Prison Spending Outpaces All But Medicaid: Are We Spending Those Dollars Wisely?

OPEN MINDS The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Cover Story One in 31 U.S. adults, or 7.3 million Americans, is on parole, probation, or incarcerated according to a study by the Pew Charitable Trusts released on March 32, 2009. According to the study, the fastest expanding major segment of state budgets in 2007 was for corrections. Only Medicaid spending grew faster than state corrections spending, which increased 400% in the past two decades. State corrections costs now top $50 billion annually and consume one in every 15 discretionary dollars. The study, “One in 31: The Long . . .