By James P. Bond
Pennsylvania’s prison system continues to be impacted by costly overcrowding, while 20 other states are reducing their inmate populations.
Pennsylvania currently has 51,000 inmates in a system designed to accommodate 43,000. To ease the overcrowding, Pennsylvania has begun sending 2,000 inmates to prisons in Virginia and Michigan at a cost of about $42 million a year. At the same time, the commonwealth is planning to build four new prisons estimated to cost $800 million.
In contrast, New York’s inmate population has decreased by 13 percent. New York officials are considering closing one or more prisons. This is attributed to alternative sentencing, intensive drug treatment, and mental health programs.
Michigan has reduced its inmate population by 8 percent. It has closed eight prisons and has 3,260 fewer inmates than it had three years ago. This is attributed to drug and alcohol counseling, and job training, all outside the prison.
