Nevada Prisoner Spending Over 3 Times More Than Students
The headline sounds almost farcical. Nevada prisoner spending not only higher than what the state pays per student, but by nearly four times! But it is true based on data brought together by Voronoi.
The good news (or terrible news, depending on how you look at it) is Nevada is not alone.
Nevada Prisoner Spending Will Blow Your Mind
The data, collected from the US Census Bureau, USA Facts and the the Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that Nevada spends an estimated $40,000 per prisoner per year. While that might sound quite rich, it is among the lowest in the country.
Arkansas spends the lowest per prisoner at around $23,000 per prisoner, while Massachusetts spends an absolutely ridiculous $307,000 per locked up prison resident. Everything from prison staffing to care, food and more. It doesn’t cost nothing to house people. That said, it sounds like getting busted in the Bay State would pay more than most of us make.
In Comparison, Nevada Students Are Getting The Shaft
So Nevada prisoner spending is among the lowest… how does it rank when it comes to per-student spending? Not so great.
According to the Nevada Policy Research Institute, the spending per student in Nevada was $11,565 in the most recent numbers. Much like prisoners, spending per student includes paying for all the teachers and faculty, supplies, technology and the like.
Thankfully the amount being spent per student is rising around the country. It wasn’t long ago that Nevada was solidly in the 4-digit game. It is headed in the right direction, but the state still has a lot of work to do to catch up with the rest of the country.
Nevada Prisoner Spending Disparity With Student Spending Is Not Unusual
It makes for a heck of a headline that Nevada prisoner spending is 345% higher than the state spends on students. That said, it is in no way exclusive to Nevada.
As a matter of fact, Nevada and every other state in the nation all spend far more per prisoner than per student. Arkansas may be the lowest difference, spending roughly $10,400 per student, while spending a lowest in the nation $23,000 per prisoner. About double.
Putting the spotlight on the disparity has made us realize that maybe the country’s priorities are a bit sideways. That, and we would love to go to a Massachusetts prison.
