A new report on state prisons shows the nation has hit a new high. For the first time in our country's history, one in every 100 adults is behind bars and Pennsylvania prisons have been following the national trends.

Prison populations have been rising for three decades. However, a report by the Pew Public Safety Performance Project claims last year's growth surpassed projections.

The number of inmates in Pennsylvania prisons went from about 44,400 at the beginning of 2007 to about 46,000 at the beginning of 2008 -- a jump of 1,600 inmates or about 3.7 percent.

The report says prisons are a huge burden on state tax dollars. The corrections system cost Pennsylvania more than $1.6 billion last year -- 6 percent of the general fund.

The report recommends that states start looking at ways to divert lower-risk criminals out of prisons with more drug treatment and community monitoring programs.

View the complete report by clicking here.