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Writer's pictureMichael Hopkins

Social Security Check vs. Prison Costs 2024

Updated: Oct 28




The Stark Contrast: Social Security Income vs. Prison Costs 2024

Mom's Social Security Income: $10,800 VS. Average Cost of Inmate: $35,000

When you think about the cost of housing an inmate in a concrete box with metal bars compared to the amount a senior on Social Security gets, it’s startling. If your state can afford $35,000 per person in prison per year, surely, they could afford to pay more to our seniors.


This isn’t just numbers; it's your tax dollars at work. Yes, when we talk about tax dollars, we’re talking about your money. You should be concerned about where it's going, especially regarding retirement funds like Social Security. Everyone dreams of a comfortable retirement, maybe even some travel, but reality often hits hard. Social Security payouts are often below minimum wage levels, making those dreams seem unreachable.


The Cost Breakdown by State

Here's a look at the cost to house one prisoner per year, state by state:

State

Cost per Inmate (USD)

Massachusetts

$307,468

Vermont

$134,000

New Jersey

$133,000

California

$128,000

Maine

$117,000

Rhode Island

$117,000

New York

$116,000

Maryland

$114,000

New Mexico

$113,000

Washington

$108,000

Connecticut

$103,000

Alaska

$93,000

Delaware

$91,000

Nebraska

$88,000

North Dakota

$84,000

West Virginia

$82,000

Minnesota

$80,000

Oregon

$79,000

Colorado

$76,000

Wyoming

$75,000

Wisconsin

$74,000

Michigan

$61,300

New Hampshire

$55,030

Iowa

$54,940

Illinois

$54,040

Maryland

$53,920

North Carolina

$52,880

Tennessee

$51,800

West Virginia

$46,940

Ohio

$42,560

Virginia

$40,110

Idaho

$37,850

Kentucky

$34,840

South Carolina

$34,360

Missouri

$34,100

Arkansas

$33,390

South Dakota

$33,360

Indiana

$31,690

Arizona

$30,620

Florida

$29,620

Oklahoma

$28,520

Nevada

$28,370

Louisiana

$26,810

Georgia

$25,970

Texas

$25,900

Kansas

$24,340

Alabama

$23,800

Mississippi

$18,410

The Real Cost

Does it really cost $35,000 to house one person in prison for a year? If that's what states are spending, then it only seems fair to question if we could reallocate some of that money to provide our seniors with a more dignified living standard.


When you get old, you’ll want to be taken care of too. Most people plan on retiring and enjoying their golden years, but with Social Security paying so little, those dreams often vanish. As a society, we need to ensure that everyone can live with dignity, from the youngest to the oldest, whether they're behind bars or enjoying their retirement.


Isn't it time we reassess our priorities and ensure that our seniors, who’ve contributed so much, receive the care they deserve?


Reflect on these points and let’s continue advocating for a fairer allocation of our resources. If you have thoughts or ideas on this topic, share them! Together, we can make a difference.


The Stark Contrast: Social Security Income vs. Prison Costs 2024  Mom's Social Security Income: $10,800 VS. Average Cost of Inmate: $35,000  When you think about the cost of housing an inmate in a concrete box with metal bars compared to the amount a senior on Social Security gets, it’s startling. If your state can afford $35,000 per person in prison per year, surely, they could afford to pay more to our seniors.    This isn’t just numbers; it's your tax dollars at work. Yes, when we talk about tax dollars, we’re talking about your money. You should be concerned about where it's going, especially regarding retirement funds like Social Security. Everyone dreams of a comfortable retirement, maybe even some travel, but reality often hits hard. Social Security payouts are often below minimum wage levels, making those dreams seem unreachable.    The Cost Breakdown by State  Here's a look at the cost to house one prisoner per year, state by state:        State    Cost per Inmate (USD)      Massachusetts    $307,468      Vermont    $134,000      New Jersey    $133,000      California    $128,000      Maine    $117,000      Rhode Island    $117,000      New York    $116,000      Maryland    $114,000      New Mexico    $113,000      Washington    $108,000      Connecticut    $103,000      Alaska    $93,000      Delaware    $91,000      Nebraska    $88,000      North Dakota    $84,000      West Virginia    $82,000      Minnesota    $80,000      Oregon    $79,000      Colorado    $76,000      Wyoming    $75,000      Wisconsin    $74,000      Michigan    $61,300      New Hampshire    $55,030      Iowa    $54,940      Illinois    $54,040      Maryland    $53,920      North Carolina    $52,880      Tennessee    $51,800      West Virginia    $46,940      Ohio    $42,560      Virginia    $40,110      Idaho    $37,850      Kentucky    $34,840      South Carolina    $34,360      Missouri    $34,100      Arkansas    $33,390      South Dakota    $33,360      Indiana    $31,690      Arizona    $30,620      Florida    $29,620      Oklahoma    $28,520      Nevada    $28,370      Louisiana    $26,810      Georgia    $25,970      Texas    $25,900      Kansas    $24,340      Alabama    $23,800      Mississippi    $18,410  The Real Cost  Does it really cost $35,000 to house one person in prison for a year? If that's what states are spending, then it only seems fair to question if we could reallocate some of that money to provide our seniors with a more dignified living standard.    When you get old, you’ll want to be taken care of too. Most people plan on retiring and enjoying their golden years, but with Social Security paying so little, those dreams often vanish. As a society, we need to ensure that everyone can live with dignity, from the youngest to the oldest, whether they're behind bars or enjoying their retirement.    Isn't it time we reassess our priorities and ensure that our seniors, who’ve contributed so much, receive the care they deserve?    Reflect on these points and let’s continue advocating for a fairer allocation of our resources. If you have thoughts or ideas on this topic, share them! Together, we can make a difference.

In our journey through life, we often seek guidance and wisdom beyond our own understanding. St. Mykul’s prayer is a beautiful expression of this desire, a heartfelt plea for divine intervention and alignment with Jehovah’s will. It serves as a reminder of the profound connection we can cultivate with the divine, allowing us to become vessels of His wisdom and love.


St. Mykul’s prayer:

“I pray for Jehovah to speak through me all the time, and I pray for Jehovah to remove all my thoughts, and implant His thoughts all the time, as I do not even want my thoughts.”

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