Right now in the United States of America murderers, rapists and child molesters are being released. Prisoners watch TV, eat a meal, and use exercise equipment while law-abiding citizens starve and live in slums. The prisoners also have their own periodical. Dangerous criminals walk the streets, and crime is a way of life for many Americans. In America, crime pays because the nation's prison system doesn't work. The national prison system needs to be changed due to serious problems in the system, such as overcrowding and the fact that early release programs do not work. Building more prisons is expensive and solves nothing. These problems can be solved by giving prisoners no chance of parole and by imprisoning only violent offenders. Non-violent offenders should undertake a work program for the duration of their sentence. Since 1980, prisons and prison populations have grown by 172 percent (United States, September 11, 1994). Overcrowding is inhumane for the prisoner and dangerous for prison staff. When many people, especially criminals, approach, tension increases and the possibility of a riot increases. If a riot occurs, both prisoners and guards are put in danger. In Texas the prisons are full. There are an estimated 29,000 state prisoners incarcerated in county jails awaiting new cells. (Brida November 24, 1994) Texas is not the only state with overcrowding problems. For example, Ohio's prison system is operating at 180% capacity. (Varnam 16). Furthermore, the federal prison system is 37% overcapacity (Clark February 4, 1994). Statistics like this are found all over the country. Prisons should have two objectives; 1) keep dangerous criminals off the streets... middle of paper... do more prisons reduce the crime rate? The CQ Researcher February 4, 1994URL:gopher://gopher.cqalert.com/0F1:25674:05CQR_FEBRUARY1994%20gopher.Cunniff, Mark A., and Patrick A. Langan. Recidivism of felons on probation, 1986-89. November 24, 1994(found) URL:gopher://justice2. usdoj.gov/00/ojp/bjs/13. Prison Inmates To Work In Wildlife Management Areas. Associated Press November 24, 1994 (found) URL: gopher://gopher.cic.net/00/nircomm/gopher/e-serials/general/education/univ-newspapers/daily-texan/today/94041507.s03_Prison.gz. Sanchez, Edward J. Looking beyond capital punishment. November 26, 1994 (found) URL:?.United States. Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Probation and parole populations reach new highs. September 11, 1994. URL:gopher://justice2.usdoj.gov/00/ojp/bjs/probpar.txt.Voters Get Hard On Criminals. The Associated Press November 9, 1994. URL:?.