The unprecedented growth of the prison population in the United States is a result of complex political and social factors that have contributed to more punitive criminal justice policies. While there has been much attention devoted to examining the possibility of expanding the use of alternatives to incarceration as a means of reducing these numbers, there has been insufficient focus on addressing changes in the length of time served in prison as a strategy for reduced incarceration. The sharp increase in (...) time served in prison in recent years has had no significant effect on recidivism or deterrence, but has been very costly and has contributed to the eroding of ties between people in prison and their families and communities. (shrink)