Chart: One Year of Prison Costs More Than One Year at Princeton

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

One year at Princeton University: $37,000. One year at a New Jersey state prison: $44,000.

Prison and college "are the two most divergent paths one can take in life," Joseph Staten, an info-graphic researcher with Public Administration, says. Whereas one is a positive experience that increases lifetime earning potential, the other is a near dead end, which is why Staten found it striking that the lion's share of government funding goes toward incarceration.

The comparison between higher education spending and correction spending highlighted in the following chart is not perfect. Universities have means to fund themselves; prisons rely on the government. So it makes some sense that a disproportional amount of money flows to the correction centers. Also, take note, comparing African Americans in college and African Americans in dorms is not completely fair. For one, college implies an 18-22 age range, and incarcerated adults can be of any age. Also, it doesn't take into account African Americans who commute to school.

Despite these shortcomings, this chart helps illustrate a large discrepancy in this country: America has the highest incarceration rate by population, but is only 6th in the world when it comes to college degrees. Our government's spending reflects that fact accordingly.

http://www.stumbleup...inceton/247629/

[mawilson 2,133]

$37,000 is tuition only.

$44,000 covers all living expenses, including health insurance.

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

[dalegg 143]

Couldn't we solve this by just executing more prisoners?

[mawilson 2,133]

Couldn't we solve this by just executing more prisoners?

Or punish them by sending them to Princeton instead.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

What did Steve do to go to prison? They need to put him on a diet for gods sakes.

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

Hiccup*

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Liberal Answer: Spend more on education, less on law enforcement

Libertarian Answer: Fire the cops, close the prisons, end public funding of education

Conservative Answer: Draft all the students, send them to war, then put them in prison before they become liberals and libertarians

[slim 1,525]

One of the best points is right there at the very end - we jail nonviolent offenders.

I'm still not sure what that achieves other than perpetuating the cycle and lining the pockets of those involved in the jailing. Are we really worried that someone is going to steal stuff or take/sell drugs?

It's time for us to come up with a better system of rehab. I like the point of saving California 7 billion a year by putting all the inmates in college. HA! But there's something to that.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

All offenders are non-violent until they become violent.

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

All offenders are non-violent until they become violent.

Are you inferring to your experience being incarcerated?

[^_^ 5,021]

All offenders are non-violent until they become violent.

It's a very fine line between profound and stupid.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Couldn't we solve this by just executing more all prisoners?

Fixx0red

All offenders are non-violent until they become violent.

Wow, that was profound. I guess water is wet, until it dries up too Marc? Get back to the Juggalo convention Marc, I think the village is missing you.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

It's a very fine line between profound and stupid.

There is no line when professing to know both.

[The_Dude 1,142]

There is no line when professing to know both.

Make no mistake Marc, you fall exclusively in the later category.