration to the criminal sentencing. The author notes that New Jersey is already on the right path towards attaining this objective as it has been taking fewer people to prison especially for the less serious crimes. According to Megerian, this has only taken place in five other states.
In the article, Megerian notes that 71 percent of offenders are likely to retain their jobs if they are placed in employment. The author then gives statistics from another program showing that only 7 percent of participants who have been placed in employment are arrested again. The author also notes that non-violent drug offenders should be gotten out of prison and into treatment. According to Megerian, this would save a large portion of funds that are used to support these offenders while in prison. The author quotes various key people in the state who have brilliant ideas on how to reduce the number of offenders in New Jersey prisons. However, Megerian states that being willing to talk about the issues is not likely ...