Every year, the United States spends over $1.1 billion incarcerating 13,200 New Yorkers. About 55% of those imprisoned in New York City during that period are expected to be released within 1 to 4 years.
Analysis of prison admission data shows that a small number of neighborhoods have notably high concentrations of individuals entering the criminal justice system. These areas are referred to as “million-dollar blocks” because they cost over a million dollars each year to incarcerate residents.
The cycle of incarceration and re-entry is not a given. The cycle – or its duration – is driven by societal decisions related to criminal justice, housing, education, healthcare, and the environment.
