Senator Espy interpreted that report as indicating that Ohio ranks sixth highest in the nation on per capita spending for prisons. Notwithstanding these important factual errors, many citizens would support Ohio's investment in criminal justice. For many years crime was considered to be Ohioans number one fear. The fact that Ohio is 6th in the amount of growth in criminal justice spending is a direct response to citizens' concerns about crime and victimization. That growth reflects a strong commitment on the part of Executive and Legislative branches of government, as well as local government, to make Ohio a safer place in which to live.
Current numbers show a dramatic reduction in crime across Ohio.
Actually the thrust of the study referred to by Senator Espy is that spending for criminal justice has risen dramatically across the country, not just in Ohio. While I don't dispute this, a close look at pertinent numbers shows, in no uncertain terms, that DRC is a responsible, frugal agency. Second, a closer look at nationally collected statistics, such as those listed in the 1998 Corrections Yearbook published by the Criminal Justice Institute, show that Ohio spends a great deal less per inmate than do similar sized states. Ohio incarcerates 422 people per 100,000 citizens. The national average for states is 373.