State governments spend one fourth of their budgets on correctional facilities. Although the analysis of FBI and BJS data between 1960 and 2008 found a significant decrease in both violent and property crime between 1992 and 2008, the rate of the incarceration has continued to increase drastically. More than 60% incarcerations were for non-violent offenses, resulting in more money spent on correctional facilities than education. A reduction in the incarceration rate for non-violent offenses would save an estimated $17 billion per year, with the largest share of these savings accruing to financially squeezed states and local governments (Schmitt et al., 2010).
