Prison Population Declines Slightly
March 18, 2010
Reported by Catherine Bilkey, Cheyenne Bureau
For the first time since 1972, the number of state prisoners in the country has declined. Rhode Island saw the biggest decrease by percentage, at over nine percent. But, California's system shrunk the most by over 4,000 people.
Wyoming has seen nearly a half percent decrease, but for a state with fewer people, that only amounts to about nine offenders, which officials say isn't really significant.
"The results were very much like we had expected because we've noticed over the last three years our population has stayed mainly steady," Melinda Brazzale, Public Information Officer for the Wyoming Department of Corrections, said.
In the Pew Survey, two possible explanations for the decrease in prison populations included concerns over budget and prison overpopulation. Experts at the Laramie County Community College agreed to some extent.
"Decisions made on prison overcrowding are obviously decisions for the corrections departments of those particular states,” Justice Studies Coordinator Jodi Weppner said. “But where we're seeing the huge release of prisoners in other states....a lot of that is budgetary."
In Wyoming, corrections officials don’t have the same concerns.
"We are very fortunate because we have a good budget. We have the great staff that is trained that knows what they’re doing. So we keep people in our system just as long as we're supposed to."
While overall, there was a decrease in the state prison population. Twenty-three states showed a population increase including Pennsylvania and Florida.
;)
