certainly discarded. In either scenario, it became increasingly difficult for an individual to obtain legitimate 
employment. 
This is also true on apartment rental applications. Again, when individuals would put down prior arrests, 
their applications would often be placed at the bottom of the pile. If someone were to lie about it, and it 
was discovered, it could be used as grounds for not selecting an individual for tenancy. Once again, society 
was making it difficult for ex-offenders to even function as a normal citizen, based on a sentence that they 
had served, which is when the punishment should have ended. Collectively, these items are included in the 
concept of collateral consequences. That is – items that are barriers to successful integration that are remnants 
of prior punishment. 
Future Outlook of Corrections 
Based on the major issues presented, overcrowding and reentry, the problems faced in corrections are not 
likely to go away anytime soon. We have seen an increase in the overall correctional population for years 
now. While there are some reductions in prisons, this is not likely to stay this way, unless changes are made. 
Additionally, while there is space for growth in the area of community corrections, the functions of CC need 
to be supported and done based on evidence-based practices if it is to be more successful. It too has limits, and 
without the support, it is more likely to be another failure. If it is not supported, then the prison population is 
likely to increase even more, due to the eventual placement of too many failures of individuals in community 
corrections. Most offenders are in need of some basic assistance to get themselves back to a functioning level 
in society, including addressing their education, their substance abuse, their employment, and general and 
mental health. Our correctional system needs to change its habit of treating substance abuse and mental 
health issues as legal and punish-oriented issues if we are going to curb the tide of the growing problems 
we face in corrections. If not, our 8 million individuals in all forms of correctional control can quickly turn 
10 million. According to a 2016 report from the U.S. Department of Education (p. 13), “from 1979–80 to 
2012–13, state and local government expenditures on corrections rose by 324 percent (from $17billion to 
$71 billion).” 
2 Keep in mind that is taxpayer money. We are funding this issue. It is time to address these 
problems from a more holistic approach if we are going to see a change in our current correctional practices. 
2. https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/other/expenditures-corrections-education/brief.pdf 
Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System
385