“The proposed FY2010-2011 budget also provides for substantial increases in our Correction costs,” said Gov. Ed Rendell in proposing a state budget for Fiscal Years 2010 – 2010. “We have worked together on critical reforms over the years, yet the cost of housing prisoners in Pennsylvania continues to rise.”
The correctional facilities’ net operational capacity will soon increase to 48,980
The Rendell administration states that by June 2011, the correctional facilities’ net operational capacity will increase to 48,980 after new housing units at four institutions have opened.
What was not addressed by the governor during the introduction of his prison budget on Tuesday was how many of the prisons were threats to society and how many were there as a result of marijuana and soft drug prohibition.
According to the U. S. Department of Justice, in 2008 there were 7,308,200 persons in the US corrections system, of whom 4,270,917 were on probation, 828,169 were on parole, 785,556 were in jails, and 1,518,559 were in state and federal prisons.
Also not addressed was how the prison industry has become one of the most powerful lobby groups and voting blocks for protecting the interests of its suppliers and workers.
According to a Justice Policy Institute report of January, 2008: “The United States leads the world in the number of people incarcerated in federal and state correctional facilities. There are currently more than 2 million people in American prisons or jails. Approximately one-quarter of those people held in U.S. prisons or jails have been convicted of a drug offense. The United States incarcerates more people for drug offenses than any other country. With an estimated 6.8 million Americans struggling with drug abuse or dependence, the growth of the prison population continues to be driven largely by incarceration for drug offenses.”
“The United States leads the world in the number of people incarcerated in federal and state correctional facilities. There are currently more than 2 million people in American prisons or jails. Approximately one-quarter of those people held in U.S. prisons or jails have been convicted of a drug offense. The United States incarcerates more people for drug offenses than any other country. With an estimated 6.8 million Americans struggling with drug abuse or dependence, the growth of the prison population continues to be driven largely by incarceration for drug offenses.” (more statistics)
