Other Countries Have Successfully Reduced Incarceration Rates Without Increasing Crime: We Can Do It!

Abstract

The United States incarcerates more people than any other developed country despite little evidence that high incarceration rates reduce crime—and evidence they can actually increase crime. In this paper, we review research on reducing incarceration rates through diversion and early release programs as well as effective rehabilitation and correctional interventions. We also discuss how such research can guide policy decisions. We examine how other developed countries have kept incarceration rates low, especially those that have successfully reduced incarceration rates without a corresponding increase in crime. These nations suggest how we can move from a “lock 'em up” mentality to rational correctional policies.

Keywords:

• incarceration rates
• evidence-based corrections
• correctional policy
• rehabilitation

Notes

1. Comparison of incarceration rates should be interpreted with caution, as estimated populations are used to calculate rates and different countries use different counting practices. For instance, some countries may include jail inmates while others do not.

2. Imprisonment rates include only those inmates in federal and state prisons. It does not include those held in local jails. This rate is introduced in addition to incarceration rates because of the lack of data available on the jail population in the United States prior to 1983.