“For the first time in nearly 40 years, the number of state prisoners in the U.S. has declined. Survey data compiled by the Public Safety Performance Project of the Pew Center on the States, in partnership with the Association of State Correctional Administrators, indicate that as of January 1, 2010, there were 1,403,091 persons under the jurisdiction of state prison authorities, 5,739 (0.4 percent) fewer than there were on December 31, 2008. This marks the first year-to-year drop in the state prison population since 1972…”
“…In 27 states, the population dropped, with some posting substantial reductions. Meanwhile, the number of prisoners continued to grow in the other 23 states, several with significant increases.”
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