South Carolina's prison population has dropped 2.8 percent this year, saving taxpayers $5.2 million.
The state Sentencing Reform Oversight Committee says the drop is a result of a 2010 sentencing reform law that toughened sentences for violent criminals while giving non-violent criminals alternatives to prison.
The number of prisoners has decreased by more than 2,000 since 2010. But that means the number of criminals on probation has gone up by more than 2,000. The state Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services is asking lawmakers for an additional $1.8 million in next year's budget to hire more parole agents.