New California Prison Population Numbers
Sponsored by:
California is sending inmates to prison at a far lower rate than just a few years ago, but they´re serving longer sentences.
New figures show the prison population is expected to grow about six percent each of the next 10 years down sharply from the 14 percent annual growth in the 1980´s.
New figures show the California Department of Corrections expects the slowdown to continue until 2007, though the slumping economy could boost crime and convictions.
Most of the slowdown is in minimum and medium security inmates, particularly women.
However, the state´s maximum security population, particularly inmates serving life terms and extended sentences under the three-strikes law, continues to grow.
