U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics

Bureau of Justice Statistics

BULLETIN
Prisoners in 2008
William J. Sabol, Ph.D., and
Heather C. West, Ph.D., BJS Statisticians
Matthew Cooper, BJS Intern

A

t yearend 2008, federal and state correctional authorities had jurisdiction over
1,610,446 prisoners (figure 1). Jurisdiction refers to the legal authority over a prisoner,
regardless of where the prisoner is held.
The prison population increased by 12,201 prisoners from 2007 to 2008, the smallest annual
increase since 2000. The 0.8% growth during
2008 was the second year of decline in the rate of
growth and the slowest growth in eight years.
From 2000 to 2008 the growth of the prison population (1.8% per year on average) was less than
a third of the rate observed during the 1990s
(6.5% per year on average) (not shown in figure).
State correctional authorities had jurisdiction
over 1,409,166 prisoners at yearend 2008, an
increase of 10,539 state prisoners during the
year. Federal correctional authorities (or the federal prison system) had jurisdiction over 201,280
prisoners, up 1,662 federal prisoners from the
previous year. While the numbers of state and
federal prisoners reached all-time yearend highs
in 2008, the respective growth rates for each
slowed to 0.8% (figure 2). This was the second

December 2009, NCJ 228417

smallest annual rate of growth in the state prison
population (0.1% growth occurred in 2001) and
the lowest rate for the federal prison population
since 2000.
Detailed information is included in the appendix tables,
following Methodology. Topics covered in the appendix tables
are shown on page 13.

Figure 1.
Prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction at yearend,
2000-2008
Annual percent
change
6.0

Number of prisoners
1,650,000
1,600,000

5.0

1,550,000

4.0

Annual
percent
change

1,500,000
1,450,000

J

1,400,000
1,350,000
1,300,000

3.0

J

J
J

J

2.0

J
J

J

J

1.0

0.0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
12 months ending December 31

Highlights
• The U.S. prison population grew at the slowest rate (0.8%)
since 2000, reaching 1,610,446 sentenced prisoners at yearend
2008.

• An increase in the number of prison releases was led by
offenders released to the community without supervision.

• Growth of the prison population since 2000 (1.8% per year on
average) was less than a third of the average annual rate during
the 1990s (6.5% per year on average).

• Between 2000 and 2008 the number of blacks in prison
declined by 18,400, lowering the imprisonment rate to 3,161
men and 149 women per 100,000 persons in the U.S. resident
black population.

• Slower growth in the state prison population was associated
with fewer new court commitments during 2007 and 2008,
reversing the trend of steady growth of state prison admissions
witnessed from 2000 to 2006.

• The U.S. imprisonment rate declined for the second time since
yearend 2000; about 1 in every 198 persons in the U.S. resident
population was incarcerated in state or federal prison at yearend 2008.

This publication is one in a series. For a list of all publications in this series go to www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

Twenty states reported a decline in the number
of prisoners under their jurisdiction in 2008 for a
total decrease of 9,719 prisoners (appendix table
2). New York (down 2,273 prisoners), Georgia
(down 1,537), and Michigan (down 1,495)

Figure 2.
Percent change in number of prisoners under state or
federal jurisdiction, 2000-2008
Percent change
8.0
7.0

Federal

6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0

reported the largest reductions, accounting for
more than half (54.6%) of the decline in the total
number of prisoners. New York (down 3.6%)
recorded the largest rate of decrease in its prison
population during 2008, followed by Kentucky
(down 3.3%), and New Jersey (down 3.3%).
Twenty-nine states and the federal prison system
reported a combined increase of 21,920 prisoners at yearend. Pennsylvania (up 4,178 prisoners)
and Florida (up 4,169) had the largest increases,
followed by Arizona (1,843), the federal prison
system (1,662), and North Carolina (1,512).
Combined, these five jurisdictions accounted for
61% of the growth among jurisdictions holding
more prisoners at yearend. Pennsylvania also
reported the fastest rate of growth (up 9.1%) for
2008.

State

2.0
1.0
0.0
2000

2002
2004
2006
2008
12 months ending December 31

Selected characteristics of the prison population under state and federal jurisdiction
• Men were 93% of prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction,
and women were 7% (table 1).

• Males were incarcerated at a rate about 15 times higher than
females (table 2).

• About 34% of all sentenced prisoners were white, 38% were
black, and 20% were Hispanic.

• Black males were incarcerated at a rate six and half times
higher than white males.

Table 1.

Table 2.

Number of prisoners under state and federal
jurisdiction, by sentence length, race, Hispanic
origin, and gender, 2008
Total
Prisoners by sentence length
Total under jurisdiction
Sentenced to more than 1 year
Estimated prisoners by racea
Whiteb
Blackb
Hispanic

Male

Imprisonment rate per 100,000 person in the
U.S. resident population, by race, Hispanic
origin, and gender, 2008

Female

1,610,446
1,540,036

1,495,594
1,434,784

114,852
105,252

591,900
528,200
313,100

562,800
477,500
295,800

29,100
50,700
17,300

a
Based on prisoners sentenced to more than 1 year. Excludes American
Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and persons identifying two or more races.
b

Excludes persons of Hispanic or Latino origin.

Totala
Whiteb
Blackb
Hispanic

Prisoners in 2008

Female
62
50
149
75

Note: Imprisonment rates are the number of prisoners under
state or federal jurisdiction sentenced to more than 1 year
per 100,000 persons in the U.S. resident population in the
referenced population group. See Methodology for estimation
method.
a

Total includes American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians,
Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and persons
identifying two or more races.

b

2

Male
952
487
3,161
1,200

Excludes persons of Hispanic or Latino origin.

Slower growth in the state prison
population associated with fewer new
court commitments
Several factors contributed to slowing the
growth of the state and federal prison populations from 2006 to 2008, including a decrease in
the number of prison admissions, a decline in
the number of new court commitments to state
prison, and an increase in the number released
from both state and federal prison. Prison
admissions have declined for the past two years
as the number of admissions dropped by about
6,923 sentenced offenders during 2007 and by
3,743 prisoners during 2008 (table 3).
The number of offenders released from state and
federal prisons rose by 2.0% to reach 735,454
prisoners while the number of admissions
declined by 0.5% (down 3,743).
Among the states, admissions and releases of
sentenced prisoners have converged since 2006
as admissions declined and releases of state prisoners increased (figure 3). In 2008, 30 states
reported a decrease in prisons admissions, totaling 19,019 prisoners. The remaining 20 states
reported an increase in prison admissions, totalling 15,783 prisoners. Four states accounted for
40.7% of the total decrease in prison admissions
from 2007 to 2008 (appendix table 11). Georgia
(down 2,509) reported the largest absolute
decrease, followed by Mississippi (down 1,841),
Kansas (down 1,408), and Washington (down
1,229).
Fewer new court commitments to state prison
accounted for the declining number of state
prison admissions in 2007 and 2008, reversing
the trend in the increasing number of state
prison admissions observed from 2000 to 2006
(figure 4).1 The number of new court commitments to state prison dropped by 10,587 in 2007
and 2,189 in 2008 as the total number of state
prison admissions declined by 3,046 and 3,787,
respectively. The number of parole violators
admitted to state prison increased during 2008 at
a slower rate than during the previous two years,
offsetting some of the effect of the decline in new
court commitments on the total number of state
prison admissions.

Table 3.
Number of sentenced prisoners admitted to and released from state
and federal jurisdiction, 2000-2008
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Average annual
change, 2000-2007
Percent change,
2007-2008

Total
625,219
638,978
661,712
686,437
699,812
733,009
749,798
742,875
739,132

Admissions
Federal
43,732
45,140
48,144
52,288
52,982
56,057
57,495
53,618
53,662

2.5%

State
581,487
593,838
613,568
634,149
646,830
676,952
692,303
689,257
685,470

3.0%

-0.5

Total
604,858
628,626
630,176
656,384
672,202
701,632
713,473
721,161
735,454

2.5%

0.1

-0.5

Releases
Federal
35,259
38,370
42,339
44,199
46,624
48,323
47,920
48,764
52,348

State
569,599
590,256
587,837
612,185
625,578
653,309
665,553
672,397
683,106

2.5%

4.7%

2.4%

2.0

7.3

1.6

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. Totals exclude transfers,
escapes, and AWOLS.

Figure 3.
Number of state admissions and releases and change in
number of sentenced state prisoners, December 2000-2008
Number of sentenced
prisoners

Number of state admissions
and releases
700,000
650,000
600,000
550,000

B
J

500,000
450,000

H

B
J

Admissions
B
B
J
B
J
J

B
B
B
J
J
J
Releases

2004

150,000
120,000
90,000

Change in sentenced
population
H
H
H
H
H
H

H
400,000
2000
2002

B
J

2006

60,000
30,000

H0
2008

On December 31

Figure 4.
Sentenced admissions into state prisons, by type of
admission, 2000-2008
Number of sentenced prisoners admitted
500,000
400,000

New court commitments
300,000

1

New court commitments include felony offenders sentenced
to state prison and probation violators entering prison for the
first time on a violation of a condition of probation. Parole
violators include any conditionally released parolee admitted
to prison either for a technical violation of the conditions of
supervision or for a new crime.

200,000

Parole violators

100,000
0
2000

2002
2004
2006
As of December 31

2008

December 2009

3

Number and rate of prison releases
increased in 2008
The number of offenders released from state and
federal prisons increased by 2% (or 14,293
releases) during 2008 to reach 735,454. In total,
29 states and the federal system reported
increases in the number of prison releases totaling 23,524 offenders. This increase was offset by
a total decrease of 9,034 releases in the remaining 21 states (appendix table 11). The increase in
the number of prison releases was led by an 8%
(or 16,883 releases) increase in the number of
prisoners released unconditionally during 2008.2
2

Unconditional releases include expirations of sentence,
commutations, and other unconditional releases.

Table 4.
Number of sentenced prisoners released from state
prisons, by type of release, 2000-2008
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

Totala
569,599
590,256
587,837
612,185
625,578
653,309
665,553
672,397
683,106

Releases
Conditionalb
425,887
437,251
440,842
442,168
480,727
495,370
497,801
504,181
505,168

Unconditionalc
118,886
130,823
127,389
127,386
123,147
133,943
148,114
152,589
165,568

aTotals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. Totals exclude

Slower growth in the prison population
since 2000 was associated with a decline in
the number of sentenced black prisoners
A decrease in the number of sentenced black
offenders has been associated with slower
growth in the size of the state and federal prison
populations. The number of imprisoned blacks
has declined by about 18,400 since yearend 2000,
reducing the total number of blacks in prison to
about 591,900 at yearend 2008 (table 5). Conversely, the numbers of sentenced white and Hispanic offenders have increased since 2000. the
number of imprisoned whites has risen by
57,200 since 2000 to reach 528,200 at yearend
2008. The total number of imprisoned Hispanics
rose by 96,200 to reach 313,100 during this
period.

transfers, escapes, and AWOLS.

3Conditional releases include releases to probation, super-

bTotal conditional releases include releases to probation, parole, supervised

vised mandatory release, and other unspecified conditional
releases.

mandatory releases, and other unspecified conditional releases.
c

Total unconditional releases include expirations of sentence, commutations,
and other unconditional releases.

4

Unconditional releases from state prisons
accounted for 91% of the increase in the total
number of prisoners released unconditionally
(not shown in a table). During 2008 the number
released unconditionally from state prisons
increased by about 13,000 (or 8.5%), while conditional releases from state prisons increased by
fewer than 1,000 (or about 0.2%) (table 4).3 As a
result of the increase in unconditional releases
from state prisons, the share of all state prison
admissions accounted for by unconditional
releases reached 24% in 2008, a higher share
than any year since 2000.

Prisoners in 2008

A decrease in the black imprisonment rates
accompanied the decline in the number of
imprisoned black offenders (table 6). Between
2000 and 2008 the imprisonment rate for black
men decreased from 3,457 per 100,000 in the
U.S. resident population to 3,161, and the
imprisonment rate for black women declined
from 205 per 100,000 in the U.S. resident population to 149. For Hispanic men the imprisonment rate remained relatively steady at about
1,200 per 100,000 in the U.S. resident population
during this period. For white men the imprisonment rate increased from 449 per 100,000 in the
U.S. resident population in 2000 to 487 per
100,000 in 2008.

expected at yearend 2008 if the imprisonment
rate for blacks had remained at its 2000 level (not
shown in table). In contrast, the increase in the
imprisonment rate for whites resulted in about
54,000 more sentenced white prisoners at yearend 2008 than expected if their rate of imprisonment had remained unchanged since 2000. The
number of imprisoned Hispanics and the Hispanic U.S. resident population experienced
about the same rates of growth from 2000 to
2008. Consequently, there was relatively little difference (3,600) between the number of sentenced Hispanics who would have been in prison
in 2008 if the Hispanic imprisonment rate had
remained at its 2000 level.

The decline in the black imprisonment rate since
2000 means that an estimated 61,000 fewer
blacks were in state or federal prisons than

Table 5.
Estimated number of sentenced prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction, by
race and Hispanic origin, December 31, 2000-2008
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

Totala
1,321,200
1,344,500
1,380,300
1,409,300
1,433,800
1,461,100
1,502,200
1,532,800
1,540,100

Total number of prisoners
Whiteb
Blackb
471,000
610,300
485,400
622,200
472,200
622,700
493,400
621,300
491,800
583,400
505,500
577,100
527,100
562,800
521,900
586,200
528,200
591,900

Hispanic
216,900
209,900
250,000
268,100
275,600
294,900
308,000
318,800
313,100

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. See Methodology for estimation method.
aIncludes American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and persons iden-

tifying two or more races.
bExcludes persons of Hispanic or Latino origin.

Table 6.
Estimated rate of sentenced prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction, per 100,000
U.S. residents, by gender, race, and Hispanic origin, December 31, 2000-2008
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

Totala
904
896
912
915
926
929
943
955
952

Males
Whiteb
Blackb
449
3,457
462
3,535
450
3,437
465
3,405
463
3,218
471
3,145
487
3,042
481
3,138
487
3,161

Hispanic
1,220
1,177
1,176
1,231
1,220
1,244
1,261
1,259
1,200

Totala
59
58
61
62
64
65
68
69
68

Females
Whiteb
Blackb
34
205
36
199
35
191
38
185
42
170
45
156
48
148
50
150
50
149

Hispanic
60
61
80
84
75
76
81
79
75

Note: Totals based on prisoners sentenced to more than 1 year. Imprisonment rates are per 100,000 U.S. residents in each reference population group. See Methodology for estimation method.
a

Includes American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and persons identifying two
or more races.

b

Excludes persons of Hispanic or Latino origin.

December 2009

5

Fewer blacks imprisoned for drug offenses
accounted for most of the decline in the
number of sentenced blacks in state prison
From 2000 to 2006 (the most recent offense data
available), the total number of sentenced offenders in state prisons increased by 124,700 to reach
1,331,100 state prisoners. Offenders convicted of
a violent offense accounted for 63% of the
growth in the state prison population; offenders
convicted of a drug offense accounted for about
12% (table 7). The number of sentenced blacks
in state prisons fell to 508,700 in 2006, declining
by 53,300 prisoners since 2000. More than half of
this decline (56%) was made up of 29,600 fewer
blacks imprisoned for drug offenses.

Table 7.
Change in number of sentenced prisoners in state prisons,
2000 to 2006, by race and Hispanic origin and offense
Race and Hispanic origin
Total offenses
Violent
Property
Drugs
Otherb
Whitea
Violent
Property
Drugs
Otherb
Blacka
Violent
Property
Drugs
Otherb
Hispanic or Latino
Violent
Property
Drugs
Otherb

Number of prisoners Change since Percent of
in 2006
2000
total change
1,331,100
124,700
100.0 %
667,900
78,800
63.2
277,900
39,400
31.6
265,800
14,700
11.8
119,500
-8,200
-6.6
474,200
37,500
100 %
227,500
15,100
40.3
126,200
17,600
46.9
72,000
13,800
36.8
48,500
-9,000
-24.0
508,700
-53,300
100 %
267,900
-5,500
10.3
89,700
-7,100
13.3
115,700
-29,600
55.5
35,400
-11,100
20.8
248,900
70,400
100 %
141,600
54,500
77.4
32,800
4,400
6.3
54,100
10,800
15.3
20,400
700
1.0

Note: Data are for inmates sentenced to more than 1 year under the jurisdiction of
state correctional authorities. The estimates for gender were based on jurisdiction
counts at yearend (NPS 1B). The estimates by race and Hispanic origin were based
on data from the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities and updated
by yearend jurisdiction counts; estimates within offense categories were based on
offense distributions from the National Corrections Reporting Program, 2006,
updated by yearend jurisdiction counts. All estimates were rounded to the nearest
100. Detail may not add to total due to rounding.
aExcludes persons of Hispanic or Latino origin.
bIncludes public order and other unspecified offenses.

6

Prisoners in 2008

The number of sentenced white and Hispanic
prisoners convicted of a drug offense increased
from 2000 to 2006, offsetting the decline in the
number of imprisoned black drug offenders.
Imprisoned white drug offenders increased by
13,800 prisoners during this period; the number
of Hispanic drug offenders increased by 10,800.
Consequently, the overall number of sentenced
drug offenders in state prison increased by
14,700 prisoners.
Changes in the types of drugs involved in drug
offenses could not be identified in the available
data. BJS’s most recent survey focusing on the
types of drugs involved in drug offenses was
conducted in 2004. The data collected through
inmate interviews revealed an increase in the
percentage of state prisoners serving time for
drug law violations involving stimulants, such as
methamphetamines. About 10% of the drug
offenders in state prison in 2004 were convicted
of a drug offense involving stimulants, up from
10% in 1997. Additionally, the percentage of
state prisoners convicted of a cocaine-related
drug offense declined from 72% in 1997 to 62%
in 2004.4

The U.S. imprisonment rate decreased for
the second time since yearend 2000
The imprisonment rate at yearend 2008 was 504
per 100,000 U.S. residents, a decrease from 506
per 100,000 at yearend 2007 (appendix table 10).
About 1 in every 198 persons in the U.S. resident
population was incarcerated in state or federal
prison at yearend 2008. Imprisonment rate refers
to the number of prisoners sentenced to more
than 1 year per 100,000 U.S. residents.
A decrease in the imprisonment rate resulted
from a lower rate of growth in the sentenced
prison population (0.5% increase) than in the
U.S. resident population (0.8% increase). This
was the second decline in the U.S. imprisonment
rate since 2000.
4

See Drug Use and Dependence, State and Federal Prisoners,
2004 available online at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/
abstract/dudsfp04.htm (last accessed October 16, 2009).

Twenty-eight states reported a decrease in their
imprisonment rates, 20 states reported an
increase, and two states reported no change to
their imprisonment rates at yearend 2008 (figure
5). Massachusetts and Texas (both down 31 prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents) reported the
largest declines in their imprisonment rates.

Pennsylvania (up 28 prisoners per 100,000),
Florida (up 21 prisoners per 100,000), and Alabama (up 19 prisoners per 100,000) reported the
largest increases in their imprisonment rates at
yearend.

Figure 5.
Change in imprisonment rate, 2007-2008
Jurisdiction
Pennsylvania
Florida
Alabama
Indiana
Arizona
Tennessee
Montana
Arkansas
Ohio
North Carolina
Rhode Island
North Dakota
Nebraska
Missouri
Maine
New Mexico
Mississippi
Oregon
Colorado
Illinois
Federal
Vermont
Iowa
Virginia
Washington
South Dakota
Maryland
Minnesota
New Hampshire
West Virginia
Oklahoma
Connecticut
California
South Carolina
Hawaii
Wyoming
Utah
Idaho
Kansas
New Jersey
Michigan
Louisiana
New York
Alaska
Delaware
Kentucky
Georgia
Wisconsin
Nevada
Texas
Massachusetts
-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

Change in imprisonment rate per 100,000 U.S. residents
Note: The 2008 imprisonment rate included 4,012 male prisoners sentenced to more than 1 year but held in local jails or houses of corrections in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts; the 2007 imprisonment rate included 6,200 sentenced males held in local jails or houses of corrections. See Methodology.

December 2009

7

Selected characteristics of the custody population at yearend 2008
On December 31, 2008—

• The total incarcerated population reached 2,424,279
inmates—up 0.2% or 5,038 inmates from yearend 2007
(table 9).

• State and federal prisons and local jails had custody or
physical guardianship over 2,304,115 inmates, an increase
of 0.3% from yearend 2007 (table 8).

• Populations held in ICE facilities (up 2.4%) and in local
jails (up 0.7%) increased during 2008. The largest absolute
increase of inmates occurred in local jails (5,382), followed
by state and federal prisons (692).

• About 1 in every 133 U.S. residents was in custody of state
or federal prisons or local jails.
• The incarceration rate—the number of inmates held in
custody of state or federal prisons or in local jails per
100,000 U.S. residents—decreased to 754 inmates at yearend 2008, down from 756 inmates at yearend 2007.

• Populations held in military facilities (down 8.0%), prisons
in U.S. territories (down 7.5%), and jails in Indian country
(down 1.3%) decreased. The largest absolute decrease of
1,102 inmates occurred in the U.S. territories during 2008.

Table 8.
Inmates held in custody in state or federal prisons or in local jails, December 31, 2000, 2007, and 2008
Number of inmates

Percent of inmates
Average annual
change, 2000-2007

Percent change,
2007-2008

Inmates in custody

12/31/2000

12/31/2007

12/31/2008

Totala

1,937,482

2,298,041

2,304,115

140,064

197,285

198,414

5.0 %

0.6 %

133,921

189,154

189,770

5.1

0.3

124,540

165,975

165,252

4.2

-0.4

9,381

23,179

24,518

13.8

5.8

6,143

8,131

8,644

4.1

6.3

1,176,269

1,320,582

1,320,145

1.7 %

0.0 %

621,149

780,174

785,556

3.3 %

0.7 %

684

756

754

1.4 %

-0.3 %

2.5 %

0.3 %

Federal prisonersb
Total
Prisons
Federal facilities
Privately operated facilities
Community Corrections Centersc
State prisonersa
Local jailsd
Incarceration ratea,e
a

Total includes all inmates held in state or federal prison facilities or in local jails. It does not include inmates held in U.S. territories,
military facilities, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, jails in Indian country, and juvenile facilities.

b
c

After 2001 the responsibility for sentenced felons from the District of Columbia was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Non-secure, privately operated community corrections centers.

d

Counts for inmates held in local jails are for the last weekday of June in each year. Counts were estimated from the Annual Survey of Jails.
See Methodology.
e
The total number in custody of state or federal prison facilities or local jails per 100,000 U.S. residents. Resident population estimates were
as of January 1 of the following year for December 31 estimates.

Table 9.
Total incarcerated population, December 31, 2007 and 2008
Incarcerated population
Totala
Federal and state prisons
Territorial prisons
Local jailsb
ICE facilities
Military facilities
Jails in Indian country
Juvenile facilitiesc
:Not calculated.

Number of inmates
2007
2008
2,419,241
2,424,279
1,517,867
1,518,559
14,678
13,576
780,174
785,556
9,720
9,957
1,794
1,651
2,163
2,135
92,845
92,845

Percent change, 2007-2008
0.2%
0.0
-7.5
0.7
2.4
-8.0
-1.3
:

aTotal includes all inmates held in state or federal public prison facilities, local jails, U.S. territories, military facilities,

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) owned and contracted facilities, jails in Indian country, and juvenile
facilities.
bCounts for inmates held in local jails are for the last weekday of June in each year.
c

Data are from the 2006 Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement (CJRP), conducted by the Office of Juvenile Justice
Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

8

Prisoners in 2008

Men ages 30 to 34 and women ages 35 to 39
had the highest imprisonment rates
At yearend 2008, 1,434,800 men and 105,300
women were serving prison sentences of more
than one year (appendix table 13). Men ages 25
to 29 represented the largest share (17.2%) of
sentenced male prisoners in state or federal
prison. The imprisonment rate for men was
highest for those ages 30 to 34 (2,366 per 100,000
men in the U.S. resident population), followed by
men ages 25 to 29 (2,238 per 100,000) (appendix
table 14).
Women ages 35 to 39 made up the largest percentage (19.8%) of sentenced female prisoners
under state or federal jurisdiction. The imprisonment rate for women was also highest for
those ages 35 to 39 (201 per 100,000 women in
the U.S. resident population), followed by
women ages 30 to 34 (190 per 100,000) (appendix table 14).

State prison capacities were higher in 2008
than in 2000; percent of capacity occupied
decreased in 2008
State and federal correctional authorities provide
three measures of their facilities’ capacity.
Rated capacity is the number of beds or inmates
assigned by a rating official to institutions within
the jurisdiction.
Operational capacity is the number of inmates
that can be accommodated based on a facility’s
staff, existing programs, and services.
Design capacity is the number of inmates that
planners or architects intended for the facility.

Highest capacity is the sum of the maximum
number of beds and inmates reported by the
states and the federal system across the three
capacity measures. Lowest capacity is the minimum of these three capacity measures reported
by the states and the federal system. Estimates of
prison populations as a percentage of capacity
are based on the jurisdiction’s custody population. In general a jurisdiction’s capacity and custody counts exclude inmates held in private facilities. Some states include prisoners held in
private facilities as part of the capacity of their
prison systems. Where this occurs, prison population as a percent of capacity includes private
prisoners.
The federal system reported a rated capacity of
122,479 beds at yearend 2008 (appendix table
24). The highest capacity reported by the states
was 1,275,440, and the lowest capacity reported
was 1,142,129 (table 10). These capacities are
between 11% and 14% higher than the capacities
reported by the states in 2000.
In 2008 the percent of capacity occupied in state
prisons decreased. States were operating at 97%
of their highest capacity and over 8% of their
lowest capacity at yearend. Thirteen states were
operating at more than 100% of highest capacity
by yearend 2008, and 20 were operating at more
than 100% of lowest capacity.

Table 10.
Number of inmates held in custody of state
prisons, as a percent of capacity, 1995 and
2000-2008
Year
Highest capacity Lowest capacity
1995
114%
125%
2000
100
115
2001
101
116
2002
101
117
2003
100
116
2004
99
115
2005
99
114
2006
98
114
2007
96
113
2008
97
108
State capacity, 2008
1,275,440
1,142,129
Note: Capacity excludes prisoners held in local jails
and in privately operated facilities, with exceptions.
See NPS jurisdiction notes.

December 2009

9

Trends in the ICE population
While the El Salvadoran detainee population experienced a
similar pattern of growth, the population increased at a slower
pace during these same periods. The El Salvadoran detainee
population rose from 1,125 in 2000 to 1,727 in 2005. From
2005 to 2007 this detainee population increased from 1,727 to
3,005 ICE detainees. During 2008 the El Salvadoran detainee
population increased at a slower pace, reaching 3,521 at
yearend.

At yearend 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) had custody over 34,161 detainees, up 14,646 detainees
from yearend 2000 and up 3,730 detainees from yearend 2007
(table 11). The 12.3% growth in the number of detainees in
custody of ICE during 2008 was greater than the average
annual growth rate (6.6%) of the number of detainees held
from 2000 to 2007.
More than half (57.5%) of all detainees were held in
facilities in Texas (8,695), California (3,694), Arizona
(2,975), Florida (2,195), and Georgia (2,075). The
number of detainees held in Texas has increased by 5,080
since 2000, representing 34.7% of the growth in the
number of detainees held nationwide (14,646 detainees)
during this period.

Nationwide, the overall number of ICE detainees held
per facility (state, federal, local, or ICE) has doubled
since 2000 (not shown in table). Approximately 53
detainees were held per facility in 2000, compared to
about 115 in 2008. The number of state, federal, and
local jails responsible for holding this growing
population declined from 347 to 256 during this
period, and the average number of detainees held per
facility increased from approximately 37 to 95. ICE
increased its number of facilities from 24 in 2000 to 41
in 2008, while its average number of detainees held
per facility fell from about 276 to 243. Texas has
independently added a net of three ICE/INS-owned
or -contracted facilities since 2000, and increased the
number of detainees held in the average Texas facility
from approximately 79 in 2000 to 248 in 2008.
Mexican citizens represented over a third (36.2% or
12,360 detainees) of the detainee population in 2008,
fol l owe d by E l S a lv a d or ans ( 1 0 . 3 % or 3 , 5 2 1
detainees), Guatemalans (9.4% or 3,227 detainees),
and Hondurans (8.1% or 2,780) (figure 6). Among
these groups the fastest growth occurred in the
Mexican detainee population, increasing from 4,267
ICE detainees in 2000 to 4,623 in 2005. From 2005 to
2007 the Mexican detainee population more than
doubled from 4,623 to 10,358 ICE detainees. The
number of Mexican detainees increased at a slower
pace in 2008, reaching 12,360 at yearend.

Table 11.
Selected characteristics of ICE detainees and facilities, 2000, 2007, and 2008
Number of detainees
Characteristics
Total

2000

2007

19,515

30,431 34,161

2008

Average annual Percent
change, 2000- change,
2007
2007-2008
6.6 %

12.3 %

10.9 %

States holding the largest
number of detainees
Texas

3,615

7,842

8,695

11.7 %

California

3,210

3,702

3,694

2.1

Arizona

1,685

2,943

2,975

8.3

1.1

Florida

1,491

1,861

2,195

3.2

17.9

596

1,452

2,075

13.6

42.9

Georgia

-0.2

Facility type
Intergovernmental service agreement and Bureau of Prisons
12,904
ICE owned and contracted
Number of facilities
Intergovernmental service agreement and Bureau of Prisons

20,711 24,204

6,611

9,720

9,957

371

326

297

347

292

256

7.0 %
5.7

2.4

ICE owned and contracted
24
34
41
Note: Only select characteristics are detailed; categories may not add to totals.

Figure 6.
ICE detainees held, by country of origin, 2000-2008
Number of detainees
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000

Mexico
El Salvador
Guatemala

2,000
0
2000

10

Prisoners in 2008

Honduras
Cuba
2002
2004
As of December 31

2006

16.9 %

2008

Methodology
National Prisoner Statistics
Begun in 1926 under a mandate from Congress,
the National Prisoner Statistics (NPS) program
collects statistics on prisoners at midyear and
yearend. The Census Bureau serves as the data
collection agent for the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). BJS depends entirely upon the voluntary participation by state departments of corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons for
NPS data.
The NPS distinguishes between prisoners in custody and prisoners under jurisdiction. To have
custody of a prisoner, a state or federal prison
must hold that prisoner in one of its facilities. To
have jurisdiction over a prisoner, a state or federal prison must have legal authority over the
prisoner. Some states are unable to provide prisoner counts that distinguish between custody
and jurisdiction.
The NPS jurisdiction counts include prisoners
serving a sentence within a jurisdiction’s facilities. These facilities include prisons, penitentiaries, correctional facilities, halfway houses, boot
camps, farms, training/treatment centers, and
hospitals. Jurisdiction counts include inmates
who are—
• temporarily absent (less than 30 days), out to
court, or on work release
• housed in privately-operated facilities, local
jails, other state or federal facilities
• serving concurrent sentences for more than
one correctional authority.
The NPS custody counts include all inmates held
within a respondent’s facilities, including
inmates housed for other correctional facilities.
The custody counts exclude inmates held in local
jails and in other jurisdictions. With a few exceptions for several respondents, the NPS custody
counts exclude inmates held in privately-operated facilities.
Additionally, NPS data include counts of inmates
in combined jail-prison systems in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and
Vermont. The District of Columbia has operated
only a jail system since yearend 2001. Prisoners
sentenced under the District of Columbia criminal code are housed in federal facilities. Selected
previously published prisoner counts and percent population change statistics include DC jail
inmates for 2001, the last year of collection.
Additional information is provided in notes to
the tables, where applicable.

Nevada was not able to provide 2007 data. Estimates were calculated using ratio estimates. All
numbers were reviewed and approved by individuals at the respective department of corrections.
S e e < http : / / w w w.ojp. us d oj. gov / bj s / c orrect.htm#nps> (last accessed October 20, 2009)
for more information about the NPS data collection instruments.
Military Corrections Statistics
BJS obtains yearend counts of prisoners in the
custody of U.S. military authorities from the
Department of Defense Corrections Council.
The council, composed of representatives from
each branch of the military services, adopted a
standardized report (DD Form 2720) with a
common set of items and definitions in 1994.
This report obtains data on persons held in U.S.
military confinement facilities inside and outside
of the continental United States, by branch of
service, gender, race, Hispanic origin, conviction
status, sentence length, and offense. It also provides data on the number of facilities and their
design and rated capacities.
Other inmate counts
In 1995 BJS began collecting yearend counts of
prisoners from the department of corrections in
the U.S. Territories (American Samoa, Guam,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and U.S. Commonwealths (Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto
Rico). These counts include all inmates for
whom the territory or Commonwealth had legal
authority or jurisdiction and all inmates in physical custody (held in prison or local jail facilities). The counts are collected by gender, race,
Hispanic origin, and sentence length. Additionally, BJS obtains reports on the design and rated
and operational capacities of these correctional
facilities.
BJS obtains yearend counts of person detained
by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE), formerly the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Located within the Department of Homeland Security, ICE is responsible
for holding persons for immigration violations.
ICE holds persons in federal, state, and locally
operated prisons and jails, as well as privately
operated facilities under exclusive contract and
ICE-operated facilities.
Data on the number of inmates held in the custody of local jails are from the BJS Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ). The ASJ provides data on
inmates in custody at midyear. For more inforDecember 2009

11

mation about the ASJ, see Methodology in Jail
Inmates at Midyear 2008 – Statistical Tables
available online at <http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/
bjs/abstract/jim08st.htm> (last accessed October
20, 2009).
Federal prisoner data used to calculate race and
offense distributions are obtained from BJS’ Federal Justice Statistics Program (FJSP). The FJSP
obtains its data from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. These data include individual-level records
of prisoners in federal facilities as of September
30. Specifically, the FJSP provides counts of sentenced federal inmates by gender, race, Hispanic
origin, and offense.
Guam did not submit data for 2008. Data for
2008 are estimates based on the percent change
from 2006 to 2007 as reported by Guam’s
Department of Corrections.
Estimates of juvenile inmates for 2007 and 2008
are based on data from 2006 as reported by the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Office of Justice Programs, U.S.
Department of Justice.
Estimating changes in admissions and releases
Technically, the change in the prison population
from the beginning of the year to the end of the
year should equal the difference between the
number of admissions and releases during the
year. The formula used to calculate this change is
P(t)-P(t-1)=A(t)-R(t). Within this formula, t
equals the year referenced, P(t-1) equals the start
of the year population, P(t) equals the end of the
year population, A(t) equals admissions during
the year, and R(t) equals releases during the year.
However, throughout this report, the references
to differences in prison populations refer to the
differences between two yearend differences,
such as the difference between December 31,
2007, and December 31, 2008. Hence, comparisons of admissions and releases during the year
with two yearend population counts may be
equal, as there may be changes in the prisoner
counts between the last count of the year
(December 31) and the first count of the following year (January 1). Also, due to informationsystem processing issues within states, the two
sets of differences do not always equal the difference between the number of admissions and
releases for various reasons, such as the final data
on admissions and releases may be logged into
systems after the surveys have been submitted to
BJS. During the 2008 collections, all but three

12

Prisoners in 2008

states submitted data in which the differences
between the start of year and yearend populations equaled the difference between admissions
and releases.
Estimating age-specific incarceration rates
Estimates are provided for the number of sentenced prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction by gender. Further, prisoners are characterized within genders by age group, race (nonHispanic white and non-Hispanic black), and
Hispanic origin. The detailed race and Hispanic
origin categories exclude estimates of persons
identifying two or more races.
Estimates were produced separately for prisoners
under state and federal jurisdiction and then
combined to obtain a total estimated population
for 2000 and 2007. State estimates were prepared
by combining information about the gender of
prisoners from the NPS with information
reported during inmate interviews on race and
Hispanic origin in the 2004 Survey of Inmates of
State Correctional Facilities.
For the estimates of federal prisoners, the distributions of FJSP counts of sentenced federal prisoners by gender, age, race, and Hispanic origin
on September 30, 2008, were applied to the NPS
counts of sentenced federal prisoners by gender
at yearend 2008.
Estimates of the U.S. resident population for January 1, 2009, by age, gender, race, and Hispanic
origin, were generated by applying the December 31, 2008, age distributions within gender,
race, and Hispanic origin groups to the January
1, 2009, population estimates by gender. The
population estimates were provided by the U.S.
Census Bureau.
Age-specific rates of imprisonment for each
demographic group were calculated by dividing
the estimated number of sentenced prisoners
within each age group by the estimated number
of U.S. residents in each age group. That number
was multiplied by 100,000, and then rounded to
the nearest whole number. Totals by gender
include all prisoners and U.S. residents regardless of racial or Hispanic origin. Detailed race
and Hispanic origin imprisonment rates exclude
persons identifying two or more races.

Definitions
Average annual change—arithmetic average
(mean) annual change across a specific time
period.
Custody—physical location in which an inmate
is held regardless of which entity has legal
authority over an inmates. For example, a local
jail may hold, or have custody over, a state-sentenced prisoner who may be held there because
of overcrowding. The custody population refers
to the number of inmates held in state or federal
public prisons or local jails, regardless of sentence length or the state having jurisdiction
Design capacity— the number of inmates that
planners or architects intended for a facility.
Highest capacity—the sum of the maximum
number of beds reported across three capacity
measures: design capacity, operational capacity,
and rated capacity.
Imprisonment rate—the number of prisoners
under state or federal jurisdiction sentenced to
more than 1 year, per 100,000 U.S. resident population.
Incarceration rate—see total incarceration rate.
Inmates—individuals held in the custody of
state and federal prisons and in local jails.
Jail—confinement facilities usually administered
by a local law enforcement agency, intended for
adults but sometimes holding juveniles, before
or after adjudication. Facilities include jails and
city/county correctional centers, special jail facilities such as medical treatment or release centers,
halfway houses, work farms, and temporary
holding or lockup facilities that are part of the
jail’s combined function. Inmates sentenced to
jail facilities usually have a sentence of 1 year or
less.
Jails in Indian country—jails, confinement
facilities, detention centers, and other facilities
operated by tribal authorities or the Bureau of
Indian Affairs.

under the jurisdiction of state correctional
authorities.
Lowest capacity—the sum of the minimum
number of beds across three capacity measures:
design capacity, operational capacity, and rated
capacity.
Operational capacity—the number of inmates
that can be accommodated based on a facility’s
staff, existing programs, and services.
Prisons—compared to jail facilities, prisons are
longer-term facilities run by a state or the federal
government typically holding felons and prisoner with sentences of more than 1 year. However, sentence length may vary by state. Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware,
Alaska, and Hawaii operate integrated systems
that combine prisons and jails.
Prisoners—individuals confined in correctional
facilities under the legal authority (jurisdiction)
of state and federal correctional officials.
Rated capacity—the number of beds or inmates
assigned by a rating official to institutions within
the jurisdiction.
Sentenced prisoner—a prisoner sentenced to
more than 1 year.
Total incarceration rate—the number of
inmates held in the custody of state or federal
prisons or in local jails, per 100,000 U.S. residents.
Total inmates in custody—includes inmates
held in any public facility run by a state or the
Federal Bureau of Prisons, including halfway
houses, camps, farms, training/treatment centers, and hospitals. This number also includes
the number of inmates held in local jails as
reported by correctional authorities in the
Annual Survey of Jails. Data for jails are as of the
last weekday of June.

Jurisdiction—the entity having legal authority
over a prisoner, regardless of where that prisoner
is held. The prison population under jurisdiction
refers to the number of prisoners under state or
federal correctional authority regardless of the
facility in which a prisoner is held. For example,
state-sentenced prisoners held in local jails are

December 2009

13

Appendix table contents
The following topics are detailed in online
appendix tables 1 through 24 at <http://
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/p08.htm>:
• Appendix Table 1. Prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons or in the custody
of state or federal prisons or local jails, December 31, 2000-2008
• Appendix Table 2. Prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities,
by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and
2008
• Appendix Table 3. Male prisoners under the
jurisdiction of state or federal correctional
authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000,
2007 and 2008
• Appendix Table 4. Female prisoners under the
jurisdiction of state or federal correctional
authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000,
2007 and 2008
• Appendix Table 5. Sentenced prisoners under
the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional
authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000,
2007 and 2008
• Appendix Table 6. Number of sentenced male
prisoners under the jurisdiction of state and
federal correctional authorities, December 31,
2000-2008
• Appendix Table 7. Sentenced male prisoners
under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities, by jurisdiction, December
31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
• Appendix Table 8. Number of sentenced female
prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities, December 31,
2000-2008
• Appendix Table 9. Sentenced female prisoners
under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities, by jurisdiction, December
31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
• Appendix Table 10. Imprisonment rates of sentenced prisoners under jurisdiction of state and
federal correctional authorities, by gender and
jurisdiction, December 31, 2007 and 2008
• Appendix Table 11. Number of sentenced prisoners admitted and released from state or federal jurisdiction, by jurisdiction, December 31,
2000, 2007 and 2008

14

Prisoners in 2008

• Appendix Table 12. Number of sentenced prisoners admitted and release from state or federal
jurisdiction, by type, December 31, 2008
• Appendix Table 13. Estimated number of sentenced prisoners under state and federal jurisdiction, by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and
age, December 31, 2008
• Appendix Table 14. Estimated number of sentenced prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction per 100,000 U.S. residents, by gender, race,
Hispanic origin, and age, December 31, 2008
• Appendix Table 15. Estimated number of sentenced prisoners under state jurisdiction, by
offense, gender, race, and Hispanic origin,
yearend 2006
• Appendix Table 16. Estimated percent of sentenced prisoners under state jurisdiction by
offense, gender, race, and Hispanic origin,
yearend 2006
• Appendix Table 17. Number of sentenced prisoners in federal prison, by most serious offense,
2000, 2007and 2008
• Appendix Table 18. Number of state or federal
prisoners in private facilities, December, 20002008
• Appendix Table 19. Number of state or federal
prisoners in private facilities, by jurisdiction,
December 31, 2000, 2006-2008
• Appendix Table 20. Number of state or federal
prisoners in local facilities, December 31, 20002008
• Appendix Table 21. Number of state and federal prisoners in local jail facilities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2006-2008
• Appendix Table 22. Prisoners in custody of correctional authorities in the U.S. territories and
commonwealths, yearend 2007 and 2008
• Appendix Table 23. Prisoners under military
jurisdiction, by branch of service, yearend 2007
and 2008
• Appendix Table 24. Reported state and federal
prison capacities, December 31, 2008

NPS jurisdiction notes
Alaska—Prisons and jails form one
integrated system. All NPS data include jail
and prison populations housed in state and
out of state. Jurisdictional counts exclude
inmates held in local jails that are operated by
communities.
Arizona—Population counts are based on
custody data and inmates in contracted beds.
California—Jurisdiction counts include
felons and unsentenced inmates who are
temporarily absent, i.e. housed in local jails,
hospitals, etc. This definition is comparable
to the 1998 NPS 1b definition.
Discrepancies between admissions and
releases and within-year change in the prison
population are due to incomplete data about
inmate movements, such as inmates out to
court or readmitted on violations.
Colorado—Counts include 222 inmates in
the Youthful Offender System, which was
established primarily for violent juvenile
offenders. Capacity figures exclude seven
privately run facilities under contract with
the Department of Corrections.
Delaware—Prisons and jails form one
integrated system. All NPS data include jail
and prison populations.
Federal—Custody counts include inmates
housed in secure facilities where the BOP had
a direct contract with a private operator or a
sub-contract with a private provider at a local
government facility. Custody includes
inmate s hel d i n non- s e c ure pr ivately
operated community corrections centers or
Halfway Houses and inmates held on home
confinement.
Florida—Counts are not comparable to 2006
counts due to new methods of data collection
beginning in 2007.
Georgia- Counts are based on custody data.
Ha w a i i — P r i s o n s a n d j a i l s f o r m o n e
integrated systems. All NPS data include jail
and prison populations
Iowa—Population counts are based on
custody data. Population counts for Inmates
with a sentence of more than 1 year include
an undetermined number of inmates with a
sentence of less than 1 year and unsentenced
inmates. Iowa does not differentiate between
these groups in its data system. Due to a
change in reporting in 2006, out of state
inmates have been included in jurisdiction
counts. Discrepancies between admissions
and releases and within-year change in the

prison population are due to data entry
corrections made throughout the year.

populations, resulting in some changes to
previous years’ counts.

Kansas—Admission and release data are
based on the custody population. Due to a
new, computerized reporting system, 2007
admission and release data is not comparable
to previous years’ counts.

Nevada—Due to an information system conversion that occurred during 2007, Nevada
officials were unable to report data for 2007.
All 2007 data were estimated from 2006
reported data. All estimates were reviewed by
individuals at the Nevada Department of
Corrections.

L ouisiana—C ounts for 2007 are as of
December 27, 2007. Custody and jurisdiction
counts include evacuees from Hurricane
Katrina and other pre-trial offenders from
Orleans and Jefferson parish jails.
Maryland—The number of prisoners identifying their race as unknown has increased
due to changes in the information system.
Massachusetts—By law, offenders may be
sentenced to terms of up to 2.5 years in
locally-operated jails and correctional institutions. Such populations are included in
counts and rates for local jails and correctional institutions. Counts exclude 4,012
inmates with sentences of more than 1 year
held in local jails in 2008 and 6,200 inmates
in 2007. Jurisdiction and custody counts
include an undetermined number of inmates
who were remanded to court, transferred to
the custody of another state, federal, or
locally-operated system, and subsequently
released.
Minnesota—Counts include inmates temporarily housed in local jails or private contract
facilities, or on work release and community
work crew programs.
Mississippi—Operational and design capacities include private prison capacities.
Missouri—Design capacities are not available for older prisons. Operational capacity is
defined as the number of available beds
include those temporarily offline. Missouri
Department of Corrections does not have
updated design capacity for prison extension
or improvements.
Montana—Population counts include a small
number of inmates with unknown sentence
lengths.
Capacity figures include two county operated
regional prisons (an estimated 300 beds), one
private prison (500 beds), and a state operated boot camp (60 beds). In 2006, the
Department of Corrections changed its
method of accounting for community corrections offenders placed in residential treatment programs. To track growth patterns, a
new standard process was applied to historic

New Hampshire—Due to a system conversion, detailed information on prisoners sentenced to 1 year or less, unsentenced males,
and specific types of admission and releases
cannot be captured.
New Jersey—Counts of inmates with a
sentence of more than 1 year include an
undetermined number of inmates with
sentences of 1 year. The Department of
Corrections has no jurisdiction over inmates
with sentences of less than 1 year or over
unsentenced inmates. Rated capacity figures
are not maintained.
North Carolina—Capacity figures refer to
standard operating capacity, based on single
occupancy per cell and 50 square feet per
inmate in multiple occupancy units.
Ohio—Counts of inmates with a sentence of
more than 1 year include an undetermined
number of inmates with sentences of 1 year
or less. Due to a system conversion, admission and release data may vary from past
years. Returns and conditional releases
involving Transitional Control inmates are
reported only after movement from confinement to actual release status occurs.
Oklahoma—Population counts for inmates
with sentences of less than 1 year consist
mainly of offenders ordered by the court to
the Delayed Sentencing Program for Young
Adults pursuant to 22 O.S. 996 through 996.3.
As of November 4, 1998, Oklahoma has one
type of capacity, which includes state prisons,
private prisons, and contract jails.
Oregon—Counts include an undetermined
number of inmates with sentences of 1 year
or less. County authorities retain jurisdiction
over the majority of these types of inmates.
Pennsylvania—As of May 31, 2004, the
Department began using a new capacity
reporting system based on design as well as
other crucial factors such as facility infrastructure, support services, and programming.

December 2009

15

NPS jurisdiction notes (cont.)
Rhode Island—Prisons and jails form one
integrated system. Data reported include jail
and prison populations. Improved methods
were used to measure admissions and releases
during 2007. Admission and release data for
2000 and 2007 are not comparable.

South Dakota—Discrepancies between
admissions and releases and within-year
change in the prison population result
because admission and release data is gathered in a separate database than the jurisdiction population data.

Virginia—Jurisdiction counts are as of
December 28, 2007. Rated capacity is the
Department of Corrections’ count of beds,
which takes into account the number of
inmates that can be accommodated based on
staff, programs, services and design.

South Carolina—Population counts include
36 inmate who were unsentenced, under safekeeping, or ICC status. As of July 1, 2003,
South Carolina Department of Corrections
(SCDC) began releasing inmates due for
release and housed in SCDC institutions on
the 1st day of each month. Since January 1,
2008 was a holiday, inmates eligible for
release on January 1 were released on December 31, 2007. Therefore, the inmate count was
at its lowest point for the month on December 31, 2007.

Texas—Jurisdiction counts include inmates
serving time in a pre-parole transfer (PPT) or
intermediary sanctions facility (ISF), substance abuse felony punishment facility
(SAFPF), private facilities, halfway houses,
temporary releases to counties, and paperready inmates in local jails.

Washington—A recently revised law allows
increasing numbers of certain inmates with
sentences of less than 1 year to be housed in
prison.
Wisconsin—Operational capacity excludes
contracted local jails, federal and other state
and private facilities.

Vermont—Prisons and jails form one integrated system. Data reported include jail and
prison populations. Improved methods were
used to measure admissions and releases during 2007. Admission and release data for 2000
and 2007 are not comparable.

Appendix Table 1.
Prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons or in the custody of state
or federal prisons or local jails, December 31, 2000-2008
Prisoners under jurisdiction
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Average annual change,
2000-2007
Percent change,
2007-2008

Total
1,391,261
1,404,032
1,440,144
1,468,601
1,497,100
1,527,929
1,569,945
1,598,245
1,610,446

Federal
145,416
156,993
163,528
173,059
180,328
187,618
193,046
199,618
201,280

State
1,245,845
1,247,039
1,276,616
1,295,542
1,316,772
1,340,311
1,376,899
1,398,627
1,409,166

Male
1,298,027
1,311,053
1,342,513
1,367,755
1,392,278
1,420,303
1,457,486
1,483,740
1,495,594

Female
93,234
92,979
97,631
100,846
104,822
107,626
112,459
114,505
114,852

Sentenced to more Imprisonment Incarceration
rateb
ratec
than 1 yeara
1,331,278
478
684
1,345,217
470
685
1,380,516
476
701
1,408,361
482
712
1,433,728
486
723
1,462,866
491
737
1,504,660
501
751
1,532,850
506
756
1,540,036
504
754

2.0%

4.6%

1.7%

1.9%

3.0%

2.0%

0.8

0.8

0.8

0.8

0.3

0.5

0.8%
-0.3

1.4
-0.2

Note: Jurisdiction refers to the legal authority over a prisoner, regardless of where the prisoner is held.
Custody refers to where an inmate is held, regardless of which entity has jurisdiction over the inmate.
a

Includes prisoners under the legal authority of state or federal correctional officials with sentences of more than 1 year, regardless of where
they are held.

bImprisonment rate is the number of prisoners sentenced to more than 1 year under state or federal jurisdiction per 100,000 U.S. residents.

Resident population estimates are from the U.S. Census Bureau for January 1 of the following year for the yearend rates.
c

Incarceration rate is the total number of inmates held in custody of state or federal prisons or local jails per 100,000 U.S. residents.

16

Prisoners in 2008

Appendix Table 2.
Prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities,
by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Number of prisoners
Average annual
Percent change,
Region and jurisdiction 12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008 change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
U.S. total
1,391,261
1,598,245
1,610,446
2.0%
0.8%
Federal
145,416
199,618
201,280
4.6
0.8
State
1,245,845
1,398,627
1,409,166
1.7
0.8
Northeast
174,826
179,030
179,776
0.3%
0.4%
18,355
20,924
20,661
1.9
-1.3
Connecticuta
Maine
1,679
2,148
2,195
3.6
2.2
Massachusetts
10,722
11,436
11,408
0.9
-0.2
New Hampshire
2,257
2,943
2,904
3.9
-1.3
New Jersey
29,784
26,827
25,953
-1.5
-3.3
New York
70,199
62,620
60,347
-1.6
-3.6
Pennsylvania
36,847
45,969
50,147
3.2
9.1
3,286
4,018
4,045
2.9
0.7
Rhode Islanda
1,697
2,145
2,116
3.4
-1.4
Vermonta
Midwest
237,378
263,039
263,811
1.5%
0.3%
Illinois
45,281
45,215
45,474
0.0
0.6
Indiana
20,125
27,132
28,322
4.4
4.4
7,955
8,732
8,766
1.3
0.4
Iowab
Kansas
8,344
8,696
8,539
0.6
-1.8
Michigan
47,718
50,233
48,738
0.7
-3.0
Minnesota
6,238
9,468
9,406
6.1
-0.7
Missouri
27,543
29,857
30,186
1.2
1.1
Nebraska
3,895
4,505
4,520
2.1
0.3
North Dakota
1,076
1,416
1,452
4.0
2.5
Ohio
45,833
50,731
51,686
1.5
1.9
South Dakota
2,616
3,311
3,342
3.4
0.9
Wisconsin
20,754
23,743
23,380
1.9
-1.5
South
561,214
639,578
647,312
1.9%
1.2%
Alabama
26,332
29,412
30,508
1.6
3.7
Arkansas
11,915
14,314
14,716
2.7
2.8
6,921
7,276
7,075
0.7
-2.8
Delawarea
District of Columbia
7,456
~
~
:
:
Florida
71,319
98,219
102,388
4.7
4.2
44,232
54,256
52,719
3.0
-2.8
Georgiab
Kentucky
14,919
22,457
21,706
6.0
-3.3
Louisiana
35,207
37,540
38,381
0.9
2.2
Maryland
23,538
23,433
23,324
-0.1
-0.5
Mississippi
20,241
22,431
22,754
1.5
1.4
North Carolina
31,266
37,970
39,482
2.8
4.0
Oklahoma
23,181
25,849
25,864
1.6
0.1
South Carolina
21,778
24,239
24,326
1.5
0.4
Tennessee
22,166
26,267
27,228
2.5
3.7
Texas
166,719
171,790
172,506
0.4
0.4
Virginia
30,168
38,069
38,276
3.4
0.5
West Virginia
3,856
6,056
6,059
6.7
0.0

December 2009

17

Appendix Table 2 (cont.)
Prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities,
by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Number of prisoners
Average annual
Percent change,
Region and jurisdiction 12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008 change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
West
272,427
316,980
318,267
2.2%
0.4%
4,173
5,167
5,014
3.1
-3.0
Alaskaa
Arizonab
26,510
37,746
39,589
5.2
4.9
California
163,001
174,282
173,670
1.0
-0.4
Colorado
16,833
22,841
23,274
4.5
1.9
5,053
5,978
5,955
2.4
-0.4
Hawaiia
Idaho
5,535
7,319
7,290
4.1
-0.4
Montana
3,105
3,462
3,607
1.6
4.2
10,063
13,400
12,743
:
:
Nevadac
New Mexico
5,342
6,466
6,402
2.8
-1.0
Oregon
10,580
13,948
14,167
4.0
1.6
Utah
5,637
6,515
6,546
2.1
0.5
Washington
14,915
17,772
17,926
2.5
0.9
Wyoming
1,680
2,084
2,084
3.1
0.0
~Not applicable. After 2001, responsibility for sentenced felons from the District of Columbia was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
:Not calculated.
aPrisons and jails form one integrated system. Data include total jail and prison populations.
b
c

Prison population based on custody counts.

Includes estimates for Nevada for December 31, 2007. See Methodology.

18

Prisoners in 2008

Appendix Table 3.
Male prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional
authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Region and jurisdiction
U.S. total
Federal
State
Northeast
Connecticuta
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Islanda
Vermonta
Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowab
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delawarea
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgiab
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

Number of male prisoners
Average annual
Percent change,
12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008 change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
1,298,027
1,483,740
1,495,594
1.9%
0.8%
135,171
186,280
188,007
4.7
0.9
1,162,856
1,297,460
1,307,587
1.6
0.8
165,744
169,336
169,932
0.3%
0.4%
16,949
19,428
19,159
2.0
-1.4
1,613
2,009
2,039
3.2
1.5
10,059
10,646
10,657
0.8
0.1
2,137
2,741
2,670
3.6
-2.6
28,134
25,417
24,654
-1.4
-3.0
66,919
59,866
57,760
-1.6
-3.5
35,268
43,506
47,193
3.0
8.5
3,048
3,736
3,802
3.0
1.8
1,617
1,987
1,998
3.0
0.6
222,780
245,110
246,070
1.4%
0.4%
42,432
42,391
42,753
0.0
0.9
18,673
24,837
25,829
4.2
4.0
7,363
8,015
8,017
1.2
0.0
7,840
8,071
7,970
0.4
-1.3
45,587
48,153
46,781
0.8
-2.8
5,870
8,866
8,778
6.1
-1.0
25,550
27,335
27,737
1.0
1.5
3,629
4,106
4,130
1.8
0.6
1,008
1,269
1,292
3.3
1.8
43,025
46,909
47,773
1.2
1.8
2,416
2,942
2,987
2.9
1.5
19,387
22,216
22,023
2.0
-0.9
521,562
591,075
598,262
1.8%
1.2%
24,506
27,254
28,277
1.5
3.8
11,143
13,248
13,656
2.5
3.1
6,324
6,699
6,518
0.8
-2.7
7,100
~
~
:
:
67,214
91,365
95,237
4.5
4.2
41,474
50,711
49,027
2.9
-3.3
13,858
20,016
19,436
5.4
-2.9
32,988
35,082
35,865
0.9
2.2
22,319
22,249
22,264
0.0
0.1
18,572
20,469
20,773
1.4
1.5
29,363
35,344
36,704
2.7
3.8
20,787
23,242
23,340
1.6
0.4
20,358
22,635
22,693
1.5
0.3
20,797
24,344
25,099
2.3
3.1
153,097
157,859
158,653
0.4
0.5
28,109
35,136
35,309
3.2
0.5
3,553
5,422
5,411
6.2
-0.2

December 2009

19

Appendix Table 3. (cont.)
Male prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional
authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaskaa
Arizonab
California
Colorado
Hawaiia
Idaho
Montana
Nevadac
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Number of male prisoners
12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008
252,770
291,939
293,323
3,889
4,603
4,511
24,546
34,286
35,823
151,840
162,654
162,050
15,500
20,506
20,980
4,492
5,232
5,227
5,042
6,519
6,532
2,799
3,161
3,244
9,217
12,221
11,761
4,831
5,890
5,833
9,984
12,888
13,058
5,256
5,883
5,906
13,850
16,258
16,522
1,524
1,838
1,876

Average annual
Percent change,
change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
2.1 %
0.5 %
2.4
-2.0
4.9
4.5
1.0
-0.4
4.1
2.3
2.2
-0.1
3.7
0.2
1.8
2.6
:
:
2.9
-1.0
3.7
1.3
1.6
0.4
2.3
1.6
2.7
2.1

~Not applicable. After 2001, responsibility for sentenced felons from the District of Columbia was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
a

Prisons and jails form one integrated system. Data include total jail and prison populations.

bPrison population based on custody counts.
cIncludes estimates for Nevada for December 31, 2007. See Methodology.

20

Prisoners in 2008

Appendix Table 4.
Females prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional
authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Region and jurisdiction
U.S. total
Federal
State
Northeast
Connecticuta
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Islanda
Vermonta
Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowab
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delawarea
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgiab
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

Number of female prisoners
12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008
93,234
114,505
114,852
10,245
13,338
13,273
82,989
101,167
101,579
9,082
9,694
9,844
1,406
1,496
1,502
66
139
156
663
790
751
120
202
234
1,650
1,410
1,299
3,280
2,754
2,587
1,579
2,463
2,954
238
282
243
80
158
118
14,598
17,929
17,741
2,849
2,824
2,721
1,452
2,295
2,493
592
717
749
504
625
569
2,131
2,080
1,957
368
602
628
1,993
2,522
2,449
266
399
390
68
147
160
2,808
3,822
3,913
200
369
355
1,367
1,527
1,357
39,652
48,503
49,050
1,826
2,158
2,231
772
1,066
1,060
597
577
557
356
~
~
4,105
6,854
7,151
2,758
3,545
3,692
1,061
2,441
2,270
2,219
2,458
2,516
1,219
1,184
1,060
1,669
1,962
1,981
1,903
2,626
2,778
2,394
2,607
2,524
1,420
1,604
1,633
1,369
1,923
2,129
13,622
13,931
13,853
2,059
2,933
2,967
303
634
648

Average annual
Percent change,
change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
3.0 %
0.3 %
3.8
-0.5
2.9
0.4
0.9 %
1.5 %
0.9
0.4
11.2
12.2
2.5
-4.9
7.7
15.8
-2.2
-7.9
-2.5
-6.1
6.6
19.9
2.5
-13.8
10.2
-25.3
3.0 %
-1.0 %
-0.1
-3.6
6.8
8.6
2.8
4.5
3.1
-9.0
-0.3
-5.9
7.3
4.3
3.4
-2.9
6.0
-2.3
11.6
8.8
4.5
2.4
9.1
-3.8
1.6
-11.1
2.9 %
1.1 %
2.4
3.4
4.7
-0.6
-0.5
-3.5
:
:
7.6
4.3
3.7
4.1
12.6
-7.0
1.5
2.4
-0.4
-10.5
2.3
1.0
4.7
5.8
1.2
-3.2
1.8
1.8
5.0
10.7
0.3
-0.6
5.2
1.2
11.1
2.2

December 2009

21

Appendix Table 4. (cont.)
Females prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional
authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaskaa
Arizonab
California
Colorado
Hawaiib
Idaho
Montana
Nevadac
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Number of female prisoners
Average annual
Percent change,
12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008 change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
19,657
25,041
24,944
3.5 %
-0.4 %
284
564
503
10.3
-10.8
1,964
3,460
3,766
8.4
8.8
11,161
11,628
11,620
0.6
-0.1
1,333
2,335
2,294
8.3
-1.8
561
746
728
4.2
-2.4
493
800
758
7.2
-5.3
306
301
363
-0.2
20.6
846
1,179
982
:
:
511
576
569
1.7
-1.2
596
1,060
1,109
8.6
4.6
381
632
640
7.5
1.3
1,065
1,514
1,404
5.2
-7.3
156
246
208
6.7
-15.4

~Not applicable.After 2001, responsibility for sentenced felons from the District of Columbia was transferred
to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
:Not calculated.
a

Prisons and jails form one integrated system. Data include total jail and prison populations.

bPrison population based on custody counts.
c

Includes estimates for Nevada for December 31, 2007. See Methodology.

22

Prisoners in 2008

Appendix Table 5.
Sentenced prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional
authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Region and jurisdiction
U.S. total
Federal
State
Northeast
Connecticuta
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jerseyb
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Islanda
Vermonta
Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowac
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delawarea
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgiac
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

Number of sentenced prisoners
12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008
1,331,278 1,532,850
1,540,036
125,044
179,204
182,333
1,206,234 1,353,646
1,357,703
166,632
167,694
168,340
13,155
14,397
14,271
1,635
1,950
1,985
9,479
9,872
10,166
2,257
2,930
2,904
29,784
26,827
25,953
70,199
62,174
59,959
36,844
45,446
48,962
1,966
2,481
2,522
1,313
1,617
1,618
236,458
261,391
261,397
45,281
45,215
45,474
19,811
27,114
28,301
7,955
8,732
8,766
8,344
8,696
8,539
47,718
50,233
48,738
6,238
9,468
9,406
27,519
29,844
30,175
3,816
4,329
4,424
994
1,416
1,452
45,833
50,731
51,686
2,613
3,306
3,333
20,336
22,307
21,103
538,997
615,535
617,161
26,034
28,605
29,694
11,851
14,310
14,660
3,937
4,201
4,067
5,008
~
~
71,318
98,219
102,388
44,141
54,232
52,705
14,919
21,823
21,059
35,207
37,341
37,804
22,490
22,780
22,749
19,239
21,502
21,698
27,043
33,016
34,229
23,181
24,197
24,210
21,017
23,314
23,456
22,166
26,267
27,228
158,008
161,695
156,979
29,643
37,984
38,216
3,795
6,049
6,019

Average annual
Percent change,
change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
2.0 %
0.5 %
5.3
1.7
1.7
0.3
0.1 %
0.4 %
1.3
-0.9
2.5
1.8
0.6
3.0
3.8
-0.9
-1.5
-3.3
-1.7
-3.6
3.0
7.7
3.4
1.7
3.0
0.1
1.4 %
0.0 %
0.0
0.6
4.6
4.4
1.3
0.4
0.6
-1.8
0.7
-3.0
6.1
-0.7
1.2
1.1
1.8
2.2
5.2
2.5
1.5
1.9
3.4
0.8
1.3
-5.4
1.9 %
0.3 %
1.4
3.8
2.7
2.4
0.9
-3.2
:
:
4.7
4.2
3.0
-2.8
5.6
-3.5
0.8
1.2
0.2
-0.1
1.6
0.9
2.9
3.7
0.6
0.1
1.5
0.6
2.5
3.7
0.3
-2.9
3.6
0.6
6.9
-0.5

December 2009

23

Appendix Table 5. (cont.)
Sentenced prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional
authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Number of sentenced prisoners
Average annual
Percent change,
12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008 change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
264,147
309,026
310,805
2.3 %
0.6 %
2,128
3,072
2,966
5.4
-3.5
25,412
35,490
37,188
4.9
4.8
160,412
172,856
172,583
1.1
-0.2
16,833
22,841
23,274
4.5
1.9
3,553
4,367
4,304
3.0
-1.4
5,535
7,319
7,290
4.1
-0.4
3,105
3,431
3,579
1.4
4.3
10,063
13,245
12,743
:
:
4,666
6,225
6,315
4.2
1.4
10,553
13,918
14,131
4.0
1.5
5,541
6,421
6,422
2.1
0.0
14,666
17,757
17,926
2.8
1.0
1,680
2,084
2,084
3.1
0.0

Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaska
Arizonac
California
Coloradob
Hawaiia
Idaho
Montana
Nevadad
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year.
~Not applicable. After 2001, responsibility for sentenced felons from the District of Columbia was transferred to the
Federal Bureau of Prisons.
:Not calculated
aPrisons and jails form one integrated system. Data include total jail and prison populations.
bIncludes some prisoners sentenced to 1 year or less.
c

Prison population based on custody counts.

dIncludes estimates for Nevada for December 31, 2007. See Methodology.

Appendix Table 6.
Number of sentenced male prisoners under the jurisdiction
of state and federal correctional authorities, December 31, 2000-2008
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Average annual change,
2000-2007
Percent change, 2007-2008

Number of sentenced male prisoners
Total
Federal
State
1,246,234
116,647
1,129,587
1,260,033
127,519
1,132,514
1,291,450
133,732
1,157,718
1,315,790
142,149
1,173,641
1,337,730
148,930
1,188,800
1,364,178
155,678
1,208,500
1,401,317
162,417
1,238,900
1,427,064
167,676
1,259,388
1,434,784
170,755
1,264,029
2.0 %
0.5

5.3 %
1.8

1.6 %
0.4

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year.
:Not calculated.

24

Prisoners in 2008

Percent of all sentenced
prisoners
93.6 %
93.7
93.5
93.4
93.3
93.3
93.1
93.1
93.2
:
:

Appendix Table 7.
Sentenced male prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal
correctional authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Number of sentenced male prisoners
Region and jurisdiction 12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008
U.S. total
1,246,234
1,427,064
1,434,784
Federal
116,647
167,676
170,755
1,129,587
1,259,388
1,264,029
Statea
Northeast
158,815
159,390
160,004
12,365
13,581
13,468
Connecticuta
Maine
1,573
1,831
1,856
Massachusetts
9,250
9,438
9,724
New Hampshire
2,137
2,733
2,670
New Jerseyb
28,134
25,417
24,654
New York
66,919
59,482
57,412
Pennsylvania
35,266
43,024
46,261
Rhode Islanda
1,902
2,367
2,418
Vermonta
1,269
1,517
1,541
Midwest
221,902
243,615
243,822
Illinois
42,432
42,391
42,753
Indiana
18,364
24,819
25,808
Iowab,c
7,363
8,015
8,017
Kansas
7,840
8,071
7,970
Michigan
45,587
48,153
46,781
Minnesota
5,870
8,866
8,778
Missouri
25,531
27,326
27,729
Nebraska
3,560
3,963
4,048
North Dakota
940
1,269
1,292
Ohio
43,025
46,909
47,773
South Dakota
2,413
2,937
2,979
Wisconsin
18,977
20,896
19,894
South
503,025
571,128
573,111
Alabama
24,244
26,575
27,567
Arkansas
11,084
13,244
13,606
Delawarea
3,692
3,989
3,862
District of Columbia
4,924
~
~
Florida
67,213
91,365
95,237
Georgiac
41,390
50,687
49,014
Kentucky
13,858
19,500
18,906
Louisiana
32,988
34,890
35,324
Maryland
21,429
21,640
21,777
Mississippi
17,709
19,667
19,855
North Carolina
25,654
31,115
32,218
Oklahoma
20,787
21,786
21,761
South Carolina
19,716
21,858
21,995
Tennessee
20,797
24,344
25,099
Texas
146,374
149,995
146,262
Virginia
27,658
35,055
35,249
West Virginia
3,508
5,418
5,379

Percent change,
Average annual
change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
2.0 %
0.5 %
5.3
1.8
1.6
0.4
0.1 %
0.4 %
1.3
-0.8
2.2
1.4
0.3
3.0
3.6
-2.3
-1.4
-3.0
-1.7
-3.5
2.9
7.5
3.2
2.2
2.6
1.6
1.3 %
0.1 %
0.0
0.9
4.4
4.0
1.2
0.0
0.4
-1.3
0.8
-2.8
6.1
-1.0
1.0
1.5
1.5
2.1
4.4
1.8
1.2
1.8
2.8
1.4
1.4
-4.8
1.8 %
0.3 %
1.3
3.7
2.6
2.7
1.1
-3.2
:
:
4.5
4.2
2.9
-3.3
5.0
-3.0
0.8
1.2
0.1
0.6
1.5
1.0
2.8
3.5
0.7
-0.1
1.5
0.6
2.3
3.1
0.3
-2.5
3.4
0.6
6.4
-0.7

December 2009

25

Appendix Table 7. (cont.)
Sentenced male prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal
correctional authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaskaa
Arizonac
California
Coloradob
Hawaiia
Idaho
Montana
Nevadad
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Number of sentenced male prisoners
12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008
245,845
285,255
287,092
2,031
2,800
2,704
23,623
32,377
33,874
149,815
161,551
161,220
15,500
20,506
20,980
3,175
3,863
3,829
5,042
6,519
6,532
2,799
3,133
3,218
9,217
12,068
11,761
4,322
5,686
5,747
9,959
12,860
13,026
5,180
5,805
5,803
13,658
16,249
16,522
1,524
1,838
1,876

Percent change,
Average annual
change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
2.1 %
0.6 %
4.7
-3.4
4.6
4.6
1.1
-0.2
4.1
2.3
2.8
-0.9
3.7
0.2
1.6
2.7
:
:
4.0
1.1
3.7
1.3
1.6
0.0
2.5
1.7
2.7
2.1

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year.
~Not applicable. After 2001, responsibility for sentenced felons from the District of Columbia was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
:Not calculated
a

Prisons and jails form one integrated system. Data include total jail and prison populations.

bIncludes some prisoners sentenced to 1 year or less.
cPrison population based on custody counts.
dIncludes estimates for Nevada for December 31, 2007. See

26

Prisoners in 2008

Methodology.

Appendix Table 8.
Number of sentenced female prisoners under the jurisdiction
of state or federal correctional authorities, December 31,
2000-2008
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Average annual
change, 2000-2007
Percent change,
2007-2008

Number of sentenced female prisoners Percent of all
Total
Federal
State
sentenced prisoners
85,044
8,397
76,647
6.4 %
85,184
8,990
76,194
6.3
89,066
9,308
79,758
6.5
92,571
9,770
82,801
6.6
95,998
10,207
85,791
6.7
98,688
10,495
88,193
6.7
103,343
11,116
92,227
6.9
105,786
11,528
94,258
6.9
105,252
11,578
93,674
6.8
3.2 %
-0.5

4.6 %
0.4

3.0 %
-0.6

:
:

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year.
:Not calculated.

December 2009

27

Appendix Table 9.
Sentenced female prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal
correctional authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008
Number of sentenced female prisoners Average annual Percent change,
Region and jurisdiction 12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008 change 2000-2007 2007-2008
U.S. total
85,044
105,786
105,252
3.2 %
-0.5 %
Federal
8,397
11,528
11,578
4.6
0.4
State
76,647
94,258
93,674
3.0
-0.6
Northeast
7,817
8,304
8,336
0.9 %
0.4 %
790
816
803
0.5
-1.6
Connecticuta
Maine
62
119
129
9.8
8.4
Massachusetts
229
434
442
9.6
1.8
New Hampshire
120
197
234
7.3
18.8
New Jerseyb
1,650
1,410
1,299
-2.2
-7.9
New York
3,280
2,692
2,547
-2.8
-5.4
Pennsylvania
1,578
2,422
2,701
6.3
11.5
Rhode Islanda
64
114
104
8.6
-8.8
Vermonta
44
100
77
12.4
-23.0
Midwest
14,556
17,776
17,575
2.9 %
-1.1 %
Illinois
2,849
2,824
2,721
-0.1
-3.6
Indiana
1,447
2,295
2,493
6.8
8.6
Iowab,c
592
717
749
2.8
4.5
Kansas
504
625
569
3.1
-9.0
Michigan
2,131
2,080
1,957
-0.3
-5.9
Minnesota
368
602
628
7.3
4.3
Missouri
1,988
2,518
2,446
3.4
-2.9
Nebraska
256
366
376
5.2
2.7
North Dakota
54
147
160
15.4
8.8
Ohio
2,808
3,822
3,913
4.5
2.4
South Dakota
200
369
354
9.1
-4.1
Wisconsin
1,359
1,411
1,209
0.5
-14.3
South
35,972
44,407
44,050
3.1 %
-0.8 %
Alabama
1,790
2,030
2,127
1.8
4.8
Arkansas
767
1,066
1,054
4.8
-1.1
Delawarea
245
212
205
-2.0
-3.3
District of Columbia
84
~
~
:
:
Florida
4,105
6,854
7,151
7.6
4.3
Georgiac
2,751
3,545
3,691
3.7
4.1
Kentucky
1,061
2,323
2,153
11.8
-7.3
Louisiana
2,219
2,451
2,480
1.4
1.2
Maryland
1,061
1,140
972
1.0
-14.7
Mississippi
1,530
1,835
1,843
2.6
0.4
North Carolina
1,389
1,901
2,011
4.6
5.8
Oklahoma
2,394
2,411
2,449
0.1
1.6
South Carolina
1,301
1,456
1,461
1.6
0.3
Tennessee
1,369
1,923
2,129
5.0
10.7
Texas
11,634
11,700
10,717
0.1
-8.4
Virginia
1,985
2,929
2,967
5.7
1.3
West Virginia
287
631
640
11.9
1.4

28

Prisoners in 2008

Appendix Table 9. (cont.)
Sentenced female prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal
correctional authorities, by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2006-2008
Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaskaa
Arizonac
California
Colorado
Hawaiia
Idaho
Montana
Nevadad
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Number of sentenced female prisoners
12/31/2000 12/31/2007 12/31/2008
18,302
23,771
23,713
97
272
262
1,789
3,113
3,314
10,597
11,305
11,363
1,333
2,335
2,294
378
504
475
493
800
758
306
298
361
846
1,177
982
344
539
568
594
1,058
1,105
361
616
619
1,008
1,508
1,404
156
246
208

Average annual Percent change,
change 2000-2007 2007-2008
3.8 %
-0.2 %
15.9
-3.7
8.2
6.5
0.9
0.5
8.3
-1.8
4.2
-5.8
7.2
-5.3
-0.4
21.1
:
:
6.6
5.4
8.6
4.4
7.9
0.5
5.9
-6.9
6.7
-15.4

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year.
~Not applicable. After 2001the responsibility for sentenced felons from the District of Columbia was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
:Not calculated
aPrisons and jails form one integrated system. Data include total jail and prison populations.
b

Includes some prisoners sentenced to 1 year or less.

cPrison population based on custody counts.
d

Includes estimates for Nevada for December 31, 2007. See Methodology.

December 2009

29

Appendix Table 10.
Imprisonment rates of sentenced prisoners under jurisdiction
of state and federal correctional authorities, by gender
and jurisdiction, December 31, 2007 and 2008
Imprisonment rate
Region and jurisdiction
U.S. total
Federal
State
Northeast
Connecticuta
Maine
Massachusettsb
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Islanda
Vermonta
Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowac
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delawarea
Florida
Georgiac
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

30

Prisoners in 2008

Total
506
59
447
306
410
148
249
222
308
322
365
235
260
393
350
426
291
312
499
181
506
243
221
442
413
397
556
615
502
482
535
563
512
865
404
734
361
665
524
424
669
490
333

2007
Male
955
112
844
598
794
284
499
420
597
635
710
463
495
743
668
791
542
584
971
341
948
449
394
838
736
748
1,050
1,180
949
945
1,013
1,069
934
1,664
793
1,385
696
1,211
1,009
804
1,244
921
610

Female
69
8
61
30
45
18
13
29
32
27
38
21
32
52
42
71
47
44
41
23
83
41
46
65
92
50
79
85
73
47
73
72
107
111
39
121
41
131
64
61
97
74
68

Total
504
60
445
306
407
151
218
220
298
307
393
240
260
392
351
442
291
303
488
179
509
247
225
449
412
374
552
634
511
463
557
540
492
853
403
735
368
661
519
436
639
489
331

2008
Male
952
113
840
597
787
289
434
410
578
605
762
475
504
741
669
818
538
570
951
336
957
455
400
851
738
709
1,043
1,215
969
906
1,054
1,021
902
1,642
796
1,389
707
1,203
1,000
824
1,191
918
604

Female
68
7
61
30
45
19
13
35
29
25
42
19
24
52
41
77
49
40
39
24
81
42
50
66
87
43
77
88
72
45
76
74
98
109
33
121
42
132
63
66
87
75
69

Appendix Table 10. (cont.)
Imprisonment rates of sentenced prisoners under jurisdiction
of state and federal correctional authorities, by gender and
jurisdiction, December 31, 2007 and 2008
Imprisonment rate
Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaskaa
Arizonac
California
Colorado
Hawaiia
Idaho
Montana
Nevadab
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Total
438
447
554
471
465
338
483
356
:
313
369
239
273
394

2007
Male
807
785
1,009
880
829
594
854
649
:
580
686
428
500
686

Female
67
82
97
62
96
79
106
62
:
54
56
46
46
95

Total
436
430
567
467
467
332
474
368
486
316
371
232
272
387

2008
Male
803
752
1,031
872
834
585
844
660
880
583
688
415
501
687

Female
67
79
101
62
93
74
99
74
76
56
58
45
43
79

Note: Imprisonment rate is the number of prisoners sentenced to more than 1
year per 100,000 U.S. residents.
aPrisons and jails form one integrated system. Data include total jail and prison

populations.
b

The 2008 imprisonment rate includes 4,012 male prisoners sentenced to more than 1
year but held in local jails or houses of corrections in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The 2007 imprisonment rate includes 6,200 sentenced males held in local
jails or houses of corrections in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and an estimated number of sentenced prisoners in Nevada. See Methodology.

c

Prison population based on custody counts.

December 2009

31

Appendix Table 11.
Number of sentenced prisoners admitted to and released from state or federal jurisdiction,
by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008

Region and jurisdiction
U.S. total
Federal
State
Northeast
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

32

Prisoners in 2008

2000
625,219
43,732
581,487
67,765
6,185
751
2,062
1,051
13,653
27,601
11,777
3,701
984
117,776
29,344
11,876
4,656
5,002
12,169
4,406
14,454
1,688
605
23,780
1,400
8,396
217,950
6,296
6,941
2,709
35,683
17,373
8,116
15,735
10,327
5,796
9,848
7,426
8,460
13,675
58,197
9,791
1,577

2007
742,875
53,618
689,257
73,283
6,982
1,111
2,670
1,290
13,791
26,291
17,666
1,120
2,362
148,972
35,968
17,232
5,706
4,849
13,330
7,856
18,300
2,076
1,028
30,808
3,227
8,592
258,223
10,708
6,651
1,899
33,552
21,134
15,359
14,548
10,716
9,749
10,834
8,795
9,912
14,535
72,525
13,973
3,333

Admissions
Average annual Percent
change,
change,
2008 2000-2007
2007-2008
739,132
2.5 %
-0.5 %
53,662
3.0
0.1
685,470
2.5
-0.5
70,665
1.1 %
-3.6 %
6,503
1.7
-6.9
756
5.8
-32.0
2,988
3.8
11.9
1,464
3.0
13.5
12,984
0.1
-5.9
25,302
-0.7
-3.8
17,493
6.0
-1.0
1,090
:
-2.7
2,273
:
-3.8
146,194
3.4 %
-1.9 %
36,125
3.0
0.4
18,363
5.5
6.6
5,592
2.9
-2.0
4,506
-0.4
-7.1
12,101
1.3
-9.2
7,555
8.6
-3.8
18,611
3.4
1.7
2,059
3.0
-0.8
1,085
7.9
5.5
29,510
3.8
-4.2
3,116
12.7
-3.4
7,571
0.3
-11.9
260,626
2.5 %
0.9 %
11,037
7.9
3.1
7,017
-0.6
5.5
1,494
-4.9
-21.3
40,860
-0.9
21.8
18,625
2.8
-11.9
14,273
9.5
-7.1
15,854
-1.1
9.0
10,396
0.5
-3.0
7,908
7.7
-18.9
11,825
1.4
9.1
7,935
2.4
-9.8
9,650
2.3
-2.6
14,196
0.9
-2.3
72,804
3.2
0.4
13,625
5.2
-2.5
3,127
11.3
-6.2

2000
604,858
35,259
569,599
70,646
5,918
677
2,889
1,044
15,362
28,828
11,759
3,223
946
114,382
28,876
11,053
4,379
5,231
10,874
4,244
13,346
1,503
598
24,793
1,327
8,158
210,777
7,136
6,308
2,260
33,994
14,797
7,733
14,536
10,004
4,940
9,687
6,628
8,676
13,893
59,776
9,148
1,261

2007
721,161
48,764
672,397
71,509
6,056
1,090
2,248
1,179
14,358
27,009
16,340
884
2,345
149,826
35,737
17,099
5,718
4,966
14,685
7,971
19,323
1,952
977
29,236
3,259
8,903
245,998
11,079
6,045
1,905
28,705
18,774
13,819
14,984
10,123
8,455
10,074
8,486
9,461
15,537
73,023
12,559
2,969

Releases
Average annual Percent
change,
change,
2008 2000-2007
2007-2008
735,454
2.5 %
2.0 %
52,348
4.7
7.3
683,106
2.4
1.6
71,413
0.2 %
-0.1 %
6,404
0.3
5.7
720
7.0
-33.9
2,667
-3.5
18.6
1,507
1.8
27.8
13,885
-1.0
-3.3
27,482
-0.9
1.8
15,618
4.8
-4.4
1,086
:
22.9
2,241
:
-4.4
148,780
3.9 %
-0.7 %
35,780
3.1
0.1
18,308
6.4
7.1
5,557
3.9
-2.8
4,655
-0.7
-6.3
13,621
4.4
-7.2
7,936
9.4
-0.4
18,864
5.4
-2.4
1,963
3.8
0.6
1,051
7.3
7.6
28,552
2.4
-2.3
3,102
13.7
-4.8
9,391
1.3
5.5
257,065
2.2 %
4.5 %
11,556
6.5
4.3
6,610
-0.6
9.3
1,617
-2.4
-15.1
37,277
-2.4
29.9
19,463
3.5
3.7
15,413
8.6
11.5
14,991
0.4
0.0
10,383
0.2
2.6
7,817
8.0
-7.5
10,615
0.6
5.4
7,915
3.6
-6.7
9,506
1.2
0.5
15,414
1.6
-0.8
72,168
2.9
-1.2
13,194
4.6
5.1
3,126
13.0
5.3

Appendix Table 11. (cont.)
Number of sentenced prisoners admitted to and released from state or federal jurisdiction,
by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2007 and 2008

Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada*
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

2000
177,996
2,427
9,560
129,640
7,036
1,594
3,386
1,202
4,929
3,161
4,059
3,270
7,094
638

2007
208,779
3,272
14,046
139,608
10,959
1,514
4,055
2,055
6,375
4,146
5,331
3,466
16,478
746

Admissions
Average annual Percent
change,
change,
2008
2000-2007
2007-2008
207,985
2.3 %
-0.4 %
3,635
4.4
11.1
14,867
5.7
5.8
140,827
1.1
0.9
11,089
6.5
1.2
1,731
-0.7
14.3
3,867
2.6
-4.6
2,264
8.0
10.2
4,610
:
:
4,092
4.0
-1.3
5,395
4.0
1.2
3,394
0.8
-2.1
15,070
12.8
-8.5
779
2.3
4.4

2000
173,794
2,599
9,100
129,621
5,881
1,379
2,697
1,031
4,374
3,383
3,371
2,897
6,764
697

2007
205,064
3,286
12,560
135,920
10,604
1,518
3,850
2,176
4,904
4,507
5,080
3,393
16,488
778

Releases
Average annual Percent
change,
change,
2008 2000-2007
2007-2008
205,848
2.4 %
0.4 %
3,741
3.4
13.8
13,192
4.7
5.0
136,925
0.7
0.7
10,616
8.8
0.1
1,795
1.4
18.2
3,891
5.2
1.1
2,117
11.3
-2.7
5,278
:
:
4,013
4.2
-11.0
5,055
6.0
-0.5
3,400
2.3
0.2
15,061
13.6
-8.7
764
1.6
-1.8

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. Totals exclude escapees, AWOLS, and transfers to and from other jurisdictions.
See Methodology.
:Not calculated.
*Includes estimates for Nevada for December 31 2007.

December 2009

33

Appendix Table 12.
Number of sentenced prisoners admitted and released from state or federal
jurisdiction, by type, December 31, 2008

Region and jurisdiction
U.S. total
Federal
State
Northeast
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshirea
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

34

Prisoners in 2008

Total
739,132
53,662
685,470
70,665
6,503
756
2,988
1,464
12,984
25,302
17,493
1,090
2,273
146,194
36,125
18,363
5,592
4,506
12,101
7,555
18,611
2,059
1,085
29,510
3,116
7,571
260,626
11,037
7,017
1,494
40,860
18,625
14,273
15,854
10,396
7,908
11,825
7,935
9,650
14,196
72,804
13,625
3,127

Admissions
New court
commitments
478,100
49,270
428,830
46,338
5,335
379
2,678
/
9,715
15,178
10,564
929
799
97,395
24,266
11,165
3,073
3,142
7,677
4,919
9,952
1,789
733
24,881
1,185
4,613
193,964
9,627
5,286
1,175
39,997
10,731
10,624
10,587
6,520
6,858
11,377
5,530
6,483
8,425
46,285
13,001
1,458

Parole
violators
252,707
4,390
248,317
22,726
1,077
377
310
/
3,201
10,027
6,099
161
1,474
45,649
11,789
6,977
1,285
1,341
3,927
2,624
8,646
270
350
4,606
888
2,946
63,708
1,393
1,691
291
116
7,854
3,649
4,960
3,875
1,040
419
2,319
2,990
5,771
25,450
624
1,266

Total
735,454
52,348
683,106
71,413
6,404
720
2,667
1,507
13,885
27,482
15,618
1,086
2,241
148,780
35,780
18,308
5,557
4,655
13,621
7,936
18,864
1,963
1,051
28,552
3,102
9,391
257,065
11,556
6,610
1,617
37,277
19,463
15,413
14,991
10,383
7,817
10,615
7,915
9,506
15,414
72,168
13,194
3,126

Releases
Conditional Uncondireleases
tional releases
506,393
216,276
1,225
50,708
505,168
165,568
51,129
18,376
2,972
3,403
365
355
903
1,735
/
/
9,068
4,612
23,856
3,314
10,396
3,923
514
567
2,012
227
117,825
28,858
31,370
4,333
17,778
462
2,880
1,410
3,380
1,246
11,557
1,714
6,672
1,247
16,618
2,152
908
1,042
810
233
14,321
14,107
2,744
349
8,787
563
148,530
103,046
7,280
4,083
6,254
311
1,212
266
12,678
24,303
1,893
17,402
8,760
6,575
13,709
1,109
9,429
872
5,160
1,771
3,061
7,388
4,353
3,372
4,926
4,348
10,129
5,222
56,343
13,671
1,689
11,312
1,654
1,041

Appendix Table 12. (cont.)
Number of sentenced prisoners admitted and released from state or federal
jurisdiction, by type, December 31, 2008

Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaskaa
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevadab
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Total
207,985
3,635
14,867
140,827
11,089
1,731
3,867
2,264
4,610
4,092
5,395
3,394
15,070
779

Admissions
New court
Parole
commitments violators
91,133
116,234
/
/
12,436
2,377
46,380
94,447
6,355
4,720
823
908
3,584
283
1,920
344
3,184
1,426
2,392
1,395
3,703
1,456
1,777
1,617
7,918
7,144
661
117

Total
205,848
3,741
13,192
136,925
10,616
1,795
3,891
2,117
5,278
4,013
5,055
3,400
15,061
764

Releases
Conditional Uncondireleases
tional releases
187,684
15,288
1,709
1,811
10,131
2,181
134,974
1,759
9,021
1,240
658
316
3,370
500
1,816
284
2,886
2,354
2,603
1,392
4,796
18
2,422
966
12,879
2,133
419
334

Note: Totals are based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. Totals exclude transfers, escapes, and
AWOLS.
/Not reported.
a

New reporting systems prevent the disaggregation of admission and/or release type.

bIncludes estimates for Nevada for December 31 2007.

December 2009

35

Appendix Table 13.
Estimated number of sentenced prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction, by gender,
race, Hispanic origin, and age, December 31, 2008
Totala
1,434,800
23,800
208,400
246,400
238,100
226,700
202,500
136,300
75,800
39,100
19,200
15,800

Age
Totalc
18-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65 or older

Whiteb
477,500
6,500
59,400
66,000
70,700
75,200
75,500
53,100
31,600
19,000
10,700
9,300

Male
Blackb
562,800
10,400
85,000
102,800
96,800
90,500
77,400
51,300
27,000
11,900
4,700
3,700

Hispanic
295,800
4,900
48,400
60,000
54,400
45,900
35,600
22,600
12,300
6,200
3,000
2,200

Totala
105,300
1,000
11,500
16,000
18,500
20,800
17,900
10,700
5,000
2,100
1,000
600

Female
Whiteb
Blackb
50,700
29,100
400
300
5,400
3,000
7,300
4,400
8,900
5,000
9,900
5,900
8,700
5,100
5,200
3,100
2,500
1,400
1,300
500
600
200
400
100

Hispanic
17,300
200
2,300
3,100
3,200
3,200
2,600
1,500
700
300
200
100

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. See Methodology for estimation method.
aIncludes American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and persons identifying

two or more races.
b
c

Excludes persons of Hispanic or Latino origin.

Includes persons under age 18.

Appendix Table 14.
Estimated rate of sentenced prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction
per 100,000 U.S. residents, by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and age,
December 31, 2008
Age
Totalc
18-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65 or older

Totala
952
528
1,916
2,238
2,366
2,159
1,903
1,202
713
429
259
95

Male
Whiteb
Blackb
487
3,161
238
1,532
893
5,553
1,017
7,130
1,217
8,032
1,171
7,392
1,090
6,282
671
4,056
407
2,385
276
1,325
184
738
69
294

Hispanic
1,200
614
2,474
2,612
2,411
2,263
2,032
1,523
1,085
739
502
186

Totala
68
23
112
153
190
201
169
93
45
22
12
3

Female
Whiteb Blackb
50
149
16
44
86
202
115
301
155
380
156
434
127
364
65
211
31
106
18
44
9
25
2
6

Hispanic
75
25
131
167
174
183
170
106
61
30
23
4

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. Rates are per 100,000 U.S. residents in each reference population group. See Methodology for estimation method.
aIncludes American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and

persons identifying two or more races.
bExcludes persons of Hispanic or Latino origin.
c

Includes persons under age 18.

36

Prisoners in 2008

Appendix Table 15.
Estimated number of sentenced prisoners under state jurisdiction, by offense,
gender, race, and Hispanic origin, yearend 2006
Offense
Total
Violent
Murderb
Manslaughter
Rape
Other sexual assault
Robbery
Assault
Other violent
Property
Burglary
Larceny
Motor vehicle theft
Fraud
Other property
Drug offenses
Public-order offensesc
Other/unspecifiedd

All inmates
1,331,100
667,900
144,500
16,700
54,800
105,500
179,500
136,600
30,300
277,900
138,000
51,600
27,100
34,400
26,800
265,800
112,300
7,200

Male
1,238,900
638,100
135,700
14,900
54,400
104,100
172,400
128,800
27,800
251,200
132,300
43,800
25,500
25,000
24,700
240,500
106,100
2,900

Female
92,200
29,800
8,800
1,800
400
1,400
7,100
7,900
2,400
26,700
5,700
7,800
1,600
9,400
2,100
25,400
6,200
4,300

Whitea
474,200
217,100
34,700
6,900
26,600
56,800
37,500
42,800
11,800
135,300
68,700
23,300
10,900
19,200
13,300
72,100
48,200
1,400

Blacka
508,700
256,400
61,400
6,100
16,900
20,600
91,500
49,800
10,100
96,000
53,600
17,600
7,100
10,000
7,600
117,600
35,400
3,300

Hispanic
248,900
145,300
36,800
2,400
7,400
23,900
33,900
34,700
6,100
25,000
2,800
7,200
7,900
2,900
4,200
55,700
21,000
1,900

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. Detail may not add to total due to rounding.
See Methodology for estimation method.
a

Excludes Hispanics and persons identifying two or more races.

bIncludes negligent manslaughter.
cIncludes weapons, drunk driving, court offenses, commercialized vice, morals and decency offenses, liquor law

violations, and other public-order offenses.
d

Includes juvenile offenses and other unspecified offense categories.

Appendix Table 16.
Estimated percent of sentenced prisoners under state jurisdiction,
by offense, gender, race, and Hispanic origin, yearend 2006
Offense
Total
Violent
Murderb
Manslaughter
Rape
Other sexual assault
Robbery
Assault
Other violent
Property
Burglary
Larceny
Motor vehicle theft
Fraud
Other property
Drug offenses
Public-order offensesc
Other/unspecifiedd

All inmates
100.0%
50.2%
10.9
1.3
4.1
7.9
13.5
10.3
2.3
20.9%
10.4
3.9
2.0
2.6
2.0
20.0%
8.4%
0.5%

Male
100.0%
51.5%
11.0
1.2
4.4
8.4
13.9
10.4
2.2
20.3%
10.7
3.5
2.1
2.0
2.0
19.4%
8.6%
0.2%

Female
100.0%
32.3%
9.5
2.0
0.5
1.5
7.7
8.5
2.6
28.9%
6.2
8.5
1.8
10.2
2.3
27.5%
6.7%
4.6%

Whitea
100.0%
45.8%
7.3
1.5
5.6
12.0
7.9
9.0
2.5
28.5%
14.5
4.9
2.3
4.0
2.8
15.2%
10.2%
0.3%

Blacka
100.0%
50.4%
12.1
1.2
3.3
4.1
18.0
9.8
2.0
18.9%
10.5
3.5
1.4
2.0
1.5
23.1%
7.0%
0.6%

Hispanic
100.0%
58.4%
14.8
1.0
3.0
9.6
13.6
13.9
2.5
10.0%
1.1
2.9
3.2
1.2
1.7
22.4%
8.4%
0.8%

Note: Totals based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. Detail may not add to total due to rounding. See
Methodology for estimation method.
a

Excludes Hispanics and persons identifying two or more races.

b

Includes negligent manslaughter.

c

Includes weapons, drunk driving, court offenses, commercialized vice, morals and decency offenses, liquor law
violations, and other public-order offenses.

d

Includes juvenile offenses and other unspecified offense categories.

December 2009

37

Appendix Table 17.
Number of sentenced prisoners in federal prison, by most serious offense, 2000,
2007 and 2008
Offense
Total
Violent offenses
Homicidea
Robbery
Other violent
Property offenses
Burglary
Fraud
Other property
Drug offenses
Public-order offenses
Immigration
Weapons
Other
Other/unspecifiedb

2000
131,739
13,740
1,363
9,712
2,665
10,135
462
7,506
2,167
74,276
32,325
13,676
10,822
7,827
1,263

2007
179,204
15,647
2,915
8,966
3,767
10,345
504
7,834
2,006
95,446
56,273
19,528
25,435
11,311
1,492

2008
182,333
15,483
2,949
8,718
3,817
11,080
475
7,728
2,876
95,079
59,298
19,678
26,942
12,678
1,394

Average annual
Percent change,
change, 2000-2007 2007-2008
4.5 %
1.7 %
1.9 %
-1.0 %
11.5
1.2
-1.1
-2.8
5.1
1.3
0.3 %
7.1 %
1.3
-5.7
0.6
-1.3
-1.1
43.4
3.6 %
-0.4 %
8.2 %
5.4 %
5.2
0.8
13
5.9
5.4
12.1
2.4 %
-6.6 %

Note: Based on prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year. All data are for September 30 from the BJS Federal
Justice Statistics Program.
aIncludes murder, negligent and non-negligent manslaughter.
bIncludes offenses not classified.

Appendix Table 18.
Number of state or federal prisoners in private facilities,
December 31, 2000-2008
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Average annual change,
2000-2007
Percent change, 2007-2008
:Not calculated.

38

Prisoners in 2008

Number of prisoners
Total
Federal
87,369
15,524
91,828
19,251
93,912
20,274
95,707
21,865
98,628
24,768
107,940
27,046
113,697
27,726
123,942
31,310
128,524
33,162
5.1 %
3.7

10.5 %
5.9

State
71,845
72,577
73,638
73,842
73,860
80,894
85,971
92,632
95,362
3.7 %
2.9

Percent of all
prisoners
6.3 %
5.8
6.5
6.5
6.6
7.1
7.2
7.8
8.0 %
:
:

Appendix Table 19.
Number of state and federal prisoners in private facilities, by jurisdiction,
December 31, 2000, 2006-2008
Region and jurisdiction
U.S. total
Federala
State
Northeast
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jerseyb
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermontb
Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

Number of prisoners
12/31/2000
12/31/2007
12/31/2008
87,369
123,942
128,524
15,524
31,310
33,162
71,845
92,632
95,362
2,509
4,268
4,186
0
0
0
11
42
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2,498
2,686
2,641
0
0
0
0
1,022
819
0
0
0
0
518
726
7,836
5,048
5,415
0
/
/
991
1,683
2,642
0
0
0
0
0
0
449
0
0
0
1,183
612
0
0
0
0
0
0
96
0
0
1,918
2,138
2,133
45
21
15
4,337
23
13
45,560
56,117
57,888
0
355
101
1,540
0
0
0
0
0
2,342
~
~
3,912
8,769
9,158
3,746
4,974
5,138
1,268
2,404
2,209
3,068
3,004
2,928
127
151
186
3,230
4,794
5,497
330
213
217
6,931
5,917
5,711
0
9
12
3,510
5,121
5,155
13,985
18,871
20,041
1,571
1,535
1,535
0
0
0

Percent of all prisoners
12/31/2008
8.0 %
16.5
6.8
2.3 %
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.2
0.0
1.6
0.0
34.3
2.1 %
:
9.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
4.1
0.4
0.1
8.9 %
0.3
0
0.0
:
8.9
9.7
10.2
7.6
0.8
24.2
0.5
22.1
0.0
18.9
11.6
4.0
0.0

December 2009

39

Appendix Table 19. (cont.)
Number of state and federal prisoners in private facilities,
by jurisdiction, December 31, 2000, 2006-2008
Region and jurisdiction
Westa
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevadaa
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washingtonc
Wyoming

Number of prisoners
12/31/2000 12/31/2007
12/31/2008
15,940
27,199
27,873
1,383
1,524
1,450
1,430
7,790
8,369
4,547
3,032
3,019
/
4,878
5,274
1,187
2,129
2,108
1,162
1,969
2,114
986
1,324
1,314
508
0
0
2,155
2,720
2,935
0
0
0
208
0
0
0
1,203
863
275
630
427

Percent of all prisoners
12/31/2008
8.8 %
28.9
21.1
1.7
22.7
35.4
29.0
36.4
0.0
45.8
0.0
0.0
4.8
20.5

:Not calculated.
/Not reported.
~Not applicable. After 2001, responsibility for sentenced felons from the District of Columbia was
transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
a

Includes federal prisoners held in non-secure, privately operated facilities (8,644 at yearend 2008;
numbers from other years can be found in earlier publications).

b

Includes prisoners held in out-of-state private facilities.

cIncludes estimates for Nevada for December 31, 2007. See Methodology.

Appendix Table 20.
Number of state or federal prisoners in local facilities, December 31,
2000-2008
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Average annual change,
2000-2007
Percent change, 2007-2008
:Not calculated

40

Prisoners in 2008

Total
63,140
70,681
72,550
73,440
74,445
73,164
77,912
80,621
83,093

Number of prisoners
Federal
2,438
2,921
3,377
3,278
1,199
1,044
2,010
2,144
2,738

3.6 %
3.1

-1.8 %
27.7

State
60,702
67,760
69,173
70,162
73,246
72,120
75,902
78,477
80,355
3.7 %
2.4

Percent of all prisoners
4.5 %
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.8
5.0
5.0
5.2
:
:

Appendix Table 21.
Number of state and federal prisoners in local jail facilities, by jurisdiction,
December 31, 2000, 2006-2008
Region and jurisdiction
U.S. total
Federal
State
Northeast
Connecticuta
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Islanda
Vermonta
Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delawarea
District of Columbiab
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

Number of prisoners held in local jails
12/31/2000 12/31/2007
12/31/2008
63,140
80,621
83,093
2,438
2,144
2,738
60,702
78,477
80,355
3,823
1,686
1,454
~
~
~
24
9
90
457
136
185
14
52
46
3,225
1,468
1,122
45
21
11
58
0
0
~
~
~
~
~
~
2,103
3,381
3,567
0
0
0
1,187
2,002
1,930
0
0
0
0
0
0
286
43
28
149
518
550
0
0
0
0
0
0
38
48
71
0
0
0
16
55
58
427
715
930
49,455
67,071
69,445
3,401
1,596
1,790
728
1,007
1,541
~
~
~
1,329
~
~
0
1,147
1,144
3,888
4,919
4,690
3,850
7,912
7,363
15,599
17,079
17,524
118
151
141
3,700
4,952
4,858
0
0
0
970
1,892
2,148
433
377
361
5,204
7,019
7,860
6,477
12,774
12,805
2,962
5,097
6,057
796
1,149
1,163

Percent of all prisoners
12/31/2008
5.2 %
1.4
5.7
0.8 %
:
4.1
1.6
1.6
4.3
0.0
0.0
:
:
1.4 %
0.0
6.8
0.0
0.0
0.1
5.8
0.0
0.0
4.9
0.0
1.7
4.0
10.7 %
5.9
10.5
:
:
1.1
8.9
33.9
45.7
0.6
21.4
0.0
8.3
1.5
28.9
7.4
15.8
19.2

December 2009

41

Appendix Table 21. (cont.)
Number of state and federal prisoners in local jail facilities, by jurisdiction,
December 31, 2000, 2006-2008
Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaskaa
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaiib
Idaho
Montana
Nevadac
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Number of prisoners held in local jails
12/31/2000 12/31/2007
12/31/2008
5,321
6,339
5,889
~
~
~
237
46
47
2,758
3,023
2,736
2,178
175
63
~
~
~
450
575
365
548
522
642
175
155
199
0
116
0
7
23
20
1,050
1,286
1,341
0
362
430
17
56
46

Percent of all prisoners
12/31/2008
1.9 %
:
0.1
1.6
0.3
:
5.0
17.8
1.6
0.0
0.1
20.5
2.4
2.2

~Not applicable.
/Not reported.
:Not calculated.
aPrisons and jails form one integrated system.
b

After 2001, responsibility for sentenced felons from the District of Columbia was transferred to the
Federal Bureau of Prisons.

c

42

Includes estimates for Nevada for December 31, 2007. See Methodology.

Prisoners in 2008

Appendix Table 22.
Prisoners in custody of correctional authorities in the U.S. territories
and commonwealths, yearend 2007 and 2008
Total
Jurisdiction
Totalb
American Samoa
Guamb
Commonwealth of the Northern
Marina Islands
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands

2007
14,678
236
535

2008
13,576
132
578

Percent change,
2007-2008
-7.5 %
-44.1
8.1

137
13,215
555

124
12,130
612

-9.5
-8.2
10.3

2007
11,465
122
320
78
10,553
392

Sentenced to more than 1 year
Percent change, Incarceration
2008 2007-2008
rate, 2008a
10,346
-9.8 %
237
48
-60.7
74
304
-5.0
173
78
9,642
274

0.0
-8.6
-30.1

141
244
249

a

The number of prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year per 100,000 persons in the resident population. July 1, 2008 population
estimates were provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, International Data Base.

b

Includes estimates for 2008. Data not available for Guam at time of publication. See Methodology.

Appendix Table 23.
Prisoners under military jurisdiction, by branch of service, yearend 2007 and 2008
Total
Branch of service
Total
To which prisoners belong
Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Navy
Coast Guard
Holding prisoners
Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Navy

Percent change,
2007-2008
-8.0 %

Sentenced to more than 1 year
Percent change,
2007
2008
2007-2008
1,089
1,005
-7.7 %

2007
1,794

2008
1,651

280
829
396
268
21

281
701
427
231
11

0.4
-15.4
7.8
-13.8
-47.6

185
555
164
173
12

178
477
180
163
7

-3.8
-14.1
9.8
-5.8
-41.7

61
912
338
483

61
746
351
493

0.0
-18.2
3.8
2.1

9
721
97
262

9
602
103
291

0.0
-16.5
6.2
11.1

December 2009

43

Appendix Table 24.
Reported state and federal prison capacities, December 31, 2008
Region and jurisdiction
Federal
Northeast
Connecticutb
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsinc
South
Alabamad
Arkansas
Delaware
Floridad
Georgiae
Kentucky
Louisianae
Maryland
Mississippie
North Carolinad
Oklahomae
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texasc
Virginia
West Virginia

44

Prisoners in 2008

Type of capacity measure
Rated
Operational Design
122,479
...
...

Custody population as a percent of—
Highest capacitya
Lowest capacitya
135 %
135 %

...
1,885
...
2,145
...
59,830
43,298
4,004
1,732

...
1,885
...
2,904
23,022
60,978
43,298
4,004
1,470

...
1,885
7,959
2,145
16,876
57,403
43,298
4,265
1,371

...
109 %
140
98
96
99
101
88
80

...
109 %
140
133
132
105
101
93
101

34,300
...
...
9,317
...
...
...
...
1,044
38,320
...
...

34,300
27,084
...
...
50,462
8,361
31,296
3,969
991
...
3,451
...

30,391
...
13,680
...
...
...
...
3,175
1,044
...
...
17,773

133 %
88
64
92
97
101
96
113
132
127
97
125

150 %
88
64
92
97
101
96
141
139
127
97
125

...
13,163
5,648
...
...
13,708
20,857
...
...
39,529
25,312
...
20,408
160,371
33,250
4,135

25,686
13,812
5,250
102,625
56,305
13,708
20,769
23,638
24,019
40,014
25,312
24,126
19,949
160,371
...
5,017

13,403
13,163
4,161
...
...
14,043
...
...
24,019
34,364
25,312
...
...
164,388
33,250
4,135

98 %
95
123
88
103
93
114
97
75
100
94
98
70
85
93
98

188 %
100
167
88
103
95
115
97
75
116
94
98
71
87
93
118

Appendix Table 24. (cont.)
Reported state and federal prison capacities, December 31, 2008
Region and jurisdiction
West
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idahoe
Montanac
Nevada
New Mexicoe
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Type of capacity measure
Rated
Operational
Design
3,058
35,286
...
...
...
6,534
...
11,894
...
...
...
13,777
1,713

3,206
39,292
161,530
14,946
3,487
6,207
1,739
10,891
7,024
14,353
6,650
15,502
1,603

Custody population as a percent of—
Highest capacitya Lowest capacitya

...
37,328
84,066
13,055
2,451
6,534
...
14,980
6,458
14,353
6,886
15,502
1,598

111 %
79
106
120
96
108
93
86
48
94
75
111
75

116 %
88
204
137
137
113
93
118
52
94
77
125
80

...Data not available.
aPopulation counts are based on the number of inmates held in facilities operated by the jurisdiction. Excludes

inmates held in local jails, in other states, or in private facilities.
b
c

Connecticut no longer reports capacity because of a law passed in 1995.

Excludes capacity of county facilities and inmates housed in them.

d

Capacity definition differs from BJS definition, see NPS jurisdiction notes.

eIncludes capacity of private and contract facilities and inmates housed in them.

December 2009

45

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics

*NCJ~228417*

PRESORTED STANDARD
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
DOJ/BJS
Permit No. G-91

Washington, DC 20531

Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300

This report in portable document format and in ASCII and
its related statistical data and tables are available at the BJS
World Wide Web Internet site: <http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/
index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=1763>.

Office of Justice Programs
Innovation • Partnerships • Safer Neighborhoods
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov

The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistics agency of the
U.S. Department of Justice. Michael D. Sinclair is acting
director.
BJS Bulletins present the first release of findings from
permanent data collection programs.
William J. Sabol, Ph.D., and Heather C. West, Ph.D., BJS
Statisticians, and Matthew Cooper, BJS Intern, wrote this
Bulletin. Todd Minton and Paige M. Harrison verified the
report.
Georgette Walsh and Jill Duncan edited the report, Tina
Dorsey produced the report, and Jayne Robinson prepared
the report for final printing under the supervision of Doris J.
James.
December 2009, NCJ 228417

46

Prisoners in 2008