From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Tough on crime policies overwhelm shrinking state budgets.

I'm Lawrence O'Donnell, sitting in for Warren Allney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International, a daily

look at the issues Americans care about most. Politicians always want to be tough on crime,

but with states facing budget crises, can they afford to be? Today, on To the Point, as states

are forced to shut down prisons, shorten sentences, and lock up fewer criminals.

Are they making the corrections system more efficient or are they making us less safe?

How are politicians adapting to the new budget realities of skyrocketing prison costs?

Can a cheaper prison system be a better one?

On reporter's notebook, later on, will Detroit become the new Greenwich

Village? First, here's the news. Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica

and from the Public Radio International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation,

the John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation,

and the Skoll Foundation, supporting social entrepreneurs around the world, uncommon heroes dedicated to

the common good. Learn more at scole.org. I'm Lawrence O'Donnell, sitting in for Warren,

only back with To the Point from PRI. State prison budgets have quadrupled in the last 20 years outpacing every state government spending category except health care.

Coming up, we'll talk about the price of being tough on crime and what changes states are making to run correction systems that they can afford.

On reporter's notebook, can artists save Detroit? First,

this news update. This morning, President Obama announced a new Afghanistan strategy that will

require significantly higher levels of U.S. funding and thousands more military and civilian

personnel to try to control what he called an increasingly perilous situation.

Here is some of what the President had to say.

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