Closing Federal Prisons: A Winning Hand

Source: RealClearPolitics
by Marc A Levin & Khalil A Cumberbatch

“For decades, the War on Drugs, mandatory minimum sentences, and other dynamics kept our nation’s federal prisons packed to the rafters, with many facilities operating well beyond their design capacity. But now the Trump administration is poised to do what once seemed unthinkable: Close prisons. This welcome occasion is not a matter of luck. It reflects falling crime, fewer people sentenced for drug offenses. and prisoners earning time off their sentences by completing programs and staying out of trouble. It all adds up to a shrinking inmate population, prompting the Bureau of Prisons to announce plans to shutter six of its lockups. This will spare taxpayers the cost of running half-empty facilities and free up savings to reinvest in measures that reduce reoffending.” (08/16/26)

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/08/15/closing_federal_prisons_a_winning_hand_154413.html