Study: Prison population on the rise

[Joanne98]

Study: Prison population on the rise
STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Get-tough policies that lock up offenders for longer sentences are propelling a projected increase of nearly 200,000 in the nation's prison population in the next five years, according a private study released Wednesday.

The increase - projected by the Pew Charitable Trusts study to be three times faster than overall population growth in the U.S. - is expected to cost states more than $27 billion.

"As a country, we have a problem," said Susan Urahn, managing director of policy initiatives for the Pew Charitable Trusts, which funded the study by its Public Safety Performance Project.

The study is the first of its kind to project prison populations in every state through 2011, based on state projections, current criminal justice policies and demographic trends.

Urahn said she hopes states use the study to prepare for the future - either by building more prisons or by adopting policies to slow the growth through alternative forms of punishment.

The projections, she said, are not inevitable. They can be altered by state policies as well as economic and cultural changes.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/16696442.htm

Expect the "private prison" bastards to try to take advantage of this. RELEASE THE NON-VIOLENT DRUG OFFENDERS!

[PLF]

1. Just decriminalize pot

It's cheaper than building new prisons.

[tabasco]

2. Think of all the jobs it creates!

The police state is providing lots of jobs for counselors, probation officers, prison guards, drug testers, halway-house employees, support personnel, etc. Think of all the families that rely on the police state for jobs! Stop worrying about civil liberty and think about the positive economic effects of the police state. How are they supposed to survive without lots of prisoners? We should trust our government and let them lock up all these dangerous criminals, especially those pot smokers. The police state has to do what it takes to survive.

[Joanne98]

3. They actually use jobs as a selling point....

x(

[Doondoo]

4. Dang! Beat me to it. I was just about to post this.

:)

[sutz12]

5. IIRC prisons were the true 'growth industry' of the 90's

Almost better records than hi-tech.

[bemildred]

6. Why do people that hate welfare love putting people in the slammer?

It's way more expensive.

[Joanne98]

8. Because they're evil.

[Deja Q]

9. And some of which get welfar.e.. government subsidy.

As the trend is starting, it'll only increase over time: Prisoners will be used as troops.

[bigdarryl]

7. good that's more job security for me as a Correction Officer

I love my job and i make some decent money(73,000) yearly.

[Joanne98]

10. I won't be happy until you're out of work.

[The Anti-Neo Con]

11. Sure, it's a growing industry now.

I guarantee this is another industry that will be outsourced. China will be the perfect place for this to happen. There people will guard the prisoners for 35 cents an hour & no one here will have to worry about lawsuits or civil rights violations, since people have relatively no rights in China. It will be fair game to abuse or execute our citizens.