FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

            One reason that prisons costs are so high is because many thousands of prisoners are incarcerated when they don't have to be because they have committed lesser crimes.  And many are there because of technical violations of probation and parole or because they didn't have the money to afford a good legal defense.  So a good way to both cut prison costs and enable the prisoner to return to productive work that can help keep his family together is to use more probation and parole for such prisoners. 

            This is a topic that author Paul Brakke deals with in a recently released video series and social media campaign based on his book The Costly U.S. Prison System.  As he explains his book and in social media and video post, thousands of prisoners would qualify under special requirements that they have only committed non-violent less serious crimes or minor probation and parole violations.  Thus, they would be a good risk for successfully returning to their community, finding work, and paying taxes again.  They would be an especially good risk if they have a supportive family, especially if they have kids.

           By contrast, keeping prisoners in prison unnecessarily for a long period of time can contribute to them becoming part of the prison gang culture and setting them up to commit crimes, get arrest again, and return to prison -- a risk that could be avoided or reduce by granting those prisoners early release along with probation and parole .

           These suggestions are still another way to reduce prison costs while maintaining community safety -- all part of Brakke's campaign to "Cut costs with better policies."  It's a theme in his social media posts and accompanying videos, which are also on YouTube. 

           His book The Costly U.S. Prison Systems describes the extent of the problem and costs of over-incarceratng prisonerss and his suggested remedies at great length, based on extensive research, including stats from the Department of Justice.

          The two videos dealing with cutting prisons costs with more probation and parole can be found at these links in American Leadership Book's YouTube Channel:

Reducing the Prison Population with Probation and Parole

https://youtu.be/2ekS50NMOFA

The Advantages of Probation and Parole

https://youtu.be/FVwHZoMEVyE

           For more information and to set up radio interviews:

Jana Collins

Jones & O'Malley

Toluca Lake, California

jana@jonesomalley.com

(818) 762-8353