States Check Prison Growth

The number of prisoners in state lockups across the United States has grown by 705 percent in the past four decades. Last year, the nation saw that figure's first downward dip since 1972-but not by much. In 2009 the inmate count declined by .3 percent, to about 1.4 million, due in part to state budget deficits and policy reforms. (That change was more than offset by a rise in federal prisoners.) Even after California reduced its tally by 4,257 inmates last year, the state still has the nation's second-largest prison population (behind Texas) at 169,000. This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case that will determine whether California must abide by a federal court order to ease prison overcrowding by 46,000 inmates over two years. A ruling is expected by early 2011.

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