State Could Save Millions on Prison System, Report Says
- Public Safety Performance Project
- Source: The Tribune-Democrat
- May 23, 2012
Pennsylvania could save tens of millions of dollars a year by keeping low-level offenders out of the prison system and instead reserving state prison beds for criminals convicted of the most serious crimes and serving longer terms, consultants said in a report released today.
The report by The Council of State Governments says decreasing reliance on expensive prison space would save about $350 million over five years, and that only a quarter of that amount would be needed to finance related changes that it recommends elsewhere in the system – including shifting more prisoners nearing parole into intensive residential programs.
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Pennsylvania is one of 16 states participating in the council’s “justice reinvestment” initiative, designed to help states reduce prison spending while enhancing public safety. The research is financed by the U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Pew Center on the States.
Read the full article at tribune-democrat.com.
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