ABSTRACT
Introduction Nearly 1.6 million people older than the age of 18 years were housed in state and federal
prisons in the United States in 2011 (Carson & Sabol, 2012). In addition, nearly 90,000
juveniles were incarcerated in 2007 (Sickmund, 2010). Although the number of incarcer-
ated persons in the United States is declining, the simple fact remains that the United
States continues to have one of the highest rates of incarceration, with 492 of every 100,000
residents incarcerated. Among individuals convicted of felony offenses, 40% are sent to
prison and 30% are sent to jail (Durose & Langan, 2007). The majority of these individuals
returnhomeat somepoint; onaverage, felonyoffenders sent toprison receive a sentenceof
approximately 5 years (Durose & Langan, 2007). Often justified as a deterrent, there is
ample evidence that incarceration does not reduce criminal behavior and some evidence
that it may actually increase it. This chapter explores the impact of incarceration and the
need for effective classification and treatment within our correctional institutions.
