Amid mounting cases of excessive force by law enforcement officers and discussions about states' budgets, MoneyGeek analyzed the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data to determine how much states spend on policing and corrections. We also compared spending in Democratic and Republican-controlled states to see how political leaning influenced state expenditures. Here's what we found.
US Budget Analysis:
Policing and Corrections Spending by State
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Key Findings:
- The U.S. spent nearly $222 billion on law enforcement, up $7 billion from the previous year. Nearly $135 billion was spent on policing and $87 billion on corrections.
- Washington, D.C., and California spent the most on police and corrections per capita, spending around $1,400 and $1,100 per capita, respectively.
- Despite being considered tax-friendly states, Florida and Nevada spent the highest percentages of their budgets on law enforcement (7.0% and 6.9%, respectively).
- While Democratic states spent 39% more per capita on law enforcement, both Republican and Democratic states spent about the same percentage of their budgets on policing and corrections (4.6% and 4.8%, respectively).
Which States Spend the Most on Policing and Corrections?
MoneyGeek analyzed police and corrections spending data for each state to find the places that spend the most money on law enforcement. States were ranked using per capita spending and the proportion of total state and local spending to learn which states spend the most on policing and corrections. Each state was assessed on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more spending on policing and corrections per capita. In 2021, the states with the highest overall scores were California (ranked No. 1) and Maryland (ranked No. 2).
While national per capita spending on law enforcement and corrections was $669 in 2021, per capita state spending ranged from $1,410 in Washington, D.C., to $419 in Arkansas. Florida, one of MoneyGeek’s 10 most tax-friendly states in the U.S., spent 7% of its budget on law enforcement. Nevada, another tax-friendly state, spent 6.9% of its budget on policing. Both states spent the highest proportion of their local and state expenditures on law enforcement, well above the national average of 4.9%.
Police and Corrections Spending by State
Rank | State | Score | Policing & Corrections Per Capita Spend | Policing & Corrections % of Total Spend | Policing & Corrections Expenditures ($ Millions) | Corrections Spend as % of Policing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | California | 100.0 | $1,093 | 5.8% | $42,893 | 72.3% |
2 | Maryland | 98.9 | $832 | 6.1% | $5,131 | 63.0% |
3 | Nevada | 96.7 | $741 | 6.9% | $2,330 | 59.1% |
4 | Florida | 95.6 | $722 | 7.0% | $15,732 | 48.6% |
5 | Delaware | 92.2 | $768 | 5.3% | $771 | 95.5% |
6 | Virginia | 87.8 | $686 | 5.7% | $5,930 | 103.7% |
7 | Alaska | 85.6 | $1,071 | 4.8% | $785 | 93.5% |
8 | Arizona | 84.4 | $656 | 6.2% | $4,773 | 64.8% |
9 | New Mexico | 83.3 | $736 | 5.0% | $1,558 | 107.3% |
10 | Colorado | 78.9 | $676 | 5.0% | $3,930 | 61.1% |
11 | Pennsylvania | 75.6 | $676 | 5.0% | $8,764 | 75.9% |
12 | New Jersey | 73.3 | $673 | 4.8% | $6,233 | 47.8% |
13 | Oregon | 72.2 | $766 | 4.6% | $3,254 | 97.2% |
14 | Wisconsin | 71.1 | $617 | 5.1% | $3,638 | 82.7% |
15 | Montana | 70.0 | $598 | 5.2% | $660 | 76.2% |
16 | District of Columbia | 68.9 | $1,410 | 4.2% | $945 | 41.2% |
17 | North Carolina | 67.8 | $572 | 5.3% | $6,032 | 58.8% |
18 | Idaho | 66.7 | $540 | 5.9% | $1,027 | 92.2% |
19 | Illinois | 65.6 | $660 | 4.7% | $8,359 | 40.0% |
20 | New York | 61.1 | $847 | 4.1% | $16,807 | 56.9% |
21 | Kansas | 56.7 | $586 | 4.8% | $1,720 | 49.8% |
21 | Minnesota | 56.7 | $655 | 4.6% | $3,738 | 45.4% |
23 | Rhode Island | 55.6 | $657 | 4.5% | $720 | 45.6% |
24 | Connecticut | 54.4 | $606 | 4.6% | $2,187 | 67.2% |
25 | Tennessee | 53.3 | $507 | 5.1% | $3,540 | 53.6% |
26 | Texas | 51.1 | $546 | 4.7% | $16,128 | 64.1% |
26 | Wyoming | 51.1 | $750 | 3.8% | $434 | 95.5% |
28 | Georgia | 47.8 | $495 | 5.0% | $5,343 | 65.8% |
28 | South Dakota | 47.8 | $532 | 4.7% | $477 | 94.4% |
30 | North Dakota | 44.4 | $647 | 4.2% | $502 | 82.0% |
31 | Nebraska | 42.2 | $587 | 4.2% | $1,152 | 107.0% |
31 | Washington | 42.2 | $626 | 4.2% | $4,841 | 80.1% |
33 | Vermont | 40.0 | $670 | 3.8% | $432 | 52.9% |
34 | New Hampshire | 38.9 | $505 | 4.7% | $701 | 44.2% |
34 | Michigan | 38.9 | $533 | 4.5% | $5,360 | 83.6% |
36 | Louisiana | 37.8 | $541 | 4.4% | $2,502 | 56.8% |
37 | Oklahoma | 36.7 | $482 | 4.7% | $1,921 | 62.8% |
38 | West Virginia | 34.4 | $528 | 4.5% | $941 | 100.7% |
39 | Missouri | 32.2 | $483 | 4.6% | $2,981 | 42.4% |
40 | Ohio | 27.8 | $521 | 4.2% | $6,140 | 56.6% |
41 | Alabama | 24.4 | $472 | 4.2% | $2,378 | 63.9% |
42 | Massachusetts | 23.3 | $586 | 3.5% | $4,096 | 66.3% |
43 | Hawaii | 22.2 | $555 | 3.7% | $800 | 38.2% |
44 | Mississippi | 15.6 | $457 | 4.0% | $1,347 | 70.3% |
45 | Indiana | 10.0 | $434 | 4.0% | $2,954 | 72.9% |
46 | Maine | 8.9 | $450 | 3.9% | $617 | 74.8% |
47 | Arkansas | 5.6 | $419 | 4.0% | $1,269 | 73.6% |
47 | Utah | 5.6 | $451 | 3.7% | $1,505 | 69.0% |
49 | South Carolina | 3.3 | $427 | 3.8% | $2,214 | 56.8% |
50 | Iowa | 2.2 | $451 | 3.4% | $1,440 | 52.1% |
51 | Kentucky | 0.0 | $433 | 3.6% | $1,950 | 86.3% |
Democratic and Republican State Policing and Corrections Spending
Our analysis of per capita spending found that blue states spent 28% more on policing and corrections than red states in 2021. Interestingly, red states spent about the same percentage of their state budgets on policing and corrections as blue states, with each spending 4.6% and 4.8%, respectively.
Detailed Findings
The detailed findings of MoneyGeek's analysis break down the spending on policing and corrections individually. Some states vary widely, with increased or decreased spending on one category over the other.
Police Spending
Rank (Highest Policing % of total Spend) | State | Policing % of Total Spend | Policing Per Capita Spend | Policing Expenditures ($ Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Florida | 4.7% | $486 | $10,588 |
2 | Nevada | 4.3% | $466 | $1,465 |
3 | Arizona | 3.8% | $398 | $2,896 |
4 | Maryland | 3.7% | $511 | $3,149 |
5 | Illinois | 3.4% | $471 | $5,972 |
5 | North Carolina | 3.4% | $360 | $3,798 |
7 | California | 3.3% | $635 | $24,898 |
7 | Tennessee | 3.3% | $330 | $2,304 |
9 | New Jersey | 3.2% | $455 | $4,216 |
9 | New Hampshire | 3.2% | $350 | $486 |
9 | Missouri | 3.2% | $339 | $2,093 |
9 | Kansas | 3.2% | $391 | $1,148 |
13 | Minnesota | 3.1% | $450 | $2,571 |
13 | Rhode Island | 3.1% | $452 | $495 |
13 | Idaho | 3.1% | $281 | $535 |
13 | Colorado | 3.1% | $420 | $2,439 |
17 | Georgia | 3.0% | $298 | $3,223 |
17 | District of Columbia | 3.0% | $998 | $669 |
19 | Montana | 2.9% | $339 | $374 |
19 | Oklahoma | 2.9% | $296 | $1,180 |
19 | Texas | 2.9% | $333 | $9,829 |
22 | Pennsylvania | 2.8% | $384 | $4,984 |
22 | Louisiana | 2.8% | $345 | $1,596 |
22 | Wisconsin | 2.8% | $338 | $1,992 |
22 | Virginia | 2.8% | $337 | $2,912 |
22 | Connecticut | 2.8% | $363 | $1,307 |
27 | Delaware | 2.7% | $393 | $394 |
27 | Ohio | 2.7% | $333 | $3,920 |
29 | Hawaii | 2.6% | $401 | $579 |
29 | New York | 2.6% | $540 | $10,710 |
29 | Alabama | 2.6% | $288 | $1,451 |
32 | Alaska | 2.5% | $553 | $406 |
32 | Michigan | 2.5% | $290 | $2,919 |
32 | Vermont | 2.5% | $438 | $283 |
35 | South Dakota | 2.4% | $274 | $245 |
35 | New Mexico | 2.4% | $355 | $752 |
35 | South Carolina | 2.4% | $272 | $1,412 |
35 | Mississippi | 2.4% | $268 | $791 |
35 | Oregon | 2.4% | $389 | $1,650 |
40 | Indiana | 2.3% | $251 | $1,708 |
40 | Washington | 2.3% | $347 | $2,687 |
40 | Arkansas | 2.3% | $241 | $731 |
40 | North Dakota | 2.3% | $356 | $276 |
44 | West Virginia | 2.2% | $263 | $469 |
44 | Iowa | 2.2% | $297 | $947 |
44 | Maine | 2.2% | $257 | $353 |
44 | Utah | 2.2% | $267 | $891 |
48 | Massachusetts | 2.1% | $353 | $2,464 |
49 | Nebraska | 2.0% | $283 | $556 |
50 | Wyoming | 1.9% | $383 | $222 |
50 | Kentucky | 1.9% | $232 | $1,047 |
Corrections Spending
Meanwhile, correction spending covers a wide range of facilities and programs for confining, rehabilitating, and caring for inmates. This includes prisons, jails, reformatories, detention centers, and facilities like industrial schools and halfway houses. It also encompasses education, training, and health care programs for inmates, as well as hospitals for the criminally insane, if operated by a corrections agency.
Rank (Highest Corrections % of total Spend) | State | Corrections % of Total Spend | Corrections Per Capita Spend | Corrections Expenditures ($ Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Virginia | 2.9% | $349 | $3,018 |
2 | Idaho | 2.8% | $259 | $493 |
3 | Delaware | 2.6% | $375 | $377 |
3 | New Mexico | 2.6% | $381 | $807 |
5 | Nevada | 2.5% | $275 | $865 |
5 | Arizona | 2.5% | $258 | $1,877 |
7 | California | 2.4% | $459 | $17,995 |
8 | Maryland | 2.3% | $322 | $1,983 |
8 | Alaska | 2.3% | $518 | $379 |
8 | Wisconsin | 2.3% | $279 | $1,646 |
8 | South Dakota | 2.3% | $258 | $231 |
8 | Oregon | 2.3% | $378 | $1,604 |
8 | Florida | 2.3% | $236 | $5,144 |
8 | West Virginia | 2.3% | $265 | $472 |
15 | Montana | 2.2% | $259 | $285 |
15 | Nebraska | 2.2% | $303 | $596 |
17 | Pennsylvania | 2.1% | $292 | $3,780 |
17 | Michigan | 2.1% | $243 | $2,441 |
19 | North Carolina | 2.0% | $212 | $2,234 |
19 | Georgia | 2.0% | $196 | $2,120 |
21 | Colorado | 1.9% | $257 | $1,491 |
21 | North Dakota | 1.9% | $292 | $226 |
21 | Connecticut | 1.9% | $244 | $879 |
21 | Wyoming | 1.9% | $366 | $212 |
25 | Washington | 1.8% | $278 | $2,153 |
25 | Texas | 1.8% | $213 | $6,299 |
25 | Oklahoma | 1.8% | $186 | $741 |
25 | Tennessee | 1.8% | $177 | $1,236 |
29 | Arkansas | 1.7% | $178 | $538 |
29 | Indiana | 1.7% | $183 | $1,246 |
29 | Mississippi | 1.7% | $189 | $556 |
29 | Maine | 1.7% | $193 | $264 |
29 | Alabama | 1.7% | $184 | $927 |
29 | Kentucky | 1.7% | $200 | $903 |
35 | Louisiana | 1.6% | $196 | $906 |
35 | Kansas | 1.6% | $195 | $572 |
35 | New Jersey | 1.6% | $218 | $2,017 |
38 | Utah | 1.5% | $184 | $614 |
38 | Ohio | 1.5% | $188 | $2,220 |
38 | New York | 1.5% | $307 | $6,097 |
41 | New Hampshire | 1.4% | $155 | $215 |
41 | Minnesota | 1.4% | $205 | $1,167 |
41 | Rhode Island | 1.4% | $206 | $226 |
41 | Massachusetts | 1.4% | $234 | $1,633 |
41 | South Carolina | 1.4% | $155 | $802 |
41 | Missouri | 1.4% | $144 | $888 |
47 | Illinois | 1.3% | $188 | $2,388 |
47 | Vermont | 1.3% | $232 | $150 |
49 | District of Columbia | 1.2% | $412 | $276 |
49 | Iowa | 1.2% | $154 | $493 |
51 | Hawaii | 1.0% | $153 | $221 |
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Methodology
To determine which states spend the most and least on policing and corrections, MoneyGeek reviewed expenditures for each state, including state and local (municipal and county) government expenditures using the most recent data available, which is from 2021. We then used the following metrics to determine final scores and rankings:
- Per Capita Spend on Policing and Corrections (full weight, 50%): This value is calculated as the combined expenditures on policing and corrections divided by the state's population and is scaled to a range from 0 to 100.
- Police and Corrections Spend as a Percentage of All Spend (full weight, 50%): This value is calculated as the combined policing and corrections expenditures divided by the total amounts spent by state and local governments and is scaled to a range from 0 to 100.
Red and blue labels were used to define each state by the voting history in the past five presidential elections. States where the republican candidate won three out of the five elections were labeled as red, and states where the Democratic candidate won three out of the five elections were labeled as blue.
About Ingrid Cruz
Ingrid Cruz is a freelance writer based in Mississippi. She enjoys coffee, hiking and cats.
sources
- U.S. Census. "2021 National and State Population Estimates." Accessed October 31, 2024.
- U.S. Census. "2021 State & Local Government Finance Historical Datasets and Tables." Accessed October 31, 2024.