Awhile back, I was stunned to read statistics about the huge numbers of people who are incarcerated. Equally alarming was the information about how many are routinely sent to different areas because there are simply too many to be housed in local jails. When it comes to the private correctional facilities, there are two points to consider: first, someone is making money from crime; and second, having such facilities readily available can blow the entire concept of "correction" way out of proportion.

The first common sense approach would be to start reducing the crime rates. It is not impossible. The second common sense approach, however, would be to seriously reconsider what is deemed to be 'worthy' of incarceration. As examples, one individual stated that she had been "put in jail" because her children were often truant from school; another stated that he was required to spend a number of weekends in jail because he had not paid a number of parking tickets. The first problem is in approaching these types of infractions as "time-outs," everyone suffers. From jobs to childcare, individuals are not able to take responsibility for their everyday lives. The second problem is in certain kinds of environments, young people actually see it as a status symbol. It does not act as a deterrent.

It would make much more sense to use correctional facilities for punishing and/or rehabilitating criminals. In "making the punishment fit the crime," it would also make much more sense to use alternative means to get the message across to those who commit minor infractions or violations of the law. High fines and community service are two ideas. Both of these ideas would cause individuals to rethink their behavior, rather than cause more disruption. Of all the aspects of the criminal justice system that need to be reconsidered and overhauled, this is one that should certainly make the list.