Legal Definitions - disincarceration

Definition: Disincarceration refers to the process of reducing the number of people who are incarcerated or imprisoned. It involves finding alternative ways to punish offenders and prevent crime, such as community service, probation, and rehabilitation programs.

Example: Instead of sending a non-violent drug offender to prison, a judge may sentence them to a drug treatment program and probation. This is an example of disincarceration because it avoids the use of incarceration as the primary form of punishment.

Explanation: Disincarceration recognizes that incarceration is not always the best solution for addressing crime and that there are other ways to hold offenders accountable while also addressing the root causes of criminal behavior. By using alternative forms of punishment, disincarceration aims to reduce the negative impacts of mass incarceration, such as high costs, overcrowding, and the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.