U.S. Prison Population Drops for First Time in 38 Years

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the number of people in American prisons dropped last year.  This is the first time in almost four decades that the number of American prisoners has decreased.

“The total number of inmates in U.S. prisons from 2009 to 2010 decreased by 9,228, the first such decline since 1972.

Federal correctional facilities had 1,653 fewer prisoners, while state prisons saw their collective total fall by 10,881. Half of the states reported decreases in their prison populations, with the largest drops by percentage occurring in Rhode Island (down 8.6%) and Georgia (down 7.9%).

According to the report, “About half (51%) of federal inmates in 2010 were serving time for drug offenses, 35% for public-order offenses (largely weapons and immigration), and less than 10% each for violent and property offenses.”

A total of 1,605,127 people were in state or federal custody, 93% of whom were men.”

To read the original article, written by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, go to AllGov.com.

 

If you, or anyone you know, has been arrested and charged with a state or federal drug offense, or violent crime, it is important to contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.  While the consequences of a federal drug offense or violent crime can be severe, an experienced criminal defense attorney will be in the best position to inform you of your rights and provide you with a sound legal defense.

Attorney John R. Grasso is an experienced Rhode Island criminal defense attorney who has years of proven success defending his clients against various state and federal drug charges and violent offenses.  Attorney John R. Grasso is a former police officer who brings a unique ability to assess the merit of a legal claim from multiple legal perspectives.  With Attorney John R. Grasso defending you against a state or federal criminal charge, you can rest assured your criminal defense attorney will vigorously advocate on your behalf.