Sunday, February 22, 2009  Debunking myths about incarceration,
and promoting some  Doc Berman points us to an article in Slate
by Prof. John Pfaff of Fordham University law school identifying
what he says are "Five Myths About Prison Growth Dispelled." The
piece makes for an interesting starting point for discussion,
but also promotes some mythology of its own.  The first "myth"
Pfaff describes is entirely on point, disputing the contention
that "Long sentences drive prison growth" Says Pfaff, "Our data
on time served is imperfect at best, but it appears that the
time served by the median prisoner is about two years, sometimes
much less." That more or less jibes with Texas' experience (see
pp. 36-37 of TDCJ's annual statistical report for data on time
served). Pfaff writes: So what is actually driving prison
population growth? Admissions. Far more offenders who in the
past would have received nonprison sentences are being locked up
for short stints, driving up the overall population. Stop
admitting as many p