NCJ Number
231821
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2010 Pages: 17-28
Date Published
2010
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article provides a summary narrative and tabular data for the most recent survey of 47 U.S. correctional systems and 2 Canadian correctional systems regarding budget amounts, funding sources, budgeted programs, factors in budget increases and decreases, and anticipated budget changes for 2009-2010.
Abstract
The 47 reporting U.S. systems budgeted approximately $44.8 billion in maintaining 1,309,674 inmates in their charge, plus 1,827,118 on parole or probation. The issuance of bonds in order to implement their budgets was reported by 15 of the reporting U.S. systems, and 11 systems incorporated prior-year funds, both for purposes that included construction projects, security/safety improvements, major repairs and renovations, new beds, energy conservation, repayments for State-owned institutions, and bonds. Other funding sources noted were Federal trust funds, inmate welfare funds, training funds, various grants, the Federal school lunch program, and funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. There were few new programs incorporated into the budgets. A variety of community programs are operated in most of the systems. Factors in budgeted increases were the addition of inmates, staff, beds, and general operating costs. Fifteen of the reporting U.S. systems indicated a decrease in their 2008-2009 budgets from the previous year, which affected a wide variety of programs. Staff reductions were indicated, as well as the closing of facilities, day reporting centers, camps, and detention centers. Regarding anticipated changes for 2009-2010, the majority of the reporting systems believe that continued budget decreases are likely for a number of reasons, primarily due to shortfalls in revenues experienced by the States. 6 tables