The government invests more for each inmate than for each student.
According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the US spends an average of $31,286 per year on each inmate. In contrast, K-12 schools spend an average of $12,756 per student annually. This means the US spends more than double on each inmate than on each student. The disparity is significant compared to global benchmarks, where the average public education spending per pupil is $15,680 annually. “The disproportionate impact of the criminal justice system on communities of color is deeply troubling.” Mike Brickner,…
