State Prison Pop. Drops for First Time Since '72

The number of Americans in state prisons dropped in 2009 -- though only slightly -- for the first time since 1972, according to a review by the Pew Center for the States.

The change was tiny, and when you include federal prisons the overall number of prisoners actually increased in 2009. But we have to start somewhere. And comparing 2009 to the chart at the left makes it clear that the disastrous prison growth of the last three decades may finally be starting to level off.

Now it's up to us to sustain this trend, and pressure states to make the needed adjustments to ensure long-term reforms -- that way, we can ensure this trend is more than a statistical blip.

As Pew's Adam Gelb told CNN, "A decline in the prison population in itself isn't necessarily good news...It's only good news if states are reinvesting prison savings into a stronger system of supervision for offenders who are on the street."

Rhode Island showed the largest drop -- cutting 9.2% of its prison population last year. But the sprawling systems of California, Texas, New York and Illinois also saw decreases. Indiana boasted the biggest prison growth, at 5.3%.

For this decline to continue in 2010, as the nation's biggest prison system, California must take the lead. Yet while a panel of federal judges has ordered to reduce the state's prison population by 27%, officials are fighting the changes at every turn. To be sure, small parole and sentencing changes have been made, but California must dig much deeper if it will truly signal a shift in direction on our prisons.

The population reduction announced by yesterday by Pew is so small it's almost insignificant. But it's a start. What's more, it's further encouragement that things can -- and are -- starting to change.

Photo Credit: Pew Center on the States