Introduction Prisons in the United States are often times in an overcrowded state causing both federal and state prison systems to operate far above their capacity. In 2002, federal prisons in the U.S. were operating 33% above their capacity while state prisons operated between 1% and 17% above their rated capacity. The national rate of imprisonment in the U.S in 2003 was 482 prisoners for every 100,000 residents with some states going higher above the national average. Inmates were by this time serving longer sentences than those imprisoned in earlier years. In 1995 for example, the average duration for imprisonment was 23 months but the rate had risen up to 30 months by 2001. This increase in the length of incarceration can be attributed to changing sentencing laws such as truth-in-sentencing laws, mandatory minimum sentences and an assortment of three-strike laws that have been responsible for increasing prison terms for repeat offenders. As a result, prison overcrowding has continually posed serious challenges to correctional administrators and this has pushed state and federal law makers into looking for alternatives to incarceration so as to reduce prison population without risking public safety. Various methods of reform that have been used to reduce overcrowding include rehabilitation and community service for the non-violent offender through such alternatives as work programs, half way houses, boot camps, house arrest and drug facilities. Shorter sentences can also be given to the offenders by using probation and electronic monitoring devices (Pollock, p. 44). Overcrowding in U.S Prisons During the 1980s, there was a dramatic and massive increase in drug use in the U.S that subsequently led to an equally dramatic increase in the number of offenders arrested for drug related offenses. At this time, the population imprisoned for drug related offenses increased tremendously in U.S prisons, prompting Congress to swiftly react by imposing mandatory strict sentences on those caught in possession or selling certain drugs especially crack cocaine. This move would ultimately help to shape the social composition of state and federal prisons in ways that had never before been witnessed in the U.S. Yet, the tough approach on crime doubled with the war on drugs adversely affected the U.S correctional system because of the massive drug arrests. In 1981 for example, the capacity of federal and state prisons increased by about 20,000 beds while another 43,000 were under construction. Between 1982 and 1989, the number of prisoners had subsequently increased from 410,000 to 645,604 inmates. This increase necessitated the need for reforms to the correctional system; either reforms that would provide alternatives to the traditional long-term imprisonment, or government spending to the tune of billions of dollars in construction of new jails and prisons, as well as hiring more manpower to cater for the growing inmate population (Anderson, Dyson & Burns, p. 2). By the year 1988, U.S inmate rates measured at 247 inmates for every 100,000 residents. Between 1976 and 1988, 25 to 49 persons out of every 1000 people were convicted of property crimes and imprisoned while the number of prisoners for violent crimes rose from 252 to 383 prisoners for very 100 violent crimes, reflecting a 52 % increase. Prison build