RAA Group

December 8, 2009
For Immediate Release

U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics Releases New Numbers about Nation’s Correctional Population

New York—The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released two bulletins today that examine the numbers of prisoners and individuals under probation or parole supervision in the nation for 2008 and report on related trends—including an overall increase in the number of individuals being released from federal and state prisons.

Although these bulletins contain rich information for policymakers and practitioners, the CSG Justice Center’s National Reentry Resource Center, supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, is highlighting just a few of the findings related to reentry and providing information on how to access the full reports as soon as they became available.

The new statistics reveal that the total prison population growth rate (.8 percent) was the slowest in eight years; however, “the numbers of state and federal prisoners reached all-time yearend highs in 2008.” BJS estimates that about 1 in every 198 U.S. residents was incarcerated in federal or state prison at the end of 2008.

Prisoners in 2008 reveals that the number of individuals released from federal and state prisons rose to 735,454 (an increase of 2 percent). The bulletin also reports that there was an 8 percent increase in the number of individuals released to the community without any conditions. These numbers underscore the need for reentry resources and technical assistance to state and local service providers.

Probation and Parole in the United States, 2008 provides useful information about the nearly 5.1 million adults under community supervision—about 1 in every 45 adults in the country. (The bulletin on prisoners indicates that although the number of parole violators admitted to state prison increased again in 2008, the rate of that increase was slower than in the previous two years.)

Both bulletins provide detailed appendixes with information about particular states, methodologies, and notes that describe how jurisdictions collect and report data.

Prisoners in 2008 (NCJ-228417), by William J. Sabol, Heather C. West, and Matthew Cooper, can be found at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/p08.htm. Probation and Parole in the United States, 2008 (NCJ-228230), by Lauren E. Glaze and Thomas P. Bonczar, can be downloaded at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ppus08.htm.

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On Fox & Friends a different video clip was shown, which I have not able to find yet, in this clip Mr. Spitzer explains the choices; the choices between integrity and brokers making the sale, integrity and firms profits, integrity and the company raising the money and he states the choice made was the later, and what is lacking is truth. This got me thinking!

Now what I find interesting is that he feels government unlike the SEC can bring integrity to human choice on Wall Street and in business. I disagree!

I believe government takes away choice and whether it is a broker on Way Street, a husband and father out of town on business or a government employee assigned to regulate private business and trade, or even your health care; it comes to choices. Choices we as human beings have to make for ourselves, choices we as human beings unfortunately will sometimes choose incorrectly, but choices we have to make!

You know for me government is a lot like religion if you leave it up the other person, you won’t get what you expect. We will not find in others what we lack in ourselves, it starts with each person and the choice he or she is willing to make in the little things.

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Matthew 6:24

I do not know if I would vote for Eliot Spitzer given a chance, but I do know I prefer him than many I see and hear today on Capitol Hill. Only a person who has been humbled by their own human condition can understand those who put themselves before and above others in the choices they make. Only a person who has been humbled by their own human condition can understand how to keep and put others first and above themselves.

We all have choices to make; be ready, stay prepared and most of all do not judge and chose wisely.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers’ eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3

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