One in every 31 U.S. adults is in the corrections system

[alienlovechild 75]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One in every 31 U.S. adults is in the corrections system, which includes jail, prison, probation and supervision, more than double the rate of a quarter century ago, according to a report released on Monday by the Pew Center on the States.

The study, which said the current rate compares to one in 77 in 1982, concluded that with declining resources, more emphasis should be put on community supervision, not jail or prison.

"Violent and career criminals need to be locked up, and for a long time. But our research shows that prisons are housing too many people who can be managed safely and held accountable in the community at far lower cost," said Adam Gelb, director of the Center's Public Safety Performance Project, which produced the report.

The United States has the highest incarceration rate and the biggest prison population of any country in the world, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Most of those in the U.S. corrections system -- one in 45 -- are already on probation or parole, with one in 100 in prison or jail, the Pew study found.

Those numbers are higher in certain areas of the country, and Georgia tops all states with one in 13 adults in the justice system. The other leading states are Idaho, where one in 18 are in corrections and Texas, where the rate is one in 22. In the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., nearly 5 percent of adults are in the city's penal system.

'STATES SPENDING TOO MUCH'

The numbers are also concentrated among groups, with a little more than 9 percent of black adults in prisons or jails or on probation or parole, as opposed to some 4 percent of Hispanics and 2 percent of whites.

Pew compiled the report as states consider cutting corrections spending during the recession. The research group said that by changing sentencing laws and probation programs states can lower incarceration rates and save money.

Penitentiary systems have been the fastest-growing spending area for states after Medicaid, the healthcare program for those with low income. Over the last 20 years their spending on criminal justice has increased more than 300 percent, the study found.

During the last 25 years prison and jail populations have grown 274 percent to 2.3 million in 2008, according to the Pew research, while those under supervision grew 226 percent over the same span to 5.1 million.

It estimated states spent a record $51.7 billion on corrections in fiscal year 2008 and incarcerating one inmate cost them, on average, $29,000 a year. But the average annual cost of managing an offender through probation was $1,250 and through parole $2,750.

"The huge differences between states are mostly due not to crime trends, or social and economic forces," Gelb said. "The rates are different mostly because of choices that the states have made about how they respond to crime."

"New community supervision strategies and technologies need to be strengthened and expanded, not scaled back. Cutting them may appear to save a few dollars, but it doesn't," Gelb said. Continued...

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNew...E5215TW20090302

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That's staggering. I wonder what the percentage of those incarcerated are in for drug related charges?

[Danno 1,228]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One in every 31 U.S. adults is in the corrections system, which includes jail, prison, probation and supervision, more than double the rate of a quarter century ago, according to a report released on Monday by the Pew Center on the States.

The study, which said the current rate compares to one in 77 in 1982, concluded that with declining resources, more emphasis should be put on community supervision, not jail or prison.

"Violent and career criminals need to be locked up, and for a long time. But our research shows that prisons are housing too many people who can be managed safely and held accountable in the community at far lower cost," said Adam Gelb, director of the Center's Public Safety Performance Project, which produced the report.

The United States has the highest incarceration rate and the biggest prison population of any country in the world, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Most of those in the U.S. corrections system -- one in 45 -- are already on probation or parole, with one in 100 in prison or jail, the Pew study found.

Those numbers are higher in certain areas of the country, and Georgia tops all states with one in 13 adults in the justice system. The other leading states are Idaho, where one in 18 are in corrections and Texas, where the rate is one in 22. In the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., nearly 5 percent of adults are in the city's penal system.

'STATES SPENDING TOO MUCH'

The numbers are also concentrated among groups, with a little more than 9 percent of black adults in prisons or jails or on probation or parole, as opposed to some 4 percent of Hispanics and 2 percent of whites.

Pew compiled the report as states consider cutting corrections spending during the recession. The research group said that by changing sentencing laws and probation programs states can lower incarceration rates and save money.

Penitentiary systems have been the fastest-growing spending area for states after Medicaid, the healthcare program for those with low income. Over the last 20 years their spending on criminal justice has increased more than 300 percent, the study found.

During the last 25 years prison and jail populations have grown 274 percent to 2.3 million in 2008, according to the Pew research, while those under supervision grew 226 percent over the same span to 5.1 million.

It estimated states spent a record $51.7 billion on corrections in fiscal year 2008 and incarcerating one inmate cost them, on average, $29,000 a year. But the average annual cost of managing an offender through probation was $1,250 and through parole $2,750.

"The huge differences between states are mostly due not to crime trends, or social and economic forces," Gelb said. "The rates are different mostly because of choices that the states have made about how they respond to crime."

"New community supervision strategies and technologies need to be strengthened and expanded, not scaled back. Cutting them may appear to save a few dollars, but it doesn't," Gelb said. Continued...

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNew...E5215TW20090302

Ironically the Black rate is more than 3 x higher then the number in the headline....yet is a small detail in the story.

"9 percent of black adults in prisons or jails or on probation or parole"

[Yoink 7]

legalize marijuana

[dalegg 143]

That's staggering. I wonder what the percentage of those incarcerated are in for drug related charges?

That's what I'm saying. Specifically just marijuana users. I believe dealers will always be dealers- they'll just move from pot to coke or E. Afterall they have to earn that paper. So keep the dealers in there. Pot users should be released though. By the way, I'm wondering how many people actually do NOT move on to stronger drugs because pot is legal. If you can get high legally now, why bother risking anything by going illegal?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Damn that Obama, making more Americans turn to crime.

[almaty 19]

yes, i blame obama

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ironically the Black rate is more than 3 x higher then the number in the headline....yet is a small detail in the story.

"9 percent of black adults in prisons or jails or on probation or parole"

Firstly - there's no irony in your statement about the black incarceration rate. Secondly - that disparity is old news - the disagreement tends to be over why that difference exists. Personally I found this bit quite interesting:

"The huge differences between states are mostly due not to crime trends, or social and economic forces," Gelb said. "The rates are different mostly because of choices that the states have made about how they respond to crime."

Edited March 3, 2009 by Paul Daniels

[tmma 467]

legalize marijuana

Get the taxes & clear some of the ####### off the streets.

I think prostitution should be legalized and regulated too for the above reasons.

[almaty 19]

the highest # of prisoners and the growth of the prison population is do to drug crimes..and at over $35,000 a year for each one..it is an expensive method

[Saddle Bronc 124]

legalize marijuana

Get the taxes & clear some of the ####### off the streets.

I think prostitution should be legalized and regulated too for the above reasons.

So, are you suggesting "RedLight" districts along the lines of those in Amsterdam, Hamburg, Mumbai, ...?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That's not the only way to do it you know

[almaty 19]

if nothing else, there needs to be a decrese in convictions on drug related cases..taxes are fine..but to close several prisons for lack of criminals is a state surplus break

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

if nothing else, there needs to be a decrese in convictions on drug related cases..taxes are fine..but to close several prisons for lack of criminals is a state surplus break

community service would be a good punishment for many minor infractions. pick up trash on the roads, help cut taxes.

[tmma 467]

legalize marijuana

Get the taxes & clear some of the ####### off the streets.

I think prostitution should be legalized and regulated too for the above reasons.

So, are you suggesting "RedLight" districts along the lines of those in Amsterdam, Hamburg, Mumbai, ...?

Sure, why not? I mean, regardless of my personal opinion on prostitution ( it's not something I actually condone) BUT if ppl want to pay for sex-like some obviously do-why not get the taxes? The Dutch economy gets million upon millions in tax revenue from their prostitution businesses.....The prostitutes are not wandering the streets AND there are health controls in place....

...So why not?

Edited March 3, 2009 by tmma