Efficiently Reducing Corrections Costs in Wisconsin: Applying the Washington State Model

Abstract

The authors examine evidence-based programs that can reduce crime and lower corrections costs in Wisconsin. Their cost-benefit analysis identifies nine combinations of prison population reduction and reinvestment of subsequent savings into programs that reduce crime. Decreasing the average daily prison population by 10 percent (2,248 prisoners) and reinvesting 100 percent of the savings was the option with the highest estimated societal savings.