The National Conference of State Legislatures has published a report that examines state legislative actions during 2007, the elements that drove these actions, and the potential impact of sentencing and corrections in the near term. Principal legislative concerns were/are burgeoning prison populations and the accompanying budget growth. Measures passed to address prison construction and operating costs, reducing recidivism, and increasing the efficacy of correctional systems without compromising public safety include:

• Expanding community corrections;
• Managing probation and parole violators;
• Boosting incentives for good behavior;
• Preparing inmates for reentry; and
• Linking released offenders to community support.