The U.S. Corrections Market: 7 Million Adults In Correctional Systems & $86 Billion In Annual Spending

In 2012, spending on adult corrections in the United States totaled $86 billion. Of that total, 8% ($6.6 billion) was federal spending; 62% ($53.3 billion) was state spending; and 30% ($26.4 billion) was local spending. Spending on adult correctional systems includes spending on supervision of adult offenders in the community under the authority of adult probation or parole agencies, in addition to supervision of adults incarcerated in state or federal prisons and local jails.

The total correctional population was 6.9 million in 2012 – the fourth straight year of a decline in the overall number of incarcerated . . .