Image by Flickr user Corey Leopold Image by 20090404-jail.jpg

The Pew Center on the States has released a study that says states like South Carolina could save much money by shifting many non-violent offenders from jails to probation.

Read more stories on this subject in our jail topic page.The argument is simple: It costs $16,000 a year to lock someone up, and probation has a statistically higher chance of folks not committing another crime.

But the details are, well, detailed. The Post and Courier has a done a good job hashing out the study and what it means to South Carolina.

Go read it.

The timing of the study is also important, as many correctional programs are feeling the budget pinch.