SCRAMx Combats Jail Overcrowding
In most states, jail and prison overcrowding is a serious issue. Today, 1 in every 100 adults in the U.S. is incarcerated, and these numbers continue to grow. The expense of housing record numbers of people is crippling state budgets and costing taxpayers hundreds of millions − even billions − of dollars.
Within jail and prison populations, there is a significant link between alcohol and crime with 36% of offenders reporting they were “drinking at the time of their offense.” An even larger percentage is sent back to jail on technical violations, such as missed probation appointments. And despite the passage of laws incorporating significant jail and prison terms for DUI, Americans continue to drive while impaired at an alarming rate.
In response, judges, attorneys, and probation officers are seeking solutions that will help ease jail overcrowding. By using SCRAMx as an alternative to incarceration, courts can allow those less dangerous alcohol offenders safely back into the community knowing they are being continuously monitored for alcohol and are also confined to their homes during critical hours of the day.
SCRAMx also helps offenders achieve sustained sobriety which, as most courts know, is much more effective than incarceration in producing long-term behavioral change. By doing so, SCRAMx helps stop the revolving door between the courtroom and jail.
With regard to jail overcrowding, SCRAMx:
- Provides a cost-effective alternative to jail for those prisoners who are not a threat to the community when sober
- Allows some offenders to earn credit for time served
- Reduces jail/prison overcrowding while protecting public safety
- Helps individuals get the help they need to end the revolving door of incarceration
- Provides a bridge to help offenders safely re-enter the community
- Provides an option for those alcohol offenders who would be ordered back to jail on technical violations
- Protects public safety at no cost to taxpayers, since offenders pay their own monitoring fees
- Allows offenders to hold jobs, support their families, and contribute positively to the community instead of being behind bars
