In a surprisingly positive trend, Charlotte’s inmate population has dropped by 39% since 2008 (the average daily population went from 2,734 down to 1,661), while over the same period of time, the city’s population increased by about 12.6%.
This inmate reduction is mostly due to the reduction in crime we’ve seen over the past several years. Since 2008, the city has seen an overall reduction in crime by about 25%, including both violent crime, and property crime. Some of the biggest factors that have influenced the reduction include; hiring 125 new officers, recruiting veteran officers from other districts, and the implementation of new initiatives.
The most successful of these initiative has been the Gang Alternative Principles Program, which over seven years, has provided anger management and life-skills and leadership training to almost 700 youth. The program is managed by the nonprofit Charlotte Community Services Association and is housed out of Charlotte’s First Baptist Church-West.