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U.S. Prison Population Again On the Rise

According to a recent Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin, the U.S. prison population rose 2.6% during 2002 - the largest annual growth rate since 1999.

In absolute number of inmates, 5 jurisdictions grew by at least 2000 inmates during 2002. The Federal system (up 6,535), experienced the largest growth, followed by California (up 2,873), Florida (up 2,806), Pennsylvania (up 2,106), and Virginia (2,067). At yearend 2002, the Federal system was the largest prison system.

Since 1995, the State prison inmate population has grown 27%. During this period, 12 States increased their populations at least 50%, led by North Dakota (up 88%), Idaho (up 86%), and Oregon (up 85%).

From 1995 to 2002 the average annual rate of growth of the female inmate population was 5.2%, higher than the average 3.5% increase in the male inmate population. By the end of 2002, 97,491 women were in State or Federal prisons - accounting for 6.8% of all prison inmates. Texas (13,051), the Federal system (11,234), and California (10,050) held more than a third of all female inmates.

Between 1995 and 2001 the distribution of the four major offense categories - violent, property, drug, and public-order offenses - changed slightly among State prisoners. The percentage of State prisoners serving time for property and drug offenses dropped while the percentage held for violent and public-order offenses rose. The increasing number of violent offenders accounted for 64% of the total growth among male inmates and 49% among female inmates. Public-order offenders accounted for another 21% of the total growth among male inmates and 16% of the growth among female inmates. From 1995 to 2001 drug offenders accounted for 13% of total growth among female inmates and 15% of growth among male inmates.

Prisoners sentenced for drug offenses constituted the largest group of Federal inmates (55%) in 2001. While the number of offenders in each major offense category increased, the number incarcerated for a drug offense accounted for the largest percentage of the total growth (48%), followed by public-order offenders (38%).

For more information: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/p02.htm

Over Half of Prisoners Rearrested Within 3 Years of Their Release

Within 3 years from their release in 1994, 67.5% of the prisoners were rearrested for a new offense (almost exclusively a felony or a serious misdemeanor), 46.9% were reconvicted for a new crime, 25.4% were resentenced to prison for a new crime, 51.8% were back in prison, serving time for a new prison sentence or for a technical violation of their release, like failing a drug test, missing an appointment with their parole officer, or being arrested for a new crime.

Within 3 years of their release in 1994, 61.7% of offenders sentenced for a violent offense were arrested for a new offense, though not necessarily another violent offense. Property offenders had the highest rearrest rate, 73.8%; released drug offenders, 66.7%; and public-order offenders (mostly those in prison for driving while intoxicated or a weapons offense), a 62.2% rate.

Men were more likely to be rearrested (68.4%) than women (57.6%); blacks (72.9%) more likely than whites (62.7%); non-Hispanics (71.4%) more likely than Hispanics (64.6%); younger prisoners more likely than older ones; and prisoners with longer prior records more likely than those with shorter records.

For more information: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/rpr94.htm

Parolees Top 500,000

A recent analysis of trends in State parole showed that the number of parolees rose from 405,374 to 542,950 between 1990 and 2000. Based on the most serious offense for which prisoners had served time, drug offenders comprised an increasing percentage of prison releases. Nearly 33% of State prison releases in 1999 were drug offenders (up from 26% in 1990 and 11% in 1985). The number of drug offenders released rose from 23,000 in 1985 to 105,800 in 1990. After 1990 the number of drug offenders continued to go up, reaching 177,000 in 1999.

An increasing percentage of women entering parole had served time for drug offenses.

In 1990, 36% of female parole entries were drug offenders; by 1999, 42% were drug offenders.

Drug offenders represented an increasing percentage of parole entries, among all groups. In 1999 drug offenders comprised 39% of black parole entries (up from 31% in 1990); 43% of Hispanic entries (up from 41%); and 21% of white entries (up from 18%).

In 1999, parole violators accounted for more than 50% of State prison admissions in California (67%), Utah (55%), Montana (53%), and Louisiana (53%). In Florida (7%), Alabama (9%), Indiana (10%), Mississippi (10%) and West Virginia (10%), parole violators comprised 10% or less of all admissions.

The three largest State prison systems ( California , Texas , and New York ) held over half of all parole violators in prison in 1997. California held 22% of all parole violators in prison, Texas , 21%, and New York , 8%. Among parole violators returned to prison, those held in California (60%) were the least likely to have been arrested or convicted for a new offense and the most likely to have been returned for a drug violation (23%). About 11% of parole violators in New York and Texas reported a drug violation as a reason for their return to prison.

For more information: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/tsp00.htm