Return on Investment

California, according to a report released by CQ press, ranks 37th in Crime Statistics (that means we are near the top in crimes not near the bottom) compared to New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts (who rank much better). Yet we are close to the top in expenditures for incarceration. In the last five years we have doubled the expenses per capita for costs per inmate. By a conservative estimate we now spend $60,000 per inmate to house our criminals. From my perspective that does not sound like a very good investment - except in the well being of prison guards.