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States Can't Afford Prison System Boom

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

NEAL PEIRCE States Can't Afford Prison System Boom August 12, 2009 In a season of deep deficits and alarming program cuts, why aren't states more seriously focused on reducing their swelling prison populations? The Vera Institute of Justice reports unusual progress ? 22 states, pressed by the recession, are reluctantly starting cutbacks. But with a world-leading 2.3 million people behind bars, the United States has a long, long way to go. California's case is extreme, but illustrative. In the mid-1970s, it had about 20,000 offenders behind bars. Today the total is 168,000 inmates ? an increase of 740 percent. In 1999, its prison system cost an already massive $4 billion to operate. Now, with more prisoners, more penitentiaries, more guards and more health costs, the budget figure has topped $10 billion ? a big contributor to the $26 billion state budget shortfall...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on August 12, 2009 (boomark / email).