The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget has doubled since 2000. Until the 2009 budget cuts, it had been steadily climbing for decades. In 2006-2007, the annual cost of housing a California inmate was $43,287, almost double the national average of $26,000. With 173,000 prisoners, the costs add up quickly. For a detailed budget analysis of the CDCR, visit their historicl budget page at the CA Department of Finance website.

Hover over the graph to see the CDCR annual budget for each year.