Why a Civil Right

Prisons vs. Education

In 2011-2012, CA spent $179,000 per incarcerated youth in the state’s DJF facilities versus approximately $7,500 per youth for K-12 education. ₁

Currently, CA is spending nearly as much money on prisons ($8.7 billion/9.45 percent of its budget), as it does on all of higher education ($9.3 billion/10.1 percent of its budget). ₁

In the last 30 years, CA has built 22 new prisons versus one new University and one State University. ₂

Among African Americans age 18 to 30, more are in prison, on parole or in some part of the criminal justice system than are in college. ₁

In the first Jerry Brown administration, California had 44,000 people in prison. Today it has 44,000 prison guards. ₁

California’s 33 prisons and associated camps are responsible for the state’s recurring budget crises and the crunch on school and university funding. ₃

₁ http://www.cjcj.org/post/juvenile/justice/misplaced/priorities/california/s/spending/prisons/vs/higher/education

₂ http://www.democracynow.org/2009/9/9/overcrowded_and_going_broke_a_look

₃ http://www.economist.com/node/21555611