Below, we’ve curated virtually all of the research about the various economic factors of incarceration.
How much does the criminal justice system cost, and who pays for it? How well-funded are prisons and jails? What are the economic impacts and origins of mass incarceration? Do certain programs in prison affect people’s economic well-being after release? See the reports below to explore these questions and more. You can also see related research on our Poverty and Debt page.
Key Statistics:
- Total U.S. government expenses on public prisons and jails: $80.7 billion
- On private prisons and jails: $3.9 billion
- Growth in justice system expenditures, 1982-2012 (adjusted for inflation): 310%
- Number of companies that profit from mass incarceration: ~4,000
- Annual cost to families of prison phone calls and commissary purchases: $2.9 billion
- Percent of formerly incarcerated people who are unemployed: 27%
- Average daily wage of incarcerated workers: $0.86
- Average earnings someone loses over their lifetime by being incarcerated: $500,000