The UK Parliament released a reinvestment report this week which called for reduction of the prison populations in England and Wales. The report also takes a stance on a prison currently in construction calling the project a "costly mistake. The report finds that recidivism rates could be reduced by implementing rehabilitation programs such as housing, employment, education, and drug and alcohol services.

"As states cut their budgets by closing prisons and diverting some offenders to probation and treatment programs, the federal government is proposing to dramatically ramp up its detention operations," USA Today reported.

The article continues: "The Obama administration's $3.8 trillion 2011 budget proposal calls for a $527.5 million infusion for the federal Bureau of Prisons and judicial security — $227 million more than the proposed increase to Justice's national security program. The boost would bring the total Bureau of Prisons budget to $6.8 billion."

Marc Mauer, executive director of The Sentencing Project, said states have a "greater sense of urgency" to reform their laws in an effort to address budget deficits.

"That sense of urgency isn't there at the federal level," he said. "Prison expansion slows the momentum for the reconsideration of some of those policies."

The number of women who are being incarcerated nationwide has risen by 57 percent and 75 percent are mothers, the New Britain Herald reported. In Connecticut, 70 percent of juvenile detainees have parents who are incarcerated, according to the state’s court support services division. As a result, the impact of incarcerated parents was discussed at a day-long conference in an effort to identify the needs of children who are dealing with a parent who is, or has been, incarcerated and to examine ways to keep the connection between parent and child while separated.

This week, San Diego’s KPBS Radio released a 30-minute video documentary on life in prison in California as part of its Project Envision initiative. The documentary explores life behind bars and the mounting costs of incarcerating an aging population of prisoners in the state of California. Because of California’s “three strikes” and other tough-on-crime laws, about 20% of its prison population is now serving a life sentence.

"A new law aimed at reducing the state’s inmate population took effect yesterday and had an immediate effect in San Diego County, where about 260 nonviolent offenders were released," the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. California must reduce its prison population by 6,500 inmates as part of the state's newly revised guidelines.