To deter crimes, prison not the answer: #tellusatoday

For the first time since 1980, the federal prison population is starting to decline. Letter to the editor:

While Judge Morris Hoffman is right to point to general deterrence as a way to prevent people from committing crime, his method for achieving this deterrence — prison — is out of step with the research. Study after study has shown that prison isn't very effective at deterring crime ("Emptying prisons is no panacea: Column").

Meanwhile, our country's addiction to prisons has been an unmitigated disaster. Mass incarceration destroys families, destabilizes communities, exacerbates economic and racial inequality, undermines democracy and erodes the nation's economy, all at tremendous cost to taxpayers and with little public safety benefit.

A recent National Academy of Sciences study argues that we need to lower our incarceration rate significantly. Several states have already reduced their prison populations while their crime rates dropped. As Attorney General Eric Holder has said: "Too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long, and for no truly good law enforcement reason." The answer is less incarceration, not more. The health of our communities depends on it.

Kara Dansky, senior counsel, American Civil Liberties Union's Center for Justice; Washington, D.C.

We asked our followers what they thought about shorter sentences for non-violent offenders. Comments from Twitter and Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

I agree with shorter sentences for non-violent offenders only. Save taxpayers some money.

— @wdkaatfan

Is it working or are they back in for another offense? Paying for another trial isn't cheap.

— @sccrmm

It depends on the crime. I would go by the case.

— @Moore4Nate

The judicial system has been handcuffed with mandatory minimums that force judges to assign outrageous sentences! They should be reconsidered, returning the flexibility to the court system.

— @Cacareidvernold

When Attorney General Eric Holder ignores laws and doesn't prosecute, this is what happens.

He acts as if keeping the bad guys on the streets is a good thing.

— Dave McKenzie

Holder has been clear that he wants to reduce prison time for non-violent drug users, not violent criminals or drug dealers.

— David MacGregor

Have these prisoners join the military and serve in war zones. This would help to lower the prison population and at the same time save money.

— Donald Wade

As long as states are throwing people into prison for minor drug-related charges, and the prison industrial complex is lobbying for judicial decisions that feed more people into its facilities, the more we will need sentencing reform.

— Steve Poirier

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.