Question

Read the excerpts from "Wrongful Convictions” by John R. Firman and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.

"Wrongful Convictions”

Funding and resources. Many things you’d like to fix—whether it’s training, whether it’s getting more DNA evidence, whether it’s getting it faster—a lot of this stuff takes a lot of money, so certainly money, dollars, and resources were discussed generally, policies and training.

Just Mercy

Finally, we spend lots of money. Spending on jails and prisons by state and federal governments has risen from $6.9 billion in 1980 to nearly $80 billion today. . . . State governments have been forced to shift funds from public services, education, health, and welfare to pay for incarceration, and they now face unprecedented economic crises as a result.

Based on the details about finances in both excerpts, which conclusion about funding the justice system can be logically made?

Appropriate funding is required to ensure that reform can be successful.
Current funding has allowed small changes to be made.
The lack of funding has caused incarceration rates to increase.

Answer 1

Appropriate funding is required to ensure that reform can be successful.

Why: The first excerpt explicitly says needed reforms (training, faster/more DNA testing) “take a lot of money.” The second excerpt emphasizes large prison spending and budget shifts, underscoring that funding decisions shape what the system can do. The other two choices are not supported by the excerpts.