48F441E70BA1AF1F87258942007BB08C Hearing Summary

The committee recessed.

The committee returned to order. Elizabeth Ramey, Principal Economist for Legislative Council Staff, presented the office's prison population forecast. Ms. Ramey explained what constitutes the prison population, and discussed trends in the population in recent years. Ms. Ramey discussed the factors driving an increase in the state's prison population, and the outlook for the population going forward. Ms. Ramey next discussed parole, and what the expected population will be in the next two years.

Ms. Ramey responded to questions regarding the impact of the average length of stay in prison on the overall prison population, and how an aging prison population may impact cost and overall incarceration numbers. Ms. Ramey responded to questions regarding the potential impact of recently approved legislation on the prison population going forward, and the methods for incorporating legislation into the prison population forecast. Ms. Ramey next discussed the forecast for the state's parole population.

Ms. Ramey briefed the committee on the youth corrections population forecast. Ms. Ramey responded to data on low-level youth offenses, broken down by jurisdiction.