Overcrowded California State Prisons, Research Paper Example

The first hypothesis is that, focusing on rehabilitation of juveniles and other non-violent misdemeanor law breakers will be the best strategy to reduce overcrowding in California prisons. This strategy will help to reduce population of detained offenders to a capacity that will fit well in the available facilities, thus leaving the most violent offenders to serve their full convictions.

Another hypothesis is that, introduction of a conditional post conviction release will help to reduce overcrowding in the reasons in California. In conditional post conviction rerelease, prisoners are released based on certain conditions such as bonds and indemnity agreements for security and traceability purposes. Instead of causing congestion or overcrowding in prisons, some of the prisoners serving light penalties can be released and directed to report to the administration on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, punishments such as community manual work can be issued to such offenders for a prescribed period of time. An agreement is also made with the released prisoners not to engage in crime again. Failure to adhere to the agreement leads to prompt arrest and conviction.

Research design

The study will involve both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The qualitative part of the research will involve data collected as a result of primary and secondary sources of information such as books, journals, interviews and discussions. The quantitative part of the research will involve data collected in numbers or numerical nature (statistics will be taken in numerical form). The data can be obtained from various prisons across the State of California. The data will consist of population of the prisoners and other statistical figures and numbers relating to prisoners and imprisonment in the State. Views, opinions and suggestions from the public, the prisoners and other relevant sources will also be considered in searching for solutions to the problem of overcrowding in the State’s prisons.

Methodology

Data will be collected using various data collection methods and techniques. For instance, data collection methods such as questionnaires, interviews, observation and recording (video and audio tapes) will be used. After collection of the relevant data concerning overcrowding of prisons in the State, data will be complied, evaluated and analyzed. The results of the findings will be used to test the two hypotheses of the study.

Data types

As motioned earlier, both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected to test the two hypotheses. The quantitative data (statistics) concerning the present number of juvenile prisoners benefiting from rehabilitation programs will be a clear prove to support or negate the first hypothesis. Statistics on indemnity agreements, amnesty and the aftermath consequences of such actions to the society will also help to support or negate the second hypothesis concerning conditional post conviction release.

Qualitative data collected from interviews, questionnaires and observations such as prisoners’ experience in rehabilitation centers, the impact of rehabilitation to prisoners and the general aftermath reports; will help to either support or negate the first hypothesis on rehabilitation as a strategy to reduce overcrowding in California prisons. On the other hand, the interviews and observations of conditionally released prisoners will help to either support or negate the second hypothesis on conditional post conviction release. Suggestions, onions and views from the public and other relevant parties will also help to either support of negate the two hypothesis of the study.