NY prison population reportedly plummets 26.9% from 2019 to 2022By Zach Williams
June 21, 2023
New York emptied prisons at a faster rate than any other state between 2019 and 2022 except for New Jersey, West Virginia, and Washington.
The total inmate populations in Empire State prisons and local jails fell from 64,306 in 2019 to just 47,003 in 2022 — a 26.9% drop in three years — according to a report released Wednesday by the Vera Institute for Justice.
“Hot labor markets appear to be helping to keep incarceration levels down,” Jacob Kang-Brown, who wrote the 30-page report on incarceration trends by state, said.
“With proper support, reducing incarceration can assist with workforce shortages and help reduce inequality.”
The report drew no conclusions on the exact reasons for the big decrease in incarceration in New York, but progressive policies like bail reform appear to play a significant role alongside the COVID-19 pandemic and decreasing unemployment.
Limits on imposing cash bail that took effect in 2020 have allowed more people to avoid jail while they await their trials while “Less is More” legislation has helped people avoid going back to prison over technical parole violations.
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“My Democrat colleagues are not focused on reducing crime. They are only focused on releasing criminals from prison or making sure they don’t end up there at all,” state Sen. George Borello (R-Jamestown) said in response to the report.
“As a result, we may be #4 in releasing criminals, but we are Number One at increasing crime. This is the direct result of criminal-coddling legislation.”
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Source:
https://nypost.com/2023/06/21/ny-prison-population-plummets-26-9-from-2019-2022-report/
