Juvenile Facilities, Jails, and Prison Populations

In 2000, 2002, and 2004, the state of Kansas had 34, 39, and 35 privately run juvenile facilities, respectively (U.S. Department of Justice, 2004). Although the number increased from 2000 to 2002, going against the national trend, it did decrease from 2002 to 2004, in line with the national average. A possible explanation for the increase and subsequent decrease in privately run juvenile facilities in the state of Kansas might be that the private companies were responding to demand from 2000 to 2002, but after finding the facilities to be ineffective, did not continue in the timespan of 2002 to 2004. Another explanation could be that from 2000 to 2002, the state-run juvenile facilities improved. It is also possible that it was found that state-run facilities were more secure.

During 1999, Kansas averaged 3 inmates per correctional officer, a relatively low number compared to other states - Utah's average was 7.3 and New Mexico's was 5.9. Kansas had 97 prisons, with an average of 5,565 prisoners per prison. This means that the rated capacity was 79%, giving the facilities 21% of capacity to spare (U.S. Department of Justice, 2001). Overall, the Kansas correctional facilities were not overcrowded in 1999. Compared to most other states, Kansas had more prisons, therefore having fewer prisoners per prison. Additionally, Kansas is composed of largely rural areas, which would likely cause the crime rate to be lower than that of the urban cities of other states. The lack of urban areas would also contribute to the lack of overcrowding because fewer crimes punishable by jail time would be committed.

The Bureau of Justice kept extensive records on the amount of prisoners in the United States for the past several years. Doing so allowed them to monitor changes in the prison population and the try to attribute it to causes. The studies in the years 2000, 2006 and 2007 showed the American prison male population to have 1,298,927, 1,457,486 and 1,483,896 prisoners, respectively (West, HCW, & Sabol, 2008). While the crime rate seemed to have been deterred, the prison population has increased on the national basis. From 2000-2006 there was a 1.9% increase on average, but from 2006-2007 there was a 1.8% increase. Considering the 12 states in midwest, the overall summary is promising. While accounting for more then a fifth of the states of the union, the Midwest accounts for 1/6 - 1/7 of the U.S.'s prison population. The numbers showed the male prison population admitted 222,780, in 2000; 243,743 admitted, in 2006 and 245,207 admitted in 2007 - an increase of only 0.60% in the past year. The female populous showed a larger increase than the males, but still only represent 1/15 of the state's total (West, HCW, & Sabol, 2008). (Image taken from criminaljustice.change.org)

Kansas specifically has incarcerated 7,840 males in 2000, 8,140 in 2006 and 8,071 in 2007. 2000-2006 had an average increase of 0.70% while during 2006-2007 it decreased by 1.3% - the third lowest drop next to South Dakota and Michigan. Females again are a different story - in 2000 there were 504 in prison, while in 2006 there were 638 in prison and in 2007 there were 625. All were tiny changes that caused the average to drop and fall drastically from an increase in 4% to a decrease in 2%.

Three causes of the dissipation of crime in Kansas could be attributed by:

• the economy may be in turmoil, but their unemployment system is different from other states. The State of Kansas has launched a new registration process that automatically registers Unemployment Insurance (UI) applicants for services.


• the population of the state itself as compared to larger states where crime is more rampant.


• the increase in drug crime, where females aren't as sparsely represented.

References

U.S. Department of Justice. (2004). Juvenile offenders and victims national report series. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from University of Albany website: http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/pdf/t100092004.pdf

U.S. Department of Justice. (2001). Census of jails, 1999. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from University of Albany website: http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/pdf/t198.pdf

West, HCW, & Sabol, WJS. (2008). Female prisoners in 2007. Bureau of justice statistics. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from https://webcampus.nevada.edu/webct/urw/lc33129041.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

West, HCW, & Sabol, WJS. (2008). Male prisoners in 2007. Bureau of justice statistics. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from https://webcampus.nevada.edu/webct/urw/lc33129041.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct