States with the Longest Prison Terms

11. Hawaii
> Average time served in 2009: 3.1 years
> Change in length of stay from 1990: -15%
> Cost to state of keeping prisoners longer: -$27.7 million

In Hawaii, the average time served for prisoners released in 2009 declined by seven months, or 15%, from 1990. However, Hawaii has increased average time served for the most serious offenders, as violent criminals released in 2009 served an average of 6.2 years, the second-highest average for any state in the survey. Those convicted of property crimes and drug crimes in Hawaii received similarly harsh sentences, as time served by property crime offenders averaged 3.3 years while time served by drug crime offenders averaged of 2.9 years. These figures were the highest and second-highest state averages, respectively.

10. New Hampshire
> Average time served in 2009: 3.1 years
> Change in length of stay from 1990: 26%
> Cost to state of keeping prisoners longer: $14.5 million

The average cost of imprisoning a criminal under the New Hampshire penitentiary system is $2,840 per month, according to the most recent data. That is the 13th highest in Pew’s survey. Average time served per inmate has increased by eight months since 1990, contributing to the climbing prison population and costs in New Hampshire. The state has one of the lowest incidences of violent crime, about a third of the national rate. However, average time served for a violent crime has increased by 45% since 1990. Keeping offenders out of prison is also an issue in New Hampshire — prisoners released between 2004 and 2007 had a recidivism rate of 44.2%, the 10th highest.

9. West Virginia
> Average time served in 2009: 3.1 years
> Change in length of stay from 1990: 51%
> Cost to state of keeping prisoners longer: $74.8 million

According to the latest Pew data, the average West Virginia inmate released in 2009 served 3.2 years in prison for property crimes, nearly a full year more than the national average. This is more than double the average time served for those released in 2000 in the state. Overall, the average prison stay in West Virginia increased by roughly a year between 1990 and 2009. Pew estimates that increased stays cost the state roughly $27,708 per prisoner, or nearly $75 million for all prisoners released in 2009.

8. Oklahoma
> Average time served in 2009: 3.1 years
> Change in length of stay from 1990: 83%
> Cost to state of keeping prisoners longer: $203.9 million

In 1990, the average length of stay for Oklahoma’s prisoners was just 1.7 years, well below the national average of 2.1 years. By 2009, the average time served by a prisoner had increased by 17 months. Much of this appears to have been driven by increases in the amount of time prisoners served for property and drug crimes. A typical inmate released in 1990 could expect to serve 1.5 years for a property crime and 1.2 years for a drug crime. For those released in 2009, these averages had risen by 93% and 122%, respectively, to 2.9 years and 2.6 years. These increases in prison stay also cost taxpayers, as the state spends $25,636 more for each prisoner kept 3.1 years instead of for 1.7 years.

7. Oregon
> Average time served in 2009: 3.2 years
> Change in length of stay from 1990: 32%
> Cost to state of keeping prisoners longer: $121.5 million

According to Pew, Oregon had the lowest recidivism rate in the country for prisoners released between 2004 and 2007. Just 22% of those released in that time returned to prison, compared to a national average of 43.3%. While recidivism remains low, the length of time served increased 32% to 3.2 years.

6. Arkansas
> Average time served in 2009: 3.2 years
> Change in length of stay from 1990: 69%
> Cost to state of keeping prisoners longer: $305.1 million

Of all states surveyed, none is tougher on drug offenders than Arkansas, where the average prisoner released in 2009 served three years. This represented a 122% increase from 1990, when the average prisoner served just 1.4 years for a drug offense. Time served for drug crimes has increased every five years for the past two decades. Yet, while the state seems to have focused on punishing drug-related crimes, it also has some of the highest rates of violent and property crime in the nation.