In many prisons across the country, overpopulation is flooding prisons, creating an unstable environment. As many prisons close, prisoners are sent to other prisons. This is also happening to those sentenced to death. Criminals locked up here are serving sentences for everything from breaking and entering to murder. With all these inmates feeding on taxpayers' money, can they do anything to pay their way? Education of prisoners has a huge impact on how they react to environmental changes, even helping prisoners choose careers can reduce prison populations and death sentences. According to the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, “a system that imposes the maximum sentence of life in prison instead of the death penalty spends $11.5 million in costs.” (California Comission on the Fair Administration of Justice, 2008) Prisoners who are or will be eligible for parole work for their release; inmates must improve their education and find suitable careers in order to reduce the number of inmates in the prison system and ultimately end the death penalty. With so many people incarcerated, finding an outlet is essential to keeping people out of prisons. “Today, the United States represents 5% of the world's population and has 25% of the world's prisoners.” (NAACP, 2008) When a youth gets into trouble they are forced to repay the community through services the courts deem necessary and many youth in schools help with community service to get college credit. This allows even those without any experience to gain some, helping to develop skills that can later be used on construction sites. Without adequate experience, a worker has difficulty finding a career; if that person is a criminal the chances decrease. It is vital that as a nation...... middle of paper......d careers. With this plan, prisons will see a decline in repeat offenders, along with younger first-time offenders. This plan will improve prison morale along with the economic development of the surrounding areas. Works cited by the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice. (2008, July 1). Retrieved from http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/death-penalty/us-death-penalty-facts/death-penalty-costFederal Bureau of Prisons. (2013, 123). bop.gov. Retrieved from http://www.bop.gov/inmate_programs/edu.jspImmarigeon, R., & Chesney-Lind, M. (1992). Women's prisons are overcrowded and overused. National Criminal Justice Reference System.NAACP. (2008). Retrieved from www.naacp.org/pages/criminal-justice-fact-sheetNational Journal. (2012, 7 15). National newspaper. Retrieved 10/31, 2013, from the Natonal Journal: http://www.nationaljournal.com/reporters/bio/44