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The Cost of Failure to Enact Health Reform: 2010-2020

March 21st, 2010

The Cost of Failure to Enact Health Reform: 2010-2020
Source: Urban Institute

This report assesses the changes in coverage patterns and health care costs that will occur nationally if major reforms are not enacted. The authors find that by 2015, there could be 59.7 million people uninsured. The number could swell to 67.6 million by 2020, up from an estimated 49.4 million in 2010. As premiums nearly double, employees in small firms would see offers of health insurance almost cut in half, dropping from 41 percent of firms offering insurance in 2010 to 23 percent in 2020. Individual spending could jump 34 percent by 2015 and 79 percent by 2020.

+ Full Report (PDF: 248 KB)

Posted in Government and politics, Health and healthcare, Health insurance | No Comments »

Prison Count 2010: State Population Declines for the First Time in 38 Years

March 21st, 2010

Prison Count 2010: State Population Declines for the First Time in 38 Years
Source: Pew Center on the States

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the number of state prisoners in the United States has declined, according to Prison Count 2010, a new survey by the Pew Center on the States. As of January 2010, there were 1,403,091 persons under the jurisdiction of state prison authorities, 5,739 fewer than on December 31, 2008. This marks the first year-to-year drop in the nation’s state prison population since 1972. While the study showed an overall decline, it revealed great variation among jurisdictions. The prison population declined in 27 states, while increasing in 23 states and in the federal system.

In the past few years, several states have enacted reforms designed to get taxpayers a better return on their public safety dollars. These strategies included:

  • Diverting low-level offenders and probation and parole violators from prison
  • Strengthening community supervision and re-entry programs
  • Accelerating the release of low-risk inmates who complete risk reduction programs

+ Full Report (PDF; 365 KB)

Posted in Crime, Government and politics, Legal and law enforcement | No Comments »

Brookings Papers on Economic Activity

March 21st, 2010

Brookings Papers on Economic Activity
Source: Brookings Institution

The Brookings Papers on Economic Activity publishes research on current issues in macroeconomics, broadly defined. BPEA emphasizes innovative analysis that has an empirical orientation, takes real-world institutions seriously, and is relevant to economic policy. Papers are presented and discussed at conferences held twice each year, and the papers and discussant remarks from each conference are published in the journal several months later. Research findings are described in a clear and accessible style to maximize their impact on economic understanding and economic policymaking.

Posted in Business and economics, Government and politics | No Comments »

Pew Study Calculates the Real Cost of Voter Registration

March 21st, 2010

Pew Study Calculates the Real Cost of Voter Registration
Source: Pew Center on the States

Oregon spent more than $8.8 million*–or $4.11* per active registered voter–on its voter registration system during the 2008 election according to a new report released today by The Pew Center on the States. Conducted with the assistance of Oregon state and local election officials, “The Real Cost of Voter Registration” is the first comprehensive analysis of its kind and provides a model for other states to estimate their expenses and establish a basis for evaluating efforts to modernize.
…
Innovative, cost-saving steps toward modernization have already been implemented by some states. For example, Delaware reduced its labor costs by $200,000 annually with its eSignature practice that requires every visitor to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to register to vote, update their record or decline to do so and then electronically syncs the data with the state election office. In Phoenix, Arizona, an online registration costs an average of 3 cents to process versus at least 83 cents for a paper registration form.

By comparison, Canada’s system points to the potential for significantly greater savings via a list of eligible voters created in part from government data sources. The Canadian system costs taxpayers about $5 million (CAD) annually or about 26 cents (USD) per registered voter compared to $4.11* in Oregon.

+ Full Report

Posted in Business and economics, Government and politics, Political process | No Comments »

New Guide for Policymakers and Practitioners on Using Research to Craft Better Law Enforcement Responses to People with Mental Illnesses

March 21st, 2010

New Guide for Policymakers and Practitioners on Using Research to Craft Better Law Enforcement Responses to People with Mental Illnesses
Source: Council of State Governments Justice Center

The Council of State Governments Justice Center announced today the release of Law Enforcement Response to People with Mental Illnesses: A Guide to Research-Informed Policy and Practice. The guide examines studies on law enforcement interactions with people with mental illnesses and translates the findings to help policymakers and practitioners develop safe and effective interventions. Supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, it reviews research on the scope and nature of the problem and on a range of law enforcement responses.
…
Research findings show that law enforcement encounters with people with mental illnesses

  • are often more time-consuming than other calls for service,
  • require officers to have special training and skills,
  • may be shaped by available community mental health resources,
  • typically involve repeat contact with the same people who have unmet mental health needs,
  • often are in response to a complaint of nuisance behavior,
  • occasionally involve volatile situations that risk the safety of all involved.

+ Full Document (PDF; 378 KB)

Posted in Legal and law enforcement, Mental health and substance abuse | No Comments »

Europe: Report on equality between women and men 2010

March 21st, 2010

Report on equality between women and men 2010
Source: European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

From Main Developments:
Combating persisting gender inequalities in all spheres of society is a longer-term challenge, since it entails structural and behavioural changes and a redefinition of the roles of women and men. Progress is slow, and gender gaps persist as regards employment rates, pay, working hours, positions of responsibility, share of care and household duties, and risk of poverty.

The increasing participation of women in the labour market is a positive development, representing an important contribution to economic growth in the EU, accounting for a quarter of annual economic growth since 1995. The female employment rate increased by 7.1 percentage points over the last decade and reached 59.1% in 2008, which is close to the Lisbon target (60% in 2010), though this rate varies between Member States, from below 40% to above 70%. The average gap between female and male employment rates fell to 13.7 percentage points in 2008 from 18.2 points in 1998.

Interrupting this positive trend, however, the economic crisis has had serious repercussions on the labour market and unemployment figures. Between May 2008 and September 2009, the unemployment rate at EU level rose more rapidly for men (from 6.4% to 9.3%) than for women (7.4% to 9%). The male-dominated sectors of industry and construction have been hit hard. However, in recent months female and male unemployment rates have been increasing at the same pace, reflecting probably an extension of the crisis to other sectors, more gender-mixed than the ones first hit. Moreover, in a dozen Member States, unemployment remains higher among women. Finally, as women’s jobs are concentrated in the public sector, they could be disproportionately affected by job losses due to budget cuts.

Experience from past crises shows that men’s employment generally recovers more quickly than women’s2. For persons who become unemployed, the risk of not being
re-employed is higher for women. Focusing on the evolution of unemployment rates during the recession is important but may hide other less visible trends, including the over-representation of women among inactive persons (women represent more than two thirds of the 63 million persons between 25-64 who are inactive in the EU) or among part-time unemployed (part-timers who would like to work more hours) who are not necessarily registered as unemployed.

Women are more likely to have a disadvantaged position on the labour market e.g. due to higher incidence of precarious contracts, involuntary part-time and a persistent unfavourable pay gap (17.6% on average in the EU in 2007), with repercussions on their lifetime earnings, social security protection and pensions, resulting in higher at-risk-of-poverty rates, especially once in retirement. In 2007, the at-risk-of-poverty rate was higher for women (17%) than men (15%) and this gap was especially high for older persons (22% for women compared to 17% for men) and single parents (34%). The situation of those facing multiple disadvantages is particularly difficult. Finally, households will be more severely affected by a loss of income (due to job losses) in those countries where a male-breadwinner model still predominates, underlining the need for further support for the dual-earner model.

+ Direct link to report (PDF; 513.8 KB)

Posted in Age and Aging, Business and economics, Children and families, Europe, Gender and sexuality, Human rights, Industries, Labor, Poverty, Social and cultural issues, United Kingdom | No Comments »

CCIA Releases Study on IRS Tax Collection Proposals

March 21st, 2010

CCIA Releases Study on IRS Tax Collection Proposals
Source: Computer & Communications Industry Association

With tax day less than a month away the Computer & Communications Industry Association has released a study it commissioned on the costs and benefits of a proposal to consider converting the current income tax system into an IRS–prepared tax assessment system, sometimes called “return free”. If this plan were adopted, the IRS would prepare and present tax bills to people, mainly low and moderate-income taxpayers.

The authors of the study, economists Robert Litan of the Brookings Institute and Jeffrey Eisenach of Navigant Consulting Inc., explain in “The Benefits and Costs of Implementing ‘Return-Free’ Tax Filing in the US” that under this type of tax preparation system the government would assess the tax liability for the average citizen and send them their returns to sign.

The IRS tax assessment system proposal projects sending bills to upward of 40 million taxpayers. The study estimates an error rate of at least 2.5 percent of the tax returns done by the IRS. “How would this impact peoples’ trust in government?” Eisenach said. In the UK, which has adopted a similar system of automatic income tax assessment by the government it is estimated that 6 million taxpayers’ returns are done incorrectly by the government each year and another 12 million face discrepancies in which the government doesn’t have the information it needs to complete the tax return.

Litan and Eisenach conclude that while the idea is superficially appealing, it would end up detracting from the purported goals of simplifying taxes and encouraging more people to file electronically.

+ Full Report (PDF; 1.1 MB)

Posted in Government and politics, Taxation, Technology | No Comments »

ELCA Releases Draft Social Statement on Genetics

March 21st, 2010

ELCA Releases Draft Social Statement on Genetics
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) released March 18 a 49-page draft social statement on genetics, a framework for discussion on a variety of current topics in the field including certain advances in medicine, reproductive cloning, human embryonic stem cells, and animal and plant genetic engineering.
…
The draft has five general themes, said the Rev. Roger A. Willer, director, Department for Studies, ELCA Church in Society:
+ Christians view genetic developments in light of God’s work “that is ever creative and steadfast”
+ Humans are responsible as “imaginative stewards,” called to dedicate themselves to the flourishing of the creation
+ Ethics in genetic advances requires respect and promotion of the community of life with justice and wisdom
+ The ELCA is called to be a community that engages public issues intentionally and deliberatively while supporting “with care and respect” individuals who must make difficult decisions
+ The draft offers broad convictions regarding genetic developments and discusses how those convictions relate to a few particular advances in medicine, stem cell research and genetic engineering of plants, animals and humans

The draft said that the word “genetics” never appears in Scripture, but states, “We believe … that God’s word in Scripture illuminates the challenges and issues posed by genetic knowledge and its application.”

+ Full Document

Posted in Health and healthcare, Religion and spirituality, Science | No Comments »

The Impact of Automatic Enrollment in 401(k) Plans on Future Retirement Accumulations: A Simulation Study Based on Plan Design Modifications of Large Plan Sponsors

March 21st, 2010

The Impact of Automatic Enrollment in 401(k) Plans on Future Retirement Accumulations: A Simulation Study Based on Plan Design Modifications of Large Plan Sponsors
Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute

New research from the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) finds that auto-enrollment of participants in 401(k) plans is likely to be most beneficial to young and low-income workers, although high-income workers are likely to benefit from it as well. It also confirms earlier results that large employers adopting auto-enrollment have significantly increased the employer “match” to their workers’ own 401(k) contributions.

+ Full Document (PDF; 480 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Investments, Labor | No Comments »

New NCLR Fact Sheet Shows Young Latins Overrepresented in Juvenile Justice System and Adult Prison Facilities

March 21st, 2010

New NCLR Fact Sheet Shows Young Latins Overrepresented in Juvenile Justice System and Adult Prison Facilities
Source: National Council of La Raza

Among the overall youth population of the United States, Latinos make up 19% of all 10- to 17-year-olds, yet they represent 25% of youth who are incarcerated. A new fact sheet released today by NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., examines the racial and ethnic backgrounds of young people in the juvenile justice system.

Just the Facts: A Snapshot of Incarcerated Youth finds that Whites represent 59% of the U.S. population ages 10–17 and 30% of those who are incarcerated, while Latinos and Blacks make up 25% and 45%, respectively, of the incarcerated youth population.

The fact sheet sounds an alarm about the sharp growth rate for Latino youth being held in adult facilities. The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that from 2000 to 2008, the share of Latino youth under 18 years of age who are in adult prisons rose from 12% to 20%; during this time, the rate for Black and White youth in adult facilities declined by six and two percentage points respectively. Moreover:

  • On any given day, at least 18,000 Hispanic youth are incarcerated in the U.S. for mostly nonviolent offenses, compared to 32,000 Black and 21,000 White youth.
  • More than two in five (41%) of all incarcerated Hispanic youth are held in short-term juvenile detention facilities, compared to 38% of Black and 44% of White youth.
  • More than one in three (34%) of all incarcerated Hispanic youth is held in long-term secure facilities for youth, compared to 26% of Black and 32% of White youth.

+ Full Document (PDF; 642 KB)

Posted in Ethnic, Legal and law enforcement, Race, Social and cultural issues | No Comments »

National Business Group on Health, Milliman Release Report on Hospital ValueNational Business Group on Health, Milliman Release Report on Hospital Value

March 21st, 2010

National Business Group on Health, Milliman Release Report on Hospital Value
Source: National Business Group on Health

Some U. S. hospitals can be profitable and deliver high value for both Medicare and commercial payers for inpatient care, while others may provide high value for Medicare, but are profitable by charging commercial payers considerably more. That’s the conclusion of a new study released today by the National Business Group on Health, a non-profit group of 280 large employers and performed by Bruce Pyenson and colleagues at Milliman, Inc., a premier global and actuarial consulting firm. The report, however, found these “high and low value cities” have very little in common when it comes to factors that typically affect costs, which suggests that hospital management, rather than external factors might drive high or low value. The report also identified several cities that deliver low value to both Medicare and commercial payers.

The National Business Group on Health last year commissioned Milliman’s Pyenson and co-authors to evaluate 65 U.S. cities and determine whether examples of high hospital value exist and what characteristics they share. High value cities were defined as those whose hospitals deliver low cost per capita to both Medicare and commercial payers while producing positive margins. While the study found a number of cities that fall into this category, several others deliver high value to Medicare but charge significantly higher amounts to commercial payers. Even among the high value cities, the study found considerable variation in what are believed to be important cost drivers including wage levels, payer and hospital competition, geographic location, and the ratio of primary care to specialist physicians.

+ Full Report (PDF; 456 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Health and healthcare | No Comments »

Poll: 3 out of 4 Americans Approve of Solar Energy Development on Public Lands

March 20th, 2010

Poll: 3 out of 4 Americans Approve of Solar Energy Development on Public Lands
Source: Solar Energy Industries Association

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today released new national polling data showing that 75 percent of those surveyed support the development of solar energy plants on public lands. The poll was conducted by Gotham Research Group. Solar industry and environmental leaders, as well as Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8th) and pollster Jeff Levine joined SEIA President Rhone Resch on a call to discuss the results.
…
The survey also revealed that solar power was the top choice (38 percent) as the best use of public land. Respondents also selected solar farms and wind power (22 percent each) as the top energy sources that the government should prioritize for support, beating out natural gas (16 percent), nuclear (16 percent), oil (11 percent) and coal (4 percent).

Related documents in PDF

Posted in Energy, Government and politics | No Comments »

112,000 Jobs at Risk Without Ethanol Tax Incentive Extension

March 20th, 2010

112,000 Jobs at Risk Without Ethanol Tax Incentive Extension
Source: Renewable Fuels Association

Extending the tax incentives for ethanol, regardless of feedstock, would save 112,000 jobs from being lost. That is nearly 30% of the 400,000 jobs ethanol production helps support today. Failure to extend the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) would reduce U.S. ethanol production capacity by 38% and eliminate tens of thousands of jobs in rural communities already hemorrhaging employment opportunities, according to a new report.
…
Key consequences that could be avoided by extending tax incentives for ethanol include:

  • Loss of more than 112,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy.
  • Reduction of domestic ethanol production by 38%.
  • Increased reliance on imported motor fuels.
  • Loss of investment in and support for second-generation biofuels.
  • Reduction of household income by $4.2 billion (2009 dollars)

+ Full Report (PDF; 308 KB)

Posted in Energy, Government and politics, Labor, Taxation | No Comments »

Only 9 Out of 337 Metropolitan Areas Add Construction Jobs Between January 2009 and 2010 as Industry Pain Continues

March 20th, 2010

Only 9 Out of 337 Metropolitan Areas Add Construction Jobs Between January 2009 and 2010 as Industry Pain Continues
Source: Associated General Contractors of America

Construction employment continued to shrink in most American communities as 313 out of 337 metro areas lost construction jobs between January 2009 and January 2010 according to a new analysis of federal employment figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The figures underscore just how hard hit the construction industry has been nationwide, association officials noted.
…
Eau Claire, Wisconsin added the most construction jobs (500) between January 2009 and January 2010, and experienced the largest percentage increase (23 percent) Simonson noted. Other cities adding construction jobs included Ithaca, New York (9 percent, 100 jobs); Michigan City, Indiana (6 percent, 100 jobs); Waterbury, Connecticut (5 percent, 100 jobs); and Grand Forks, North Dakota and Minnesota (5 percent, 100 jobs).

The construction economist noted that 230 metropolitan areas experienced double-digit percentage decreases in construction employment while no city experienced a double-digit increase in construction employment. Meanwhile, 18 cities nationwide lost more than 10,000 construction jobs between January 2009 and 2010.

+
Press Release
Construction News

Title: ONLY 9 OUT OF 337 METROPOLITAN AREAS ADD CONSTRUCTION JOBS BETWEEN JANUARY 2009 AND 2010 AS INDUSTRY PAIN CONTINUES

Date: March 18, 2010

Phoenix Loses Most Jobs While Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-West Virginia Experience Largest Percentage Decline, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Has Largest Increase in Construction Employment

Construction employment continued to shrink in most American communities as 313 out of 337 metro areas lost construction jobs between January 2009 and January 2010 according to a new analysis of federal employment figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The figures underscore just how hard hit the construction industry has been nationwide, association officials noted.

“It’s difficult to imagine that many regions will bounce back when so many construction workers are unemployed,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Worse, with virtually every city suffering significant construction job losses, there’s nowhere to hide from what is clearly a construction depression.”

Simonson noted that Phoenix, Arizona again lost more construction jobs (27,600) than any other city in America. Steubenville, Ohio and Weirton, West Virginia, experienced the largest percentage decline in construction employment (44 percent, 1,600 jobs), followed by Grand Junction, Colorado (34 percent, 3,400 jobs); Las Vegas, Nevada (32 percent, 24,500 jobs); Napa, California (32 percent, 1,100 jobs); and Santa Cruz, California (31 percent, 1,100 jobs.)

Eau Claire, Wisconsin added the most construction jobs (500) between January 2009 and January 2010, and experienced the largest percentage increase (23 percent) Simonson noted. Other cities adding construction jobs included Ithaca, New York (9 percent, 100 jobs); Michigan City, Indiana (6 percent, 100 jobs); Waterbury, Connecticut (5 percent, 100 jobs); and Grand Forks, North Dakota and Minnesota (5 percent, 100 jobs).

The construction economist noted that 230 metropolitan areas experienced double-digit percentage decreases in construction employment while no city experienced a double-digit increase in construction employment. Meanwhile, 18 cities nationwide lost more than 10,000 construction jobs between January 2009 and 2010.

Simonson said the figures underscore the need for new investments in infrastructure as well as new tax incentives designed to stimulate private sector demand. “If we can’t find a way to keep what’s left of the industry working, construction job losses are only going to get worse.”

+ Construction employment by state and by ranking (PDF; 114 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Housing and real estate, Labor | No Comments »

Democrats’ Health Care Bill Contains Massive Expansion of IRS’s Power – Requiring Up to 16,500 New IRS Agents

March 20th, 2010

Democrats’ Health Care Bill Contains Massive Expansion of IRS’s Power – Requiring Up to 16,500 New IRS Agents
Source:

Today, Rep. Dave Camp and Ways and Means Republicans released a new report detailing how the Democrats’ health care bill vastly expands the responsibilities of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and strengthens the heavy hand of the IRS in dealing with taxpayers.
…
Highlights of report, which is entitled “The Wrong Prescription: Democrats’ Health Overhaul Dangerously Expands IRS Authority,” include:

  • IRS agents verify if you have “acceptable” health care coverage;
  • IRS has the authority to fine you up to $2,250 or 2 percent of your income (whichever is greater) for failure to prove that you have purchased “minimum essential coverage;”
  • IRS can confiscate your tax refund;
  • IRS audits are likely to increase;
  • IRS will need up to $10 billion to administer the new health care program this decade;
  • IRS may need to hire as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents and other employees to investigate and collect billions in new taxes from Americans; and
  • Nearly half of all these new individual mandate taxes will be paid by Americans earning less than 300 percent of poverty ($66,150 for a family of four.)

The Republicans noted that despite all these new mandates on Americans, the Democrats prohibit the IRS from imposing these same taxes and penalties on illegal immigrants.

+ Full Report (PDF; 84 KB)

Posted in Government and politics, Health and healthcare, Political process | No Comments »

Census Bureau Reports Business Investment Held Steady at $1.38 Trillion in 2008

March 20th, 2010

Census Bureau Reports Business Investment Held Steady at $1.38 Trillion in 2008
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. businesses spent $1.38 trillion on new and used structures and equipment in 2008, of which $1.29 trillion, or 93.7 percent, was spent on new structures and equipment, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These figures were nearly the same in 2007.

These findings come from the Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES), which measures capital investment in new and used structures and equipment by nonfarm businesses. The data for 2008, as in all years ending in “3” or “8,” provide additional information for companies with employees by types of structures and equipment (i.e., machinery, furniture and computers).

Expenditures for new and used structures totaled $565.2 billion in 2008, an annual increase of $40.0 billion, or 7.6 percent. Of that total, $525.8 billion or 93.0 percent was spent on new structures. Spending on new and used equipment totaled $809.9 billion, 94.2 percent of which was for new equipment. In 2008, total equipment spending was down $19.6 billion from 2007.

Posted in Business and economics | No Comments »

NOAA Takes Steps to Assure Fair and Effective Enforcement, Protect Resources

March 20th, 2010

NOAA Takes Steps to Assure Fair and Effective Enforcement, Protect Resources
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco today outlined specific steps the agency has taken and will take to assure that NOAA has an effective and fair enforcement program to protect fisheries and other marine resources that sustain the jobs and economic vibrancy of America’s coastal communities, in response to a January review of the Commerce Department Inspector General.

The review of NOAA’s law enforcement program was requested by Dr. Lubchenco soon after she was named to head NOAA in 2009.
…
The report details several actions already taken by NOAA, including:

  • Transferring oversight of the Asset Forfeiture Fund, which holds fines imposed by NOAA, from NOAA’s Fisheries Service to the NOAA comptroller.
  • Freezing the hiring of criminal investigators until a work force analysis is completed and approved by Dr. Lubchenco that will address the appropriate mix of criminal investigators and civil enforcement officers.
  • Requiring high-level review of all proposed charges for alleged violations and of all settlements by the general counsel.
  • Filing a rule today to place the burden of justifying a particular civil penalty or permit sanction on NOAA rather than the respondent in cases before administrative law judges.

The report also outlines a number of specific actions that the agency intends to take, including:

  • Developing a new penalty policy, including a revision of the penalty and permit sanction schedules.
  • Reviewing and revising NOAA law enforcement and general counsel operations manuals.
  • Developing a communications plan to provide greater outreach to fishermen and fishing communities, and other fisheries stakeholders.

+ Full Report (PDF: 4.4 MB)
+ Appendices (PDF; 16 MB)

Posted in Environment, Government and politics, Legal and law enforcement | No Comments »

UK: Managing offenders on short custodial sentences

March 20th, 2010

Managing offenders on short custodial sentences
Source: National Audit Office, UK

from Press Release:
More could be done to rehabilitate prisoners serving short sentences and reduce their risk of re-offending, according to a National Audit Office report today. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS), responsible for managing such prisoners, has little information on the quality, cost or effectiveness of its rehabilitation activities.
 
More than 60,000 prisoners serve sentences of under 12 months each year at a cost to NOMS of around £300 million. These prisoners present a significant challenge to NOMS: they tend to have more previous convictions than other offenders, with an average of 16 previous convictions each and, as a group, they also have a high level of homelessness, joblessness and drug and alcohol problems. NOMS is successfully keeping the vast majority of short-sentenced prisoners safe and well – a notable achievement in a time of prison overcrowding – but is currently struggling to manage this group effectively, in part because most spend six weeks or less in prison.
 
Although short-sentenced prisoners are kept secure, safe and well, the provision of daytime activity for them is generally inadequate to meet HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ standards for a healthy prison. This is partly because of overcrowding and constraints of physical space, which mean that there are not enough activity spaces for all prisoners. Despite the cycle of re-offending and NOMS’ target to reduce this, the NAO found that one half of short-sentenced prisoners are not involved in work or courses and spend almost all day in their cells. Prisons offer a range of courses and other activities to reduce re-offending; but waiting lists are too long and, with the exception of drug services, prisons often do not match prisoners with appropriate assistance.
 
Only a small proportion of prison budgets is spent on activity intended to reduce re-offending by prisoners on short sentences, despite the fact that 60 per cent of such prisoners are reconvicted within a year of release, at an estimated economic and social cost of £7 billion to £10 billion a year. The NAO argues that NOMS could achieve greater value for money by improving prisons’ work with these offenders.

+ Direct links to Executive Summary and Full Report from this page (PDF; 68 KB and 286 KB)

Posted in Crime, Europe, Legal and law enforcement, Social and cultural issues, United Kingdom | No Comments »

U.S. International Transactions: Fourth Quarter and Year 2009

March 20th, 2010

U.S. International Transactions: Fourth Quarter and Year 2009
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

The U.S. current-account deficit–the combined balances on trade in goods and services, income, and net unilateral current transfers–increased to $115.6 billion (preliminary) in the fourth quarter of 2009 from $102.3 billion (revised) in the third quarter. The increase was more than accounted for by an increase in the deficit on goods and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in the surplus on income. A decrease in net unilateral current transfers to foreigners and an increase in the surplus on services were partly offsetting.

+ Full release and tables (PDF; 58 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, International Relations | No Comments »

Expanding Caseload Fuels Judiciary Request for Resources in 2011

March 20th, 2010

Expanding Caseload Fuels Judiciary Request for Resources in 2011
Source: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

Submitting the smallest funding increase requested in more than 20 years, representatives of the federal Judiciary today asked a House subcommittee to adequately fund the courts in the coming year so they can cope with anticipated increases in case filings.

“Our workload is increasing, nearly across the board, and if Congress approves the President’s requests for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, and bankruptcy filings remain high, our workload will continue to grow,” Judge Julia Gibbons, chair of the Judicial Conference Budget Committee, told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

As a result, Judge Gibbons said, the Judiciary is requesting a 6.8 percent funding increase for fiscal year 2011.

“In order to handle a growing workload and sustain a fair and expeditious delivery of justice, the federal courts must have the resources needed to do their work,” she said. “We do not have programs that we can cut in response to a budget shortfall.”

Judge Gibbons appeared with Administrative Office Director James C. Duff before the Subcommittee.

“The President’s budget increases spending on border and immigration enforcement efforts, particularly along the Southwest border, as well as spending for prosecuting financial fraud and drug offenses,” said Judge Gibbons. “This influx of crime fighting resources will result in more criminal cases in our district courts, more work for our probation and pretrial services officers, and increased caseload in our defender services program, which provides assigned counsel to eligible defendants.”

She noted that additional courts of appeals cases could be seen as the DOJ adds immigration judges and staff to clear the backlog of cases in the immigration courts.

+ Judge Julia S. Gibbons Testimony (PDF; 62 KB)
+ Director James C. Duff Testimony (PDF; 65 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Government and politics, Legal and law enforcement | No Comments »

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