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State Prison Numbers Down For First Time In 40 Years
Inmate releases spurred by budget crises in two states contributed to the first nationwide decline in state prison populations in nearly four decades.
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NEW YORK (March 17, 2010)—Because of budget crises, California and Michigan together reduced their prison populations by more than 7,500 last year, which contributed to what a new report says is the first nationwide decline in the number of state inmates since 1972.
The Pew Center on the States says the overall drop was slight at just 0.4 percent, but its report suggests there could be a sustained downward trend because of keen interest by state policymakers in curtailing corrections costs.
In 23 states, the number of prisoners increased in 2009, notably in Indiana by 5.3 percent and in Pennsylvania by 4.3 percent.
However, 27 states reduced their prison populations led by California with a drop of 4,257 and Michigan with a drop of 3,260.
New York, Maryland, Texas and Mississippi also reduced their prison populations by more than 1,000.
The report did not count prisoners held in municipal and county jails.
