By Anna Copper | Cronkite News
A new report from the U.S. Department of Education found that most states, including Arizona, tripled the rate of spending for state and local prisons compared to public schools.
Arizona increased its prison spending at a rate 303 percent greater than education spending over three decades. It is the 12th highest disparity in the nation according to the report. The report examined spending on pre-k through 12th grade schools and compared that to state and local correctional facilities in each state.
Related: Federal Judge Calls AZ Prison Healthcare Plan ‘Absurd’ and ‘Unpersuasive’/Phoenix New Times