Key Takeaways:
– New York’s prison population has significantly reduced, from over 70,000 in 1999 to 33,500, leading to the closure of many prisons.
– This drop is attributed to a shift in the state’s approach to drug-related offenses and relaxed sentencing laws.
– The prison population decrease is more drastic in New York City due to policy initiatives and lower violent crime rates.
– Despite this trend, the prison population has seen a slight uptick in the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York’s Shrinking Prison Population
Over the past few decades, New York’s prison population has seen a sharp decline. In 1999, more than 70,000 people were in prison. Today, the figure stands at about 33,500. This significant reduction has led to the closure of 24 prisons in the past two decades.
Swinging the Doors Shut on State Prisons
The New York government, in its 2023 budget, allowed the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to shut down five more prisons swiftly. The infamous Great Meadow prison and Sullivan Correctional Facility have already been closed.
Behind the Decline
Why did this happen? Rewind to the 1970s and ’80s. A nationwide panic over drugs and a rise in violence led to strict policies. States and the federal government enacted stringent laws, leading to more people landing in prison for longer periods.
In 1973, New York implemented the super strict Rockefeller Drug Laws. This included a minimum 15-year sentence for selling drugs, even cannabis. The federal government then offered a big incentive, billions of dollars, to states with similar strict laws to build prisons. New York pocketed over $216 million.
A Shift in Approach; A Rapid Decline
Since the late 2000s, the national prison population started to dip. But in New York, the rate of decrease has been much faster, thanks to a new approach to handling drug offenses.
New York rewrote sentencing laws, relaxed enforcement of drug crimes, and initiated plans that allowed convicted individuals an opportunity to avoid prison time. The impact? A steep decline in the prison population.
New York City’s Role
New York City, home to over 40% of state residents, played a significant role in this trend. The number of city residents sent to prison dropped more than 70% in the last three decades. Particularly noteworthy is the sharp drop in prison admissions related to violent crime.
The Covid-19 Effect
But then, Covid-19 happened. For the first time since the 1990s, the state prison population has risen. One reason could be increased crime due to the social and economic upheaval of the pandemic.
The pandemic also disrupted the justice system. Courts were shut down, or their operations limited, creating a backlog of cases. Once courts began working through the backlog, prison admissions surged.
It’s too early to predict the future trajectory of New York’s prison population. However, these trends offer important insights into the rising and falling numbers behind the state’s prison bars. Whether this decrease continues or reverses will depend on future policies, social conditions, and judicial responses.