Study Finds Florida Shows Florida Prison Population Rising

Our South Florida criminal defense attorneys recently read about a Pew Center study examining prison populations around the country. While 27 states lowered their prison populations in 2009, Florida’s prison population actually increased by 1.5 percent, or a little over 1,500 inmates between December 31, 2008 and January 1, 2010. As of last week, Florida’s prison population was just over 100,000.

Although the percent of Florida’s increase was low compared to states like Indiana, which had a 5.3 percent increase, the actual number of inmates was the second largest in the country. Pennsylvania added the most inmates with 2,100.

Pew says the problem is a lack of consensus among Florida’s leaders. The Florida Department of Corrections released a statement recognizing the growth of Florida’s jail population but emphasizing that the growth was less than projected.

Source: Florida prison population rises as most states show declines, study finds, South Florida Sun Sentinel, March 17, 2010
Contact our Broward County criminal defense attorneys if you have been arrested and charged with a crime.