News (Media Awareness Project) - US NJ: Hackensack - Prison Population Drops |
| Title: | US NJ: Hackensack - Prison Population Drops |
| Published On: | 2001-04-10 |
| Source: | New York Times (NY) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-26 18:59:16 |
HACKENSACK: PRISON POPULATION DROPS
After years of continual growth, New Jersey's prison population has begun
to shrink for the first time in more than two decades. There were 27,676
people incarcerated in the state as of last month, down from a peak of
31,290 in 1999. The 11 percent drop, prison officials said, was partly
because of a reduced backlog in parole board hearings. State officials
expect to save $83 million as a result. The number of inmates increased
fourfold between 1980 and 1999, largely because of mandatory minimum
sentences and stricter drug laws.
After years of continual growth, New Jersey's prison population has begun
to shrink for the first time in more than two decades. There were 27,676
people incarcerated in the state as of last month, down from a peak of
31,290 in 1999. The 11 percent drop, prison officials said, was partly
because of a reduced backlog in parole board hearings. State officials
expect to save $83 million as a result. The number of inmates increased
fourfold between 1980 and 1999, largely because of mandatory minimum
sentences and stricter drug laws.
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