From 2010 to 2017, crimes, arrests, and resulting jail admissions fell by 14%, 20%, and 18%, respectively. In fact, 2017 saw 2 million fewer admissions to jails nationwide than seven years earlier. But despite these positive trends, the number of people in county and municipal jails barely budged, hovering around 750,000 in both years and costing taxpayers $25 billion annually.
Jails are typically funded and managed at the county level. However, their populations are influenced by state policies regarding arrest, bail, sentencing, and detention of people who have outstanding warrants or have violated the terms of their probation or parole, among others, which means state policymakers from all branches of government have a critical role to play when it comes to reducing jail populations.
In partnership with state officials, researchers, and advocates, The Pew Charitable Trusts works to advance consensus-driven state policies that safely reduce admissions to jail and the amount of time people spend there, expand strategies to ensure that defendants appear in court, reduce people’s likelihood of re-arrest while awaiting trial, support crime victims, and better align jail practices with research and constitutional principles.
Pew’s research and experience can help policymakers and other stakeholders better understand the evidence on jail populations and enact reforms that can reduce the number of people held in jails while protecting public safety and ensuring accountability.
Local Jail Spending Grew 13% Over a Decade
OUR WORK
