Alternatives to incarceration mentality is emerging. (Editorial).

The events of Sept. 11th will forever cast a shadow over the past year. The 107th Congress will always be known for leading the counteroffensive against the forces of terrorism, establishing the Department of Homeland Security and taking steps to rebuild the American economy.

International criminal justice and detention issues became a component of the broader debate as policy-makers and the general public expressed concern about issues surrounding the status of INS detainees and criminal combatants. However, the discussion surrounding the detention of these individuals did not translate to a general debate on the conditions for inmates in the custody of America's jails. Nevertheless, a general debate concerning American policies toward incarceration has emerged during the past few years and has gained considerable momentum. Spurred by the success of ballot initiatives in California and Arizona mandating treatment over incarceration for first-time, nonviolent drug offenders, as well as debates over budgetary issues in the states, advocates for alternatives to incarceration have gained a prominent voice across the nation.

The "tough on crime" mentality that came to dominate both public policy and public opinion for many of the past 20 years has begun to fade in favor of alternative approaches. Polls show that support among the general public for the tough on crime approach has slipped. This approach to crime reached its pinnacle with the release of the controversial furlough program advertisement during the 1988 presidential campaign between then-Vice President George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis. The ad, which told the infamous story of Willie Horton, polarized the nation's views on crime and the criminal justice system, and the public's reaction helped cement the tough on crime mentality deep into the nation's consciousness. The ad and its fallout steered public policy sharply toward tough mandatory sentencing policies and the get tough approach that dominated the national debate on criminal justice issues throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Today, tough on crime rhetoric persists, but it is losing its popular foothold as the public embraces a myriad of alternatives to incarceration. Programs emphasizing alternatives to sentencing -- including prevention, treatment and rehabilitation -- are gaining support among the general population and, thus, lawmakers. New polls find that the public believes that laws should be changed to reduce the incarceration of nonviolent offenders and that rehabilitation should be the No. 1 purpose of the justice system. The public's support for ballot initiatives calling for mandatory treatment for nonviolent drug offenders further demonstrates the grass-roots strength of this movement.

The change in public opinion has led to changes in political rhetoric and public policy. Despite this change, I believe that one of the two most important goals of the criminal justice system has remained the same. This goal -- preventing crime -- remains a top priority for the nation. Of course, public safety is as important in the criminal justice system as preventing crime.

The American Correctional Association realizes that there are many individuals in the custody of U.S. prisons who would be better served by -- and would be better able to serve -- their communities by not being incarcerated. Nevertheless, individuals should not be allowed to blame drug or alcohol abuse or other factors for their crimes, and they must be held accountable for their actions. Thus, ACA has long supported a balanced, multifaceted solution to criminal justice that includes rehabilitation and prevention, and will continue to do so. The' Association will work to lead efforts to educate the public as well as the nation's elected officials on the benefits of a well-rounded approach to criminal justice. It is ACA's hope that, whatever the rhetoric, the United States will continue to lead by example and will continue to have the most professional criminal justice system in the world.