ABSTRACT
This Chapter considers the unintended consequences of the criminal justice system - costs imposed on offenders, their families, and communities. The use of prison has come under increased scrutiny in the U.S. due to this country’s significantly higher incarceration rate – especially for nonviolent property crime and drug offenders. While one purpose of incarceration might be incapacitation so that the offender cannot repeat their crime, there might be significant unintended consequences of incarceration on the offender and his or her family. For example, while in prison, offenders might suffer physical injury and/or negative health outcomes that plague them physically and/or psychologically well beyond their period of incarceration. Once released from prison, offenders might have a more difficult time obtaining employment, lose their voting rights, and be deprived of other opportunities. Innocent family members of the offender might also bear significant costs – whether it is lower income while their family member is incarcerated or the psychological burden of having a loved one (oftentimes a parent of a young child) in prison. In addition, communities in which offenders live might suffer unintended costs associated with mass incarceration. After examining what is known about the costs of the criminal justice system to offenders, families and communities, the Chapter concludes by summing up all of the costs of crime monetized in Cchapters 3-6.
