New Data Claims Missouri Now Has 1 of the Worst Prison Systems

It's healthy to question every thing you see on the internet. That's what I'm doing with new data that claims Missouri now has one of the worst prison systems in America. That may be correct, but I have so many questions.

I really don't doubt the trustability of the source of this new ranking of prison systems in the United States. US News & World Report has been around forever for a reason. That being said, I'd really like to know more about where their data came from from a new crime and corrections ranking that places Missouri firmly near the bottom of the list.

Missouri ranks 43rd overall in America for crimes, corrections and outcomes. Public safety is factored in, too. Now, let's address the elephant in the room and that is the question "why".

How did the rankings determine that Missouri is so lacking in its prison system?

I never accept anything on the surface if I can't get an understanding of where the data is coming from. I had to do some digging, but did find the methodology that US News and World Report used. Here are the categories they drew numbers from:

• Equality in Jailing
• Least Juvenile Incarceration
• Low Incarceration Rate
• Low Property Crime Rate
• Low Violent Crime Rate

This isn't just one writer's opinion which makes it more credible to me. They pulled a lot of numbers into deciding which states have good prison systems and outcomes and which ones don't.

Having been born and raised in Missouri and lived in the state most of my life, I tend to be defensive when it gets put down. In this case, I'll have to admit that my birth state has challenges that need to be dealt with and overcome when it involves prisons and those that are sent there. Surely, we can do better than 43rd in America in helping those who have broken the law find a way back to becoming responsible members of our state.