In 2001 the United States spent a record $167 billion for police protection, corrections, and judicial and legal activities. The Nation's expenditure for operations and outlays for the justice system increased 366% from almost $36 billion in 1982 (a 165%increase in constant dollars).    

Local governments funded nearly half of all direct justice system expenses. Another 35% of direct justice funding came from the States. Criminal and civil justice expenditures comprised approximately 7% of all State and local public expenditures in 2001.1Compared to justice expenditures, State and local governments in the United States spent almost 4 times as much on education, almost twice as much on public welfare, and a roughly equal amount on hospitals and health-care.