HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ New statistics show Connecticut’s prison population and statewide arrests continued to decline in June amid a national drop in crime.

The state Office of Policy and Management released new data Tuesday showing that the state’s prison population on July 1 was about 16,590, the lowest July 1 total since 1998 when about 15,910 people were locked up. The prison population has decreased nearly 15 percent from an all-time July 1 high of about 19,415 in 2008.

Correction Department prisoner releases declined slightly from May to June to 1,633.

Statewide criminal arrests in June totaled about 8,345, down 8 percent from May and down 23 percent since June of last year.
The FBI says violent crime dropped 4 percent nationwide last year and property crime declined about 1 percent.

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