The PA DOC Monitor

The following information was obtained from the PA DOC's Monthly Institutional Profile and is current as of December 31, 2006.   The complete document in PDF form can be viewed here .

Maximum Capacity:
38,547 (over capacity by 14.9%)

For comparison, the December 2005 report listed the total number of prisoners as 42,446 and a maximum capacity of 38,347, being over capacity by 10.5%.   Despite an increase in maximum capacity in 2006, over capacity rose by 4.4%.   Clearly the PA DOC is failing to rehabilitate or deter criminals.

Percentage of White inmates:
38%

Total Percentage of Black, Hispanic, and other inmates:
62%

It should be noted that while most correctional facilities are located in rural areas, most of its prisoners are from urban areas, populated primarily by African-American and Hispanic men and women.   If roughly 62% of the prison population is from an urban area, such as Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, why are inmates housed in correctional facilities located hours from their family?   The PA DOC Monitor believes this is to discourage visitation, and also rejuvenate economically deprived rural areas.   

Regarding age, the most recent PA DOC statistics we could find were located in the 2004 Annual Statistical Report .   After tallying the totals on page 30, the percentage of inmates under the age of 50 is 88.5%!   Correctional institutions around the country will inevitably face a serious crisis once these men and women become senior citizens and require health care.   We suspect that when that time comes the few rehabilitative and educational programs remaining will be completely eliminated.

The statistics we presented have been known for years, yet why is there no response?   Why has a failing system remained virtually unchanged in its methodology for a century?   Perhaps it is because a ruling power benefits by the system's very existence, no matter how repugnant.   The PA DOC Monitor does not believe prisons should be eliminated, but a balance must be established between punishment and justice.

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