Final answer:
Probation is not more costly than incarceration; in fact, incarceration is generally more expensive, costing an average of $43,836 per federal prisoner per year. Alternatives to incarceration can be more cost-effective, especially for juveniles and elderly inmates where incarceration is highly costly or counterproductive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that probation is more costly than incarceration is false. Incarceration costs, on average, $43,836 per year for federal prisoners as of 2021 in the U.S., which is a substantial burden on the criminal justice system. Alternative strategies such as diversion to drug treatment, or early release with the possibility of longer sentences for reoffending, can be more cost-effective. Moreover, intensive monitoring like that by probation officers can sometimes increase recidivism rates, thus reducing its effectiveness. Reducing the intensity of supervision has been shown to be more cost-effective in managing offenders.
For specific populations, such as juveniles and aging inmates, incarceration can be particularly ineffective and costly, with incarceration of juveniles actually increasing the likelihood of future crimes and aging inmates incurring higher healthcare costs. Therefore, prison budget management highly benefits from alternative approaches such as rehabilitation or early release of low-risk, elderly prisoners for cost savings and societal benefit.