Prison Population Trends

Who is in America’s Corrections System?

In 2007, the United States had over 2.3 million people in prison. The highest of any country in the world.

China came in second with 1.5 million people in prison.

US Compared to World

In 2009, over 7.2 million people were under some form of correctional supervision.

Probation - court-ordered period of correctional supervision in the community generally as an alternative to incarceration.

Prison - confinement in a state or federal correctional facility to serve a sentence of more than 1 year.

Jail - confinement in a local jail while pending trial, awaiting sentencing, serving a sentence that is usually less than 1 year, or awaiting transfer to other facilities after conviction.

Parole - period of conditional supervised release in the community following a prison term, including prisoners released to parole either by a parole board decision (discretionary parole) or according to provisions of a statute (mandatory parole).

Correctional Supervision

Correctional Populations

Prison Populations in Decline

State Prison Population Changes

States spend a large amount of their budget on corrections costs.

In 1987, on average states spent $19.38 billion on corrections (adjusted for inflation).

In 2007, states spent $44.06 billion.

Policy makers have to weigh public safety issues against other state priorities (like education and healthcare).

Why do states care about prison population?

Source: Pew Center on the States

1990-1995, there was a 23% increase in number of people of people in the corrections system.

This increase was caused by get-tough-on-crime policies (More defendants went to jail for longer prison sentences)◦ Increased use of mandatory

sentences◦ Lengthening prison sentences◦ Less use of parole

Prison Overcrowding

Source: Street Law

1990s: Boom in constructing prisons◦ 1996 average construction cost per bed: $40,000◦ Maintaining that bed: $15,000-$50,000 per year

Dangers: overcrowding sparks riots and fights.

Costs of Overcrowding

Source: Street Law

The proportion of those convicted in Federal court who are sentenced to prison has been increasing

Federal Convictions and Prison

Source: Department of Justice, BJS

More than two thirds of the felons convicted in state courts were sentenced to prison or jail

State Convictions & Prison Rates

Source: Department of Justice, BJS

In 2008, 1 in every 100 adults in America was behind bars.

Men ages 18 or older: 1 in 54◦ White men 18 or older: 1 in 106◦ Hispanic men 18 or older: 1 in 36◦ Black men 18 or older: 1 in 15◦ Black men 20-34: 1 in 9

Who’s Behind Bars?

Source: Department of Justice, BJS

All women ages 35-39: 1 in 265◦ White women ages 35-39: 1 in 355◦ Hispanic women ages 35-39: 1 in 265◦ Black women ages 35-39: 1 in 100

What about women?

Source: Department of Justice, BJS

Who is on Death Row?

Source: Department of Justice, BJS

Types of Offenses

Source: Department of Justice, BJS

Drug abuse violations: offenses relating to the unlawful possession, sale, use, growing, manufacturing, and making of narcotic drugs including opium or cocaine and their derivatives, marijuana, synthetic narcotics, and dangerous non-narcotic drugs such as barbiturates.

Drug Arrests

Source: Department of Justice, BJS

The serious violent crimes included are rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide.

Violent Crime Rates

Source: Department of Justice, BJS

The proportion of serious violent crimes committed by juveniles has generally declined since 1993.

Juvenile Crime Trends

Source: Department of Justice, BJS

Questions to Consider What, if anything, should be done to reduce

prison overcrowding? Should we build more prisons? Be selective about who is being incarcerated?

How should states prioritize spending? Should a state let some offenders out early to cut down on prison costs? Which offenders?