Cellblocks or Classrooms? New Report Shows that Most States Favor Prison over Higher Education

A new report by the Justice Policy Institute, Cellblocks or Classrooms? The Funding of Higher Education and Corrections and Its Impact on African American Men, provides state-by-state analysis of corrections and higher education spending. It is the latest in a series of reports by JPI to show the fiscal impact of the nation’s overuse of prison as a solution to social problems. Between 1985 and 2000, the nationwide increase in state spending on corrections was nearly double that of the increase to higher education ($20 billion versus $10.7 billion), and the total change in spending on higher education by states was 24%, compared with 166% for corrections.

The progress made in improving African American access to college has been eclipsed by the growth of the nation’s African American male incarcerated population. JPI estimates that 3 times as many African American men were added to the nation’s prison systems than were added to colleges during the last two decades.  In 2000, there were at least 13 states where there were more African American men incarcerated than in college.

The report notes that 41 states are currently facing budget deficits and that there is a severe budget crisis facing many of these states. JPI prepared the report to provide the public and policymakers with information they need as they struggle to balance the needs of the nation’s colleges and universities against those of the prison system.

“This report clearly shows that many states in the West made a policy shift in the past twenty years that says we value incarceration over higher education. At a time when states are struggling with declining revenues, it is essential that we re-evaluate our priorities. Education is the best crime prevention we can invest in. But our leaders seem to be saying they’d rather lock up our citizens than educate them,” says Brigette Sarabi, a spokesperson for the Western Prison Project. “This report can go a long way in giving lawmakers the information they need to re-evaluate this shift in priorities—a shift that we believe the public does not support.”

The report suggests that states could lift some of the fiscal strain of enlarged corrections systems by choosing new policies that would reduce the expensive emphasis on incarceration. In the last year, a diverse group of states in all regions and with governors and legislatures of all parties have enacted legislation to end mandatory minimum sentencing, reform the nation’s drug laws, reduce probation and parole violations, and de-fund the construction of planned prison expansion.

Charts covering data from all 50 states are included in the report, as well as summaries of the key findings for the states with the ten largest prison systems and Washington, DC. The report can be accessed at the JPI website.

Key Report Findings for our Region:

Oregon: Between 1985 and 2000, total state spending on corrections (general fund and all other sources) in Oregon grew by 600%, while total state spending on higher education declined by 10%. More African American men (1,000) were added to the state’s prison system than were added to colleges (781) during the last two decades.

Washington: Between 1985 and 2000, state spending on corrections in Washington grew by 138%, while state spending on higher education grew by only 13%. And between 1980 and 2000, nearly as many African American men were added to Washington’s prisons (2,200) as were added to Washington’s higher education system (2,297).  

Idaho: State spending on corrections in Idaho grew by 424%, while state spending on higher education grew by only 64% (1985-2000). And between 1980 and 2000, more African American men were added to Idaho’s prisons (100) than were added to Idaho’s higher education system (95).

Wyoming: State spending on corrections in Wyoming grew by 110%, while state spending on higher education declined by 15% (1985-2000).

Montana: State spending on corrections in Montana grew by 181%, while state spending on higher education declined by 14% (1985-2000).

Utah: State spending on corrections in Utah grew by 195%, while state spending on higher education grew by only 48% (1985-2000).

Datasource: JPI analyzed the National Association of State Budget Officers’ annual State Expenditure Reports for 1985 through 2000. All 1985 figures were converted to 2000-year dollars using the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index inflation calculator.