Results of a survey released today by the Pew Center reveal that Florida’s prison population is on the rise, even as nationwide, state prison population declined for the first time in nearly 40 years. Conducted in partnership with the State Correctional Administrators, the survey showed that Florida’s prison population, which stood at 102,388 on December 31st 2008, rose to 103,915 by January 1st 2010, an increase of 1.5 percent.
While overall the state prison population has declined, the Pew survey noted that there is great variation among states. Of the 27 states where the prison population declined, several posted substantial reductions. Twenty three (23) states saw increases in the number of prisoners and several showed significant increases, with five states accounting for more than half of the increase. These states are: Pennsylvania (2,122), Florida (1,527), Indiana (1,496), Louisiana (1,399) and Alabama (1,053).
McClatchy notes that Pew places the rising prison population in Florida directly on the failure of its political leaders to come together, to find common solutions to the problem, as other states like Texas and Kansas have done.
According to McClathy, in response to the survey results, Florida Department of Corrections acknowledged the growing prison population in a statement, but pointed out that the rate of growth was less than what the state had projected.
As of January 1st, 2010, there were 1,403, 091 persons in state prison authorities nationwide, 5,739 (0.4%) fewer than there were on December 31, 2008.
See Full Details of Pew Survey Here.
