The Baltimore City Correctional Center (BCCC) houses about 4,000 Baltimore residents on the average day, making it one of the largest jails in the United States. More than half of BCCC’s population is incarcerated on a non-violent offense, and the majority of these men and women have served time in the past or will return on a similar charge. Some believe that the problem of recidivism is a reflection of the need for harsher consequences and longer sentences. However, statistics reveal that men and women incarcerated on non-violent charges are 50% more likely to return to jail on a repeat offense than those who complete an alternative correctional program. Through analysis of academic literature and ethnographic study methods, this study outlines the successes and shortcomings of Baltimore’s correctional system, identifies alternative methods that have succeeded in other urban jails, and proposes a theoretical alternative program that could reduce recidivism, cut down on crime, and improve the lives of Baltimore’s citizens.
