Oregon #1 in Increased Spending on Prisons

For 2006, Oregon’s spending on prisons increased by over 30% making Oregon the state with the greatest increase in spending on prisons in the country. California came in second. These facts are part of a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures that examined spending on corrections and found that across the nation corrections spending from states’ general funds increased 10% between fiscal years 2005 and 2006.For 2006, Oregon’s spending on prisons increased by over 30% making Oregon the state with the greatest increase in spending on prisons in the country. California came in second. These facts are part of a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures that examined spending on corrections and found that across the nation corrections spending from states’ general funds increased 10% between fiscal years 2005 and 2006. All total, states spent $35.6 billion on corrections in 2006. For most states, spending on corrections is now their third largest expense behind health care and education.

The increased spending on prisons is due to growing prison populations. While states like Oregon and California are building more prisons, other states like Kansas and Texas are funding programs to decrease recidivism. Other states are expanding work release and earned time programs to control the cost of prisons. At least 22 states revised sentencing laws between 2004 and 2006 as a way of dealing with prison crowding and controlling the cost of corrections.

This report is based on an article on Stateline.org, States seek alternatives to more prisons. If the link is broken, check the web site’s archives. The article references the report from the National Conference of State Legislatures, State Funding for Corrections in FY 2006 and FY 2007.