(Columbus, OH) Ohio's prison population continues to drop.
The latest state prison figures show 49,420 inmates are locked up in Ohio facilities, more than 1,200 fewer prisoners than a year ago.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said last month the number of inmates had fallen below 50-thousand for the first time in four years, as state prison officials try to reduce the number of people behind bars through a number of different initiatives.
Those efforts serve a dual purpose-- to save money and prevent crime by keeping low-level offenders close to home where they have the support of family, friends, and social services.