NCJ Number
142503
Date Published
1993
Length
27 pages
Annotation
Minnesota and Oklahoma have many similarities, but the sizes of their prison populations differ greatly.
Abstract
Minnesota has a larger population, but the two States are similar in their proportions of rural and urban residents. Oklahoma has a greater minority population than does Minnesota and a greater proportion of divorced residents. Minnesota's population has higher educational attainment, higher employment, and higher household incomes. Oklahoma's crime rates are consistently higher than Minnesota's in all categories. The four metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) in Minnesota account for nearly 70 percent of the State's population, yet have considerably lower crime rates than Oklahoma's five MSA's. Oklahoma has more inmates and more correctional facilities; Oklahoma's incarceration rate per 100,000 population is more than five times greater than Minnesota's rate. In response to overcrowding and projected growth, both States have added prison bed space and plan to increase capacity. Overall, the Minnesota response to criminal convictions and the administering of punishment is less costly in Minnesota, with reduced reliance on incarceration. The comparison suggests that incarcerating offenders does not serve to reduce crime and that Oklahoma might be well served to study Minnesota's system further. Charts