Public Safety Performance

Over the past two decades, spending on corrections has jumped from $11 billion to more than $50 billion.  It's the second fastest growing state budget category behind Medicaid–and one out every 100 adults is now behind bars. But for all of this spending, we are not getting an adequate return in terms of public safety.

In 2006, the Pew Center on the States launched the Public Safety Performance Project to help states advance fiscally sound, data-driven policies and practices in sentencing and corrections that protect public safety, hold offenders accountable and control corrections costs. 

The project has released landmark reports on correctional populations in America and the resulting demands on state budgets. Click on each report below to learn more:
                                                              

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Public Safety Performance News

Get the latest news, as well as biographies and media contact information for Pew's public safety experts on our project news page.

Research & Reports

We combine strong research with expert opinion to publish timely reports and briefs covering a range of issues. Browse our reports.                                          


 

                                           

Spotlight

PSPP recently participated in a sentencing and corrections policy forum. View Pew's presentation and get additional resources from the forum. promo bar promo bar South Carolina brief promo bar Brief: South Carolina's Public Safety Reform promo bar   promo bar promo bar  

State Work

The project currently works with more than a dozen states to help achieve better returns on their public safety investments. Learn more about our state partnerships.

Project Partners

Our partner organizations provide state policy makers with expert assistance, information and outreach to advance the project's goals.  Read descriptions of our partners.

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