By Liz Nass
Gongwer News Service
More than 65% of incarcerated individuals are facing sentences of 10 years or longer, leading to prison population growth that does not match crime rates that remain stable, according to a new report.
A report released last week by the Crime and Justice Institute found the prison population has grown 3% since 2021 after a trend of decline for decades.
With this, average minimum sentences rose 30% over the past decade, from 9.3 years in prison in 2014 to 12 years in 2023.
According to the report, between 2014 and 2023, intake was decreased by 33% while commitments decreased 30%. From 2014 to 2020, intake then decreased again by 57% and commitments decreased by 54%. But, in only three years, from 2020 to 2023, intake and commitments increased by 55% and 54%, respectively.
Specifically, drug offenses saw a boost due to minimum terms for drug offenses growing 33% in the last decade, the report said. Assaultive offenses also saw an increase by about 3% in a decade but then saw a 23% increase from 2020 to 2023.
Other justice policies including consecutive sentences, sentence stacking and habitual offender enhancements frequently surpassing minimum terms beyond statutory maximums are contributing to the population growth.
The report also offered recommendations for population decline including leveraging the recently reinstated Sentencing Commission to produce legislation, using corrections data to identify policies leading to longer stays with an emphasis on habitual offenders and additional sentences on already incarcerated individuals and analyzing the fiscal impact of long sentences on budget volatility and an aging prison population with more medical care needs.
The reports found the state spends approximately $49,000 per person per year incarcerated and based on a 12-year average minimum term, the cost per individual approaches $588,000. With population increases, the cost generated projected additional spending of approximately $9 million and $29 million in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The report also called for a reintroduction of policies to reduce length of stay. Some policies introduced in recent years include productivity credits in which momentum fell apart during the 2024 lame duck legislative session.
States like Washington, Kansas, Ohio and Utah use earned time or productivity credits to reduce prison stays.
Gongwer News Service
More than 65% of incarcerated individuals are facing sentences of 10 years or longer, leading to prison population growth that does not match crime rates that remain stable, according to a new report.
A report released last week by the Crime and Justice Institute found the prison population has grown 3% since 2021 after a trend of decline for decades.
With this, average minimum sentences rose 30% over the past decade, from 9.3 years in prison in 2014 to 12 years in 2023.
According to the report, between 2014 and 2023, intake was decreased by 33% while commitments decreased 30%. From 2014 to 2020, intake then decreased again by 57% and commitments decreased by 54%. But, in only three years, from 2020 to 2023, intake and commitments increased by 55% and 54%, respectively.
Specifically, drug offenses saw a boost due to minimum terms for drug offenses growing 33% in the last decade, the report said. Assaultive offenses also saw an increase by about 3% in a decade but then saw a 23% increase from 2020 to 2023.
Other justice policies including consecutive sentences, sentence stacking and habitual offender enhancements frequently surpassing minimum terms beyond statutory maximums are contributing to the population growth.
The report also offered recommendations for population decline including leveraging the recently reinstated Sentencing Commission to produce legislation, using corrections data to identify policies leading to longer stays with an emphasis on habitual offenders and additional sentences on already incarcerated individuals and analyzing the fiscal impact of long sentences on budget volatility and an aging prison population with more medical care needs.
The reports found the state spends approximately $49,000 per person per year incarcerated and based on a 12-year average minimum term, the cost per individual approaches $588,000. With population increases, the cost generated projected additional spending of approximately $9 million and $29 million in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The report also called for a reintroduction of policies to reduce length of stay. Some policies introduced in recent years include productivity credits in which momentum fell apart during the 2024 lame duck legislative session.
States like Washington, Kansas, Ohio and Utah use earned time or productivity credits to reduce prison stays.
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