Incarceration and the Economy
According to Rebecca Blank, an economist at the Brookings Institute, the current low unemployment rate may be attributed in part to the increase in the number of people in prison. According to Blank, the rate would be about a half point higher were it not for the people in prison; the difference for black males is closer to a full percentage point.
Her theory makes sense. Most people who end up incarcerated have limited skills, and if they were out would be competing for the lower paying, unskilled positions. With fewer people competing for the positions, the chances of getting a job are higher. She also notes the impact incarceration has for those released from prison. They generally have a hard time finding employment, and may remain unemployed for a longer period of time.
One thing she stated that I thought was interesting was that drug use hasn't increased over the last several years. We are simply locking up more people, for longer periods of time.
incarcerating individuals has effects on society that few people think about. Not only do the taxpayers have to pay for it, they also have to pay for the support that has to be provided to the families of those in prison. Once they are released, we still have to pay for supporting those who cannot find a job. If we thought through the collateral consequences, programs aimed at avoiding incarceration would make a lot more sense.
