Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Sentencing Law and Policy

Criminal Law

: Sentencing Law and Policy

Pennsylvania auditor urging state sentencing reform to reduce prison costs

By Douglas A. Berman

A sure sign of the modern budget and sentencing times is this local story from Pennsylvania which reports on the state auditor urging criminal justice reforms.  The piece is headlined "Wagner endorses GOP bill to lessen Pennsylvania prison costs," and here are excerpts: Calling for an end to new prison construction, Auditor General Jack Wagner today urged the Legislature to approve a Senate Republican's bill making it easier to send non-violent offenders to alternative-sentencing programs. Wagner, a Beechview Democrat, issued a "special report" outlining the 500 percent growth in Pennsylvania's prison population from 8,243 in 1980 to 51,487 in 2010.  In 2009, Pennsylvania had the highest number of new inmates ? 2,122 ? of any state. The cost per inmate nearly tripled from $11,477 in 1980 to $32,059 in 2009, Wagner said...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on January 27, 2011 (boomark / email).