Wyoming incarcerates a smaller number of people, (1,832 in 2003 including federal prisoners) than most states, but the state ranks fourth in the country for the fastest growing prison population. Wyoming’s prison population grew 7.8% between the end of 2002 and the end of 2003. Wyoming’s women’s prison population grew by 4.8% over the same period of time. During 2002 and 2003, the number of arrests decreased.

Prison officials say the prison population increase is due to drugs, particularly methamphetamines, and property crimes. The Wyoming legislature passed stiff penalties for meth-related offenses. To incarcerate its growing population, the Wyoming Department of Corrections is building a 650-person medium-security prison that the Public Information Officer, Melinda Brazzale, says can be expanded to hold 800 people.

This news brief is based on an article from the Casper Star-Tribune Drug, property crimes fuel prison population hike [1]. If this link is broken, please check their archive.