California closed prisons and cut its inmate population in half, but the prison budget doubled — bad news for taxpayers and for public safety.

• California has shut down prisons and reduced its prison population by almost half.
• Even with far fewer inmates, the prison budget has doubled.
• Tens of thousands of violent criminals have been released back into communities, fueling crime concerns.
• Critics call it classic California — spending more to do less.

Outlook: Expect continued political fights over prison closures, crime, and where the extra money is going.