Crime is Dropping! Let's Spend Another $32 Million to Put 1,000 More Oregonians in Jail

Portland Mercury:

Here is a chart the state government put together this year. Can you understand what it says? It's simple, but surprising: From 1995 to 2000, our state's incarceration rate jumped 50 percent. And property crime dropped by 20 percent. But in recent years, from 2005-2009, the rate of incarceration basically flatlined and property crime dropped by 36 percent. This is the largest property crime drop in the entire country. But this week, the legislature failed to suspend a "tough on crime" measure that will force the state to spend at least $32 million over the next six years to put 1,000 more people in jail for nonviolent property and drug crimes. The exact kind of crimes that are dropping without needing to increase the incarceration rate. GAAAAHHHHHHH. As I reported in this week's news section, the people in charge of criminal justice in the state think this is a bad idea. The governor's budget didn't account for it. But now we're stuck with it. The stiffer-sentences law, based on Measure 57, goes into effect in this coming January. [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

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