Sensible Justice

Sensible Justice, David C. Anderson, The New Press, 1998

Alternatives to prison, for small-time and first-time criminals, are explored in this book. Amidst an exploding prison population, some cities and states, including so-called law and order states, are trying other programs in place of jail. Among the "alternative sanctions" considered are: restitution programs, military-style boot camps, electronic monitoring, drug treatment, coomunity service, sex offender treatment, and day reporting.

Anderson points out that no program has a perfect success rate, and the money saved or crimes prevented may be small because only those who are thought to have the best chance of success are let into the programs. On the other hand, many judges, at sentencing time, appreciate an alternative to prison. An important determinant of a program's success is careful planning in advance, and the right people in charge, something that doesn't happen all the time.

This is an important and concise book that should be read by everyone, no just those in the criminal justice system and the state legislature when faced with calls for more prisons.