how states are handling their populations differentially. The second half of Jones’ (2018) 
3 report details 
the volume of individuals with each state. Please take a moment to review the last portion of this report 
to see how many are under correctional control, found here:  https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/
correctionalcontrol2018.html#statedata 
Prison overcrowding is problematic for multiple reasons. First, when there are too many individuals 
(especially antisocial ones) within a facility, there are more assaults and injuries that occur within the 
institution. Moreover, there is a safety concern for not only the inmate on inmate violence but also inmate 
on staff crimes. Second, the more people you have in a facility, the faster that facility wears down. Operating 
a jail or prison at maximum (or over maximum) capacity causes more items to break or wear out within 
the facility at a fast rate. Finally, when individuals are unable to access adequate health care because of the 
excessively long waits, due to overcrowding, it is a violation of their constitutional rights. 
As prisoners, we (the public and the State) have a responsibility to house and properly care for the prisoners 
overseen. This is not to say that offenders are getting premier care, but that they are at least receiving a 
modicum of care. When this low level of care is deliberately denied due to excessive volumes of individuals, 
it is a violation of a person’s 8th amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment. As was found in 
the case of Estelle v. Gamble, (1976). 
4 This similar issue was presented in California over ten years ago. A 
three-judge panel ruled with the prisoners, citing the need for California to reduce its prison population to 
a level where the individuals could effectively be managed, and cared for [emphasis on the latter]. Dealing 
with overcrowding is a constant issue for most prisons and jails. Some have resolved to release more out into 
the community at a higher volume, on parole or just release. However, this too has its own set of problems, 
as reentry is now becoming the current issue within corrections. 
3. Jones, A. (2018). Correctional control 2018: Incarceration and supervision by state Prison Policy Initiative. Available at: 
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/correctionalcontrol2018.html#statedata . 
4. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97 (1976). 
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