International Relations Negotiation Role-Play: New Crimea Prison Overcrowding Simulation

The state of New Crimea has an average daily prison population of 13,000, with the prison system currently operating at a 122% capacity. A federal judge recently ruled that such conditions violate inmates’ constitutional rights, and ordered a 13% reduction of the inmate population within six months. Following this ruling, the governor of New Crimea organized a Prison Overcrowding Policy Commission, whose responsibility it is to develop policy recommendations that will alleviate the system-wide overcrowding. The legislature will then consider the Commission’s proposals. Should the Commission fail to reach an agreement, the Department of Corrections will be forced to begin releasing inmates.