Failure to Rehabilitate: Examining Criminal Recidivism and Prison Alternatives in Baltimore City

I am focusing on the problem of criminal recidivism in the Baltimore correctional system because I want to find out how the system could be reformed to help my reader better understand how the shortcomings of the justice system influence society as a whole.

Baltimore City is home to one of the largest jails in the country.  It also houses the highest percentage of the cities’ population compared to that of other jails – about 4,000 people on the average day.  (Walsh)  From I-83, it’s easy to see the small square windows, the heavy brick walls, and the razor wire of the Baltimore City Correctional Center (BCCC), but how many drivers actually consider the men and women locked inside?  I’m on that stretch of road nearly every day, and I can’t help but think about who might be looking out as I pass by.

What do most people think about when they think of a criminal in jail?  I know I’m likely to picture serious offenders, like those who have committed assault, rape, or murder.  The reality is, most of the people incarcerated at BCCC are being charged with non-violent offenses, such as drug crimes, property offenses, and probation violations. More than half have been locked up before, or will be jailed again.  (Walsh) The U.S. Department of Justice reveals that those who serve short sentences for marginal crimes are 50% more likely to reoffend than those who receive an alternative sentence. (Langan, and Levin 1)

Based on this information, I firmly believe that overcrowded prisons are not the answer to preventing or reducing crime.  I’m interested in examining what these alternative rehabilitation options are, and how non-violent offenders respond to them.  I intend to use both quantitative research to evaluate correctional programs in other states and counties to discover what methods have the highest rates of success.  I also want to consider quantitative information, such as personal testimonies from correctional workers and inmates, to learn what they believe the best route to rehabilitation is, and what barriers get in the way of assimilating back into society.

Works Cited:

Langan, Patrick A., and David J Levin. United States. Department of Justice. Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1994. Washington, DC: , 2002. Web.

Walsh, Nastassia. "Baltimore Behind Bars: How to Reduce the Jail Population, Save Money, and Improve Public Safety." Justice Policy Institute. Washington, D.C. June 2010. Web. 23 Oct. 2011. <http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/10-06_REP_BaltBehindBars_MD-PS-AC-RD.pdf>.

Word Count: 343

I am focusing on the topic of chronic reoffending in the Baltimore correctional system because I want to find out how the system could be reformed to help my reader better understand how the shortcomings of the justice system influence society as a whole.


I gave some thought to changing my topic, but decided against it.  I remembered Dr. King talking about how if you feel lost, you're doing it right, so I figure I need to stay on this path.  I'm still not sure how to revise my x-y-z statement to be more concise though.  


Here's my idea for a working title:


Failure to Rehabilitate: Examining Criminal Recidivism in Baltimore City