Methodology
Education data was collected by the U.S. Census and covers public school children prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Prison data from the Vera Institute was collected in each state using a department of corrections survey. Corrections departments from 40 states completed and returned the survey, which asked respondents to provide prison expenditures paid by the department of corrections, as well as prison costs paid by other agencies.
The gun control debate has focused on assault rifles – but in many states handguns are responsible for far more deaths.
Death row convicts are still slated for execution at San Quentin State Prison, pictured here, after Californians voted not to abolish capital punishment.
Head Start programs like this one in Pennsylvania will be forced to cut rolls and get fewer children ready for kindergarten, if budget cuts go into effect on March 1.
