FACT SHEET: TRENDS IN U.S. CORRECTIONS Trends in U.S. Corrections U.S. State and Federal Prison Population, 1925-2019 2019: 1,380,427 1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000 Number of People
400,000
200,000
0 1925 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2019
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics Prisoners Series.
International Rates of Incarceration per 100,000 United States 639 El Salvador 572 Rwanda 511 Brazil 357 Russia 331 Australia 16 0 Spain 122 China 121 Canada 10 4 France 93 Germany 69 Denmark 68 Sweden 68 India 35 Data sourced from the World Prison Brief website, compiled and hosted by the Institute of Crime and Justice Policy Research at Birckbeck, University of London.
The Sentencing Project • 1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th Floor • Washington, D.C. 20036 • sentencingproject.org 1 FACT SHEET: TRENDS IN U.S. CORRECTIONS
MASS INCARCERATION State Expenditures on Corrections in Billions, 1985-2019 The United States is the world's leader in incarceration 56.6 with 2 million people currently in the nation's prisons 51.4 and jails — a 500% increase over the last forty years. 42.3 Changes in sentencing law and policy, not changes 36.4 in crime rates, explain most of this increase. These trends have resulted in prison overcrowding and 26.1 fiscal burdens on states to accommodate a rapidly 16.9 expanding penal system, despite increasing evidence that large-scale incarceration is not an effective means 6.7 of achieving public safety. 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2019 Source: National Association of State Budget Officers. State Expenditure Report Series.
State & Federal Prison Population by Offense Federal (2019) State (2018)
8% Violent 56%
46% Drug 14%
5% Property 16%
41% 5% 19% 17% Public Order 12% Immigration Weapons Other 0.4% Other 0.6%
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics Prisoners Series.
Population Under Control of the U.S. Corrections System, 1980 and 2018 3,540,000 1980: 1,842,100 individuals 2018: 6,621,600 individuals
2018
1,465,200
1980 1,118,097 878,000 738,400
319,598 182,288 220,438
Prison Jail Parole Probation Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. Correctional Populations in the US Series.
The Sentencing Project • 1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th Floor • Washington, D.C. 20036 • sentencingproject.org 2 FACT SHEET: TRENDS IN U.S. CORRECTIONS
Number of People in Prisons and Jails for Drug DRUG POLICY Offenses, 1980 and 2019 Sentencing policies of the War on Drugs era 1980: 40,900 individuals resulted in dramatic growth in incarceration for 2019: 430,926 individuals drug offenses. Since its official beginning in the 1980s, the number of Americans incarcerated 2019 for drug offenses has skyrocketed from 40,900 181,422 in 1980 to 430,926 in 2019. Furthermore, harsh 176,300 sentencing laws such as mandatory minimums keep many people convicted of drug offenses in prison for longer periods of time: in 1986, people released after serving time for a federal drug offense had spent an average of 22 months in prison. By 2004, people convicted on federal drug offenses were expected to serve almost three 73,204 times that length: 62 months in prison. 1980 At the federal level, people incarcerated on a drug conviction make up nearly half the prison 19,000 17,200 population. At the state level, the number of people 4,700 in prison for drug offenses has increased nine-
State Prisons Federal Prisons Jails fold since 1980, although it has begun declining in recent years. Most are not high-level actors in the Sources: Carson, E.A. (2021). Prisoners in 2019. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics; James, D.J. (2004). Profile of Jail Inmates, 2002. drug trade, and most have no prior criminal record Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics; Zeng, Z. (2020). Jail Inmates for a violent offense. in 2018. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Number of Sentenced People in Federal Prisons for Drug Offenses, 1980-2019
186,545
160,524 158,107
131,739
97,800 88,658 87,800 All offenses 74,276 73,204
Drug offenses 56,989 52,782 35,555 30,470 22,037 9,491 4,749
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2019
Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics Prisoners Series.
The Sentencing Project • 1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th Floor • Washington, D.C. 20036 • sentencingproject.org 3 FACT SHEET: TRENDS IN U.S. CORRECTIONS
WOMEN Number of Women in State and Federal Prisons, 1980-2019
112,822 111,491 107,518 107,955
93,234 State Prison
68,468
43,845
23,099 13,258
Federal Prison 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2019
Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics Prisoners Series; Minor-Harper, S. (1986). State and Federal Prisoners, 1925-1985. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Highest and Lowest State Incarceration Rates (per 100,000), 2019 Overall (All States = 371) State Rate HIGHEST Women (All States = 54) Louisiana 680 Men (All States = 698) State Rate Oklahoma 639 State Rate HIGHEST Mississippi 636 HIGHEST Idaho 138 Arkansas 586 Louisiana 1,320 Oklahoma 1,158 Oklahoma 129 Arizona 558 Mississippi 1,224 Kentucky 128 LOWEST Arkansas 1,089 South Dakota 127 Massachusetts 133 Arizona 1,010 Wyoming 118 Maine 146 LOWEST LOWEST Rhode Island 156 Massachusetts 263 Massachusetts 10 Minnesota 176 Maine 275 Rhode Island 11 Vermont 182 New Jersey 15 Rhode Island 309 New York 19 Minnesota 331 Maine 22 Vermont 341
Source: Carson, E.A. (2021). Prisoners in 2019. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
The Sentencing Project • 1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th Floor • Washington, D.C. 20036 • sentencingproject.org 4 FACT SHEET: TRENDS IN U.S. CORRECTIONS
RACIAL DISPARITIES People in State and Federal Prisons, by Race and Ethnicity, 2019 Black men are six times as likely to be White 31% 422,800 incarcerated as white men and Latinx men are 2.5 times as likely. For Black men in their thirties, Black 33% 452,800 about 1 in every 12 is in prison or jail on any given day. Latinx 23% 320,700
Other 13% 180,000
Source: Carson, E.A. (2021). Prisoners in 2019. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Rate of Imprisonment per 100,000, by Gender, Race, and Ethnicity, 2019
White women 48
Black women 83
Latinx women 63
White men 385
Black men 2,203
Latinx men 979 Source: Carson, E.A. (2021). Prisoners in 2019. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Lifetime Likelihood of Imprisonment of U.S. Residents Born in 2001
All Men White Men Black Men Latinx Men
1 in 9 1 in 17 1 in 3 1 in 6
All Women White Women Black Women Latinx Women
1 in 56 1 in 111 1 in 18 1 in 45
Source: Bonczar, T. (2003). Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
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YOUTH Number of Youth Committed to Juvenile Facilities, 1999-2017 77,835 Since 1999, commitment to secure 75,406 76,190 68,982 juvenile facilities for youth who have 64,532 been adjudicated delinquent has been 60,412 steadily declining from a high point of 48,423 77,835 in 1999 to 26,972 in 2017. Still, 41,934 troubling problems remain. Youth of 35,246 31,487 color enter the system much more 26,972 frequently than white youth and are more likely to be sentenced to harsher terms of punishment. In addition, young people are transferred to the adult system each year and tried as if they were adults, and 19 97 1999 2001 2003 2006 2007 2010 2 0 11 2013 2 015 2017
many are sent to adult prisons and jails Source: Sickmund, M., Sladky, T.J., Kang, W., & Puzzanchera, C. (2019). Easy Access to the to serve their sentences. Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ ezacjrp.
Rate of Secure Placement of Juveniles per 100,000, by Race and Ethnicity, 2017 White 55
Black 226
Latinx 71
American Indian 149
Asian 11
Source: Sickmund, M., Sladky, T.J., Kang, W., & Puzzanchera, C. (2019). Easy Access to the Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezacjrp.
Number of Youth Confined in Jails and State Prisons, 1985-2019
15,000
12,000
9,000
6,000
3,000 Youth in adult jails: 2,900
Youth in adult prisons: 653 1999 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2019
Sources: Austin, J., Johnson, K. D., & Gregoriou, M. (2000). Juveniles in Adult Prisons and Jails: A National Assessment. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Assistance; Bureau of Justice Statistics Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear Series; Bureau of Justice Statistics Prisoner Series; Strom, K. J. (2000). Profile of State Prisoners under Age 18, 1985-1997. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
The Sentencing Project • 1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th Floor • Washington, D.C. 20036 • sentencingproject.org 6 FACT SHEET: TRENDS IN U.S. CORRECTIONS
Felony Disenfranchisement Restrictions by State, 2021 FELONY DISENFRANCHISEMENT In 48 states, a felony conviction can result in the loss of an individual’s voting rights. The period of disenfranchisement varies by state, with some states restoring the vote upon completion of a prison term, and others effectively disenfranchising for life. As a result of the dramatic expansion of the criminal justice system in the last 40 years, felony disenfranchisement has affected the political voice of many communities. As of 2020, 5.2 million Americans were unable to vote due to state felony disenfranchisement policies.
No restriction Prison Prison & parole
Prison, parole Prison, parole, probation & probation & post-sentence
Source: Uggen, C., Larson, R., Shannon, S, & Pulido-Navo, A. (2020). Locked Out 2020: Estimates of People Denied Voting Rights Due to a Felony Conviction. Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project. Rate of Disenfranchisement, by Race/Ethnicity, 2020
African American 6.3%
Latinx 2%
All Others 1.6%
Source: Uggen, C., Larson, R., Shannon, S, & Pulido-Navo, A. (2020). Locked Out 2020: Estimates of People Denied Voting Rights Due to a Felony Conviction. Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project.
Disenfranchised Population by Incarceration Status, 2020
In prison or jail 25%
On probation or parole 32%
Completed sentence 43%
Uggen, C., Larson, R., Shannon, S, & Pulido-Navo, A. (2020). Locked Out 2020: Estimates of People Denied Voting Rights Due to a Felony Conviction. Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project.
The Sentencing Project • 1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th Floor • Washington, D.C. 20036 • sentencingproject.org 7 FACT SHEET: TRENDS IN U.S. CORRECTIONS LIFE SENTENCES The number of people serving life sentences endures Number of People Serving Life Sentences, even while serious, violent crime has been declining 1984-2020 for the past 20 years and little public safety benefit has 204,191 203,865 been demonstrated to correlate with increasingly lengthy sentences. This population has nearly quintupled since 1984. One in seven people in prison are serving life with parole, life without parole, or virtual life (50 years or more). 157,966
142,727 Relative Expansion of Life Without Parole, 132,000 2003-2020 127,677
80%
66%
60% 69,845
40%
34,000
20% 12%
0% Life With Parole Life Without Parole 1984 1992 2003 2005 2008 2012 2016 2020
Percent of Life Sentenced Population Who Are 55 and Older
Age 55 or more 30%
Less than 55 70%
Source: Nellis, A. (2021). No End In Sight: America’s Enduring Reliance on Life Imprisonment. Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project.
This fact sheet was updated May 2021.
The Sentencing Project works for a fair and effective U.S. justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing policy, addressing unjust racial disparities and practices, and advocating for 1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th Floor alternatives to incarceration. Washington, D.C. 20036 sentencingproject.org The Sentencing Project • 1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th Floor • Washington, D.C. 20036 • sentencingproject.org 8