When one thinks of the largest amounts of government spending, they usually think of the big-ticket items, such as Social Security, the military, education and social services. But one aspect that is often forgotten about is the correctional system.
According to a 2008 study on the Pew Center of the States, one in every 31 adults, or 7.3 million Americans, are in prison, on parole, or probation, which costs the states $47 billion (Moore 2009). The survey of 34 out of the 50 states in the country showed that states averaged spending $29,000 per inmate, as opposed to $2,750 per parolee and $1,250 per probationer (Moore 2009). This increase has come, the report says, in spite of crime falling by 25 percent over the last two decades (Moore 2009).
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The inmate sees very little of that $29,000 of value, as life inside a prison isn’t very much fun. Take Aaron Hernandez, the former NFL player, who is currently in prison awaiting trial on a murder charge. Hernandez, who is in protective custody due to his fame, is in a 7-foot-by-10 foot cell, with a one-inche mattress, pillow and blanket, no air conditioning, TV, or coffee (Grossfeld 2013). He is allowed to leave his cell three times a day, once to exercise for an hour outdoors in a cage, and can make collect calls (Grossfeld 2013). A typical dinner is a beef burger, rice and beans, green beans, fruit, fortified juice, and water (Grossfeld 2013).
Spending on prisons increased in the 1980s due to a spike in crime, plus federal sentences were increased in the 1990s. (Moore 2009). But now that crime has gone down, it may seem like prisons aren’t needed as much. Yet, the spending, as much as $9 out of every $10 spent on corrections going to prisons, continues, as prisons and jails, with strong employee unions, continue to advocate for their interests. While the spending on prisons may not be good for inmates, or taxpayers, Americans can at least rest assured that there are places to put criminals behind bars.
- Moore Solomon (2009 March 2), “Prison Spending Outpaces All But Medicaid”, New York Times, Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/us/03prison.html?_r=0
- Grossfeld Stan, (2013 July 16), “What It’s Like For Aaron Hernandez in Jail”, Boston Globe, Retrieved from http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/07/15/life-inside-prison-for-aaron-hernandez/k5GQZjyKZvy5aRgnZ3ndFL/story.html
