Jackson Free Press

A new study from the Pew Center on the States reveals that one in 38 adult Mississippians is in prison or jail, or on probation or parole. The state's ranking is No. 3 for those in prison or jail, with 11,617 adults behind bars, or one in every 69 citizens.

The cost for corrections in the state is $266 million, or 6.4 percent of the general fund.

Nationwide, the number of people in the U.S. corrections system is more than 7.3 million, or one in every 31 adults.

"Most states are facing serious budget deficits," said Susan Urahn, managing director of The Pew Center on the States in a release.. "Every single one of them should be making smart investments in community corrections that will help them cut costs and improve outcomes."

In Mississippi, the number of people in the system, the cost per offender and the total cost to the state have all skyrocketed. In 1982, the ratio was one in 105. The cost per offender in prison or jail has nearly doubbled in that period from $18.06 to $35.69 per day.

Previous Comments

ID

144257

Comment

I think your title is wrong.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-03-03T13:19:27-06:00

ID

144261

Comment

Why, Iron?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-03-03T14:00:07-06:00

ID

144267

Comment

The picture Caption is reading "1 in 38", and the title of this Story is "1 in 69". If you're combining the population in Prison/Jail, it'd be 1 in 69. If you combine Prison/Jail/Probation/Parole, it's 1 in 38. Personally, I think it could be laid out easier in the Pew Factsheet. That's just me, though.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-03-03T14:51:35-06:00

ID

144271

Comment

Another #3, we are moving on up. Porn and now prisons. What's next?

Author

WMartin

Date

2009-03-03T14:58:54-06:00