HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania could save tens of millions of dollars a year by reserving state prison beds for criminals convicted of the most serious crimes and serving longer terms and by diverting more low-level offenders to other programs, consultants said in a report released Wednesday.

The report by The Council of State Governments says decreasing reliance on prison space would shrink the prison population by thousands of inmates and save $350 million over five years. Further, it says only a quarter of that amount would be needed to finance the changes it recommends elsewhere in the system, such as dedicating the community corrections centers for prisoners nearing parole.

Pennsylvania is one of 16 states participating in the council’s justice-reinvestment initiative, designed to help states reduce prison spending and enhance public safety. The U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Pew Center on the States financed the research.

Council researchers spent months working with state officials to analyze data about Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system. Their report won a vote of confidence Wednesday from a working group that includes state officials, legislators, judges and prosecutors.

Gov. Tom Corbett called the proposals “very logical” and said he wants lawmakers to pass the council recommendations by June before they break for their summer recess.

“We have a finite amount of money and an infinite amount of requests for that money,” the Republican said in brief remarks to the panel.

Authors of the report said the state’s correctional system faces serious challenges, including an inefficient parole process that keeps many inmates in prison even after they are approved for parole.