U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Bulletin
October 2005, NCJ 210677

Prisoners in 2004
By Paige M. Harrison and
Allen J. Beck, Ph.D.
BJS Statisticians
The total number of prisoners under
the jurisdiction of Federal or State adult
correctional authorities was 1,496,629
at yearend 2004. During the year the
States added 20,759 prisoners and the
Federal prison system added 7,269
prisoners. Overall, the Nation=s prison
population grew 1.9%, which was less
than the average annual growth of
3.2% since yearend 1995.
The rate of incarceration in prison at
yearend 2004 was 486 sentenced
inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents C
up from 411 in 1995. About 1 in every
109 men and 1 in every 1,563 women
were sentenced prisoners under the
jurisdiction of State or Federal
authorities.
Overall, the United States incarcerated
2,267,787 persons at yearend 2004.
This total represents persons held in C
C Federal and State prisons
(1,421,911, which excludes State
and Federal prisoners in local jails)
C territorial prisons (15,757)
C local jails (713,990)
C facilities operated by or exclusively
for the Bureau of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (9,788)
C military facilities (2,177)
C jails in Indian country (1,826 as of
midyear 2003)
C juvenile facilities (102,338 as of
October 2002).

Highlights
The Nation’s prison population rose 1.9% in 2004
Prison
Number
population
of inmates
5 highest
Federal
180,328
Texas
168,105
California
166,556
Florida
85,533
New York
63,751
5 lowest
North Dakota
1,327
Vermont
1,968
Wyoming
1,980
Maine
2,024
New Hampshire
2,448

Incarceration
rate, 12/31/04

Inmates per
Growth, 12/31/03 Percent
100,000 residents* to 12/31/04
change

Louisiana
Texas
Mississippi
Oklahoma
Georgia

816
694
669
649
574

Minnesota
Idaho
Georgia
Nevada
Kentucky

11.4%
11.1
8.3
7.8
7.2

Maine
Minnesota
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
North Dakota

148
171
175
187
195

Alabama
Rhode Island
New York
Maryland
Kansas

-7.3%
-2.8
-2.2
-2.1
-1.8

*Prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year.

During 2004 C

On December 31, 2004 C

$ Ten States had increases of at least $ Local jails housed 74,378 State
5%, led by Minnesota (up 11.4%),
and Federal inmates (5.0% of all
Idaho (up 11.1%), and Georgia (up
prisoners).
8.3%).
$ State prisons were between 1%
$ Eleven States experienced prison
below capacity and 15% above;
population decreases, led by Alabama Federal prisons were operating at 40%
(down 7.3%), Rhode Island (down
above capacity.
2.8%), New York (down 2.2%), and
$ Women were 7.0% of all inmates,
Maryland (down 2.1%).
up from 6.1% in 1995.
$ The number of inmates under State
$ About half of male State prison
jurisdiction increased by 20,759
inmates
were serving time for a
inmates (1.6%). The number under
violent
crime,
compared to a third of
Federal jurisdiction increased 7,269
female
inmates.
Females were more
(4.2%).
likely to have a drug offense (31.5%)
$ Inmates in private facilities
compared to males (20.7%).
increased 3.3% (from 95,707 at
$ About 8.4% of black males
yearend 2003 to 98,901 at yearend
between
ages 25 and 29 were in State
2004).
or Federal prison, compared to 2.5%
$ Federal inmates held in private
of Hispanic males and 1.2% of white
facilities increased 13.3% to 24,768.
males in the same age group.

1 in every 138 U.S. residents in
prison or jail at yearend 2004
On December 31, 2004, 1,421,911
inmates were in the custody of State
and Federal prison authorities, and
713,990 were in the custody of local
jail authorities (table 1). (Custody is
defined on page 11.) During 2004 the
total incarcerated population increased
54,321, or 2.6% C less than the
average annual increase since 1995
(3.4%). Including inmates in public and
privately operated facilities, the number
in State prisons increased 1.8% during
2004; the number in Federal prisons,
5.5%; and in local jails, 3.3%.

The rate of incarceration in prison and
jail was 724 inmates per 100,000
residents in 2004, up from 601 in 1995.
At yearend 2004, 1 in every 138 U.S.
residents were incarcerated in State or
Federal prison or a local jail.

authorities increased by 28,028
inmates during 2004, smaller than the
increase in 2003 (up 28,457). Since
December 31, 1995, the U.S. prison
population has grown an average of
46,220 inmates per year (3.2%).

U.S. prison population rose 1.9%
during 2004

The Federal prison population totaled
180,328 at yearend 2004, up from
173,059 at yearend 2003. About 12%
of all prisoners held were serving time
in the Federal system.

In 2004 the growth in the number of
inmates under State or Federal jurisdiction (1.9%) was less than the
percentage increase recorded for 2003
(2.0%) (table 2). (Jurisdiction is defined
on page 11.) The population under the
jurisdiction of State and Federal

Table 2. Change in the State and
Federal prison populations,
1995-2004
Annual increase in the
number of prisoners
Percent
Custody Jurisdiction change*

Table 1. Number of persons held in State or Federal prisons
or in local jails, 1995 and 2000-2004
Total inmates
in custodya
1995
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

Prisoners in custody on
December 31
Federal
State

Inmates in jail
on June 30

Incarceration rateb

71,172
57,494
58,785
58,420
43,796
18,191
15,521
36,112
28,457
28,028

6.7%
5.1
5.0
4.7
3.4
1.3
1.1
2.6
2.0
1.9
3.2%

89,538
133,921
143,337
151,618
161,673
170,535

989,004
1,176,269
1,180,155
1,209,331
1,222,135
1,244,311

507,044
621,149
631,240
665,475
691,301
713,990

2.6%

5.5%

1.8%

3.3%

Average annual increase,
1995-2004 45,503
46,220

Average annual increase,
1995-2004
3.4%

7.4%

2.6%

3.9%

Note: Counts based on comparable methods
were used to calculate the annual increase
and percent change.
*Change in the number of prisoners under
State and Federal jurisdiction.

Note: Counts include all inmates held in public and private adult correctional facilities.
a
Total counts include Federal inmates in non-secure privately operated facilities
(7,065 in 2004, 6,471 in 2003, 6,598 in 2002, 6,515 in 2001 and 6,143 in 2000).
b
Number of prison and jail inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents at yearend.

At yearend 2004 15,757 inmates
held in U.S. Territories
The U.S. Territories and Commonwealths C American Samoa, Guam,
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto
Rico, and Virgin Islands C reported
15,757 inmates in the custody of their
prison systems at yearend 2004, a
decrease of 4.5% since 2003.
Prisoners with a sentence of more
than 1 year totaled 12,185 (more than
three-quarters of the total territorial
prison population).
Relative to the resident populations in
the Territories, the rate of incarceration was 283 prisoners per 100,000
residents.
2

88,395
49,222
48,800
47,905
36,957
25,182
14,647
37,457
29,330
31,632

1,585,586
1,937,482
1,961,247
2,033,022
2,081,580
2,135,901

Percent change,
2003-2004

601
684
685
701
712
724

1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

Prisoners in 2004

Of the 5 Territories, the U.S. Virgin
Islands had the highest prison incarceration rate (392 inmates per
100,000 residents), followed by

Puerto Rico (with 292). Puerto Rico,
the largest of the Territories, also held
the largest number of sentenced
prisoners, 11,374 at yearend 2004.

Prisoners in custody of correctional authorities in the U.S. Territories and
Commonwealths, yearend 2003 and 2004
Total
Percent
change
2003 2003-04

Jurisdiction

2004

Total

15,757 16,494

American Samoa
258
174
Guam
393
579
Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana
Islands
150
136
Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico
14,380 15,046
U.S. Virgin Islands
576
559

-4.5%

Sentenced to more than 1 year
Percent
change Incarceration
2004
2003 2003-04 rate, 2004*
12,185 12,532

-2.8%

283

48.3
-32.1

165
122

143
277

15.4
-56.0

285
73

10.3

98

77

27.3

125

11,374 11,667
426
368

-2.5
15.8

292
392

-4.4
3.0

*The number of prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year per 100,000 persons
in the resident population.

10 States reported increases of at
least 5% during 2004; 11 States had
decreases
Between January 1 and December 31,
2004, Minnesota experienced the
largest increase in prison population
(up 11.4%), followed by Idaho (up
11.1%), Georgia (up 8.3%), and
Nevada (up 7.8%) (table 3). Eleven
States experienced a decline. Alabama
had the largest decline (down 7.3%),
followed by Rhode Island (down 2.8%),
New York (down 2.2%), and Maryland
(down 2.1%). In absolute numbers,
four jurisdictions grew by at least 2,000
inmates during 2004. The Federal
system (up 7,269), experienced the
largest growth, followed by Georgia (up
3,896), Florida (up 3,521), and California (up 2,069). Alabama and New York
had the largest drop in inmates (down
2,026 and 1,447, respectively).
Overall, the number of inmates under
jurisdiction in the West grew 2.5%,
followed by that in the South (2.1%)
and the Midwest (1.3%). The number
of inmates declined in the Northeast
(down 1.4%). In the same period the
Federal system grew 4.2%.
The prison incarceration rate
reached 486 per 100,000 residents
in 2004, up from 411 in 1995
Eleven States exceeded the national
prison incarceration rate of 486 per
100,000 residents, led by Lousiana
(816), Texas (694), Mississippi (669),
and Oklahoma (649) (table 4). Eight
States, including Maine (148), Minnesota (171), and Rhode Island (175),
had rates that were less than half the
national rate.
Since 1995 the sentenced inmate
population in State prisons has had an
average growth of 3.1% per year.
During this period 16 States had an
average annual growth of at least 5%,
led by North Dakota (up 9.6%),
Wisconsin (up 8.5%), and West
Virginia (up 8.2%). Between 1995 and
2004 the Federal system grew an
average of 7.4% per year, an average
annual increase of 8,386 inmates.

Table 3. Prisoners under the jurisdiction of State or Federal correctional
authorities, by region and jurisdiction, yearend 2003 to 2004
Region and
jurisdiction

Percent change
12/31/036/30/0412/31/04
12/31/04

12/31/04

Total
06/30/04

12/31/03

1,496,629

1,492,833

1,468,601

1.9%

0.3%

180,328
1,316,301

179,210
1,313,623

173,059
1,295,542

4.2%
1.6

0.6%
0.2

Northeast
Connecticuta
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Islanda
Vermonta

170,982
19,497
2,024
10,144
2,448
26,757
63,751
40,963
3,430
1,968

173,967
20,018
2,014
10,365
2,441
28,107
64,596
40,692
3,701
2,033

173,330
19,846
2,013
10,232
2,434
27,246
65,198
40,890
3,527
1,944

-1.4%
-1.8
0.5
-0.9
0.6
-1.8
-2.2
0.2
-2.8
1.2

-1.7%
-2.6
0.5
-2.1
0.3
-4.8
-1.3
0.7
-7.3
-3.2

Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowab
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin

250,599
44,054
24,008
8,525
8,966
48,883
8,758
31,081
4,130
1,327
44,806
3,095
22,966

249,965
44,379
23,760
8,611
9,152
48,591
8,613
30,775
4,042
1,266
44,770
3,101
22,905

247,378
43,418
23,069
8,546
9,132
49,358
7,865
30,303
4,040
1,239
44,778
3,026
22,604

1.3%
1.5
4.1
-0.2
-1.8
-1.0
11.4
2.6
2.2
7.1
0.1
2.3
1.6

0.3%
-0.7
1.0
-1.0
-2.0
0.6
1.7
1.0
2.2
4.8
0.1
-0.2
0.3

South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delawarea
Floridab
Georgiab
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

599,080
25,887
13,807
6,927
85,533
51,104
17,814
36,939
23,285
20,983
35,434
23,319
23,428
25,884
168,105
35,564
5,067

596,863
26,521
13,477
6,973
84,733
48,625
17,763
36,745
23,727
20,429
34,917
23,384
24,173
25,834
169,110
35,472
4,980

586,530
27,913
13,315
6,794
82,012
47,208
16,622
36,047
23,791
20,589
33,560
22,821
23,719
25,403
166,911
35,067
4,758

2.1%
-7.3
3.7
2.0
4.3
8.3
7.2
2.5
-2.1
1.9
5.6
2.2
-1.2
1.9
0.7
1.4
6.5

0.4%
-2.4
2.4
-0.7
0.9
5.1
0.3
0.5
-1.9
2.7
1.5
-0.3
-3.1
0.2
-0.6
0.3
1.7

West
Alaskaa
Arizonab
California
Colorado
Hawaiia
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

295,640
4,554
32,515
166,556
20,293
5,960
6,375
3,877
11,365
6,379
13,183
5,989
16,614
1,980

292,828
4,515
31,631
166,053
19,756
5,946
6,312
3,800
10,971
6,341
13,219
5,802
16,559
1,923

288,304
4,527
31,170
164,487
19,671
5,828
5,737
3,620
10,543
6,223
12,715
5,763
16,148
1,872

2.5%
0.6
4.3
1.3
3.2
2.3
11.1
7.1
7.8
2.5
3.7
3.9
2.9
5.8

1.0%
0.9
2.8
0.3
2.7
0.2
1.0
2.0
3.6
0.6
-0.3
3.2
0.3
3.0

U.S. total
Federal
State

Note: The District of Columbia inmates sentenced to more than 1 year are now under
the responsibility of the Bureau of Prisons.
a
Prisons and jails form one integrated system.
b
Population figures are based on custody counts. (See Jurisdiction notes.)

Prisoners in 2004

3

During 2004 the number of female
prisoners rose 4.0%C more than
twice the 1.8% increase among men

Table 4. Sentenced prisoners under the jurisdiction of State or Federal
correctional authorities, yearend 1995, 2003, and 2004
Region and
jurisdiction
U.S. total
Federal
State

Sentenced prisoners
2004
2003
1995

Percent
change
2003-04

Average
annual
change
1995-04a

Incarceration rate
2004b

1,433,793

1,408,361 1,085,022

1.8%

3.1%

486

159,137
1,274,656

151,919
83,663
1,256,442 1,001,359

4.8%
1.4

7.4%
2.7

54
432

During 2004 the number of women
under the jurisdiction of State or
Federal prison authorities increased
4.0% (table 5). The number of men in
prison rose 1.8%. At yearend 2004,
104,848 women and 1,391,781 men
were in prison. From 1995 to 2004 the
annual growth of the female inmate
population averaged 4.8%, higher than
the 3.1% increase in male inmate
population. By yearend 2004 women
accounted for 7.0% of all prisoners, up
from 6.1% in 1995 and 5.7% in 1990.

Northeast
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusettsc
New Hampshire
New Jerseyd
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont

161,121
13,240
1,961
8,688
2,448
26,757
63,751
40,931
1,894
1,451

163,494
13,587
1,951
8,814
2,434
27,246
65,198
40,880
1,983
1,401

155,030
10,419
1,326
10,427
2,015
27,066
68,486
32,410
1,833
1,048

-1.5%
-2.6
0.5
-1.4
0.6
-1.8
-2.2
0.1
-4.5
3.6

0.4%
2.7
4.4
-2.0
2.2
-0.1
-0.8
2.6
0.4
3.7

295
377
148
232
187
306
331
329
175
233

Midwest
Illinoisd
Indiana
Iowad
Kansasd
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohiod
South Dakota
Wisconsin

248,896
44,054
23,939
8,525
8,966
48,883
8,758
31,061
4,038
1,238
44,806
3,088
21,540

246,583
43,418
23,007
8,546
9,132
49,358
7,865
30,275
3,976
1,147
44,778
3,016
22,065

192,177
37,658
16,046
5,906
7,054
41,112
4,846
19,134
3,006
544
44,663
1,871
10,337

0.9%
1.5
4.1
-0.2
-1.8
-1.0
11.4
2.6
1.6
7.9
0.1
2.4
-2.4

2.9%
1.8
4.5
4.2
2.7
1.9
6.8
5.5
3.3
9.6
0.0
5.7
8.5

378
346
383
288
327
483
171
538
230
195
391
399
390

Relative to their number in the U.S.
resident population, men were over 14
times more likely than women to be
incarcerated in a State or Federal
prison. At yearend 2004 there were 64
sentenced female inmates per 100,000
women in the United States, compared
to 920 sentenced male inmates per
100,000 men.

South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahomad
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texasd
Virginia
West Virginia

576,292
25,257
13,668
4,087
85,530
51,089
17,140
36,939
22,696
19,469
30,683
22,913
22,730
25,884
157,617
35,564
5,026

565,380
27,272
13,244
4,122
82,003
47,200
16,190
36,047
23,230
19,569
29,394
22,448
22,942
25,403
156,534
35,067
4,715

446,491
20,130
8,520
3,014
63,866
34,168
12,060
25,195
20,450
12,251
27,914
18,151
19,015
15,206
127,766
27,260
2,483

1.9%
-7.4
3.2
-0.8
4.3
8.2
5.9
2.5
-2.3
-0.5
4.4
2.1
-0.9
1.9
0.7
1.4
6.6

2.9%
2.6
5.4
3.4
3.3
4.6
4.0
4.3
1.2
5.3
1.1
2.6
2.0
6.1
2.4
3.0
8.2

540
556
495
488
486
574
412
816
406
669
357
649
539
437
694
473
277

Since 1995 the total number of male
prisoners has grown nearly 32%; the
number of female prisoners, 53%. At
yearend 2004, 1 in every 1,563 women
and 1 in every 109 men were incarcerated in a State or Federal prison.

West
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

288,347
2,632
31,106
164,933
20,293
4,174
6,375
3,877
11,280
6,111
13,167
5,916
16,503
1,980

280,985
2,629
29,722
162,678
19,671
4,167
5,737
3,620
10,543
5,934
12,695
5,681
16,036
1,872

207,661
2,042
20,291
131,745
11,063
2,590
3,328
1,999
7,713
3,925
6,515
3,447
11,608
1,395

2.6%
0.1
4.7
1.4
3.2
0.2
11.1
7.1
7.0
3.0
3.7
4.1
2.9
5.8

3.7%
2.9
4.9
2.5
7.0
5.4
7.5
7.6
4.3
5.0
8.1
6.2
4.0
4.0

425
398
534
456
438
329
454
416
474
318
365
246
264
389

a

The average annual percentage increase from 1995 to 2004.
Prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year per 100,000 residents.
c
The incarceration rate includes an estimated 6,200 inmates sentenced to more than 1 year
but held in local jails or houses of corrections.
d
Includes some inmates sentenced to 1 year or less.
b

4

Prisoners in 2004

Table 5. Prisoners under the
jurisdiction of State or Federal
correctional authorities, by gender,
yearend 1995, 2003, and 2004
Men
All inmates
2004
2003
1995
Percent change,
2003-2004
Average annual
1995-2004
Sentenced to more
than 1 year
2004
2003
Percent change,
2003-2004
Incarceration rate*
2004
1995

Women

1,391,781 104,848
1,367,755 100,846
1,057,406 68,468
1.8%

4.0%

3.1%

4.8%

1,337,668
1,315,790

96,125
92,571

1.7%

3.8%

920
789

64
47

*The number of prisoners with a sentence of
more than 1 year per 100,000 residents on
December 31.

Over a third of female prisoners held
in the 3 largest jurisdictions
Texas (13,958), the Federal system
(12,164), and California (11,188) held
more than a third of all female inmates
(table 6). Oklahoma (129 sentenced
female inmates per 100,000 female
residents), Mississippi (107), and
Louisiana (103) had the highest female
incarceration rates. States with the
lowest female incarceration rates were
concentrated in the Northeast C Rhode
Island and Massachusetts (each with
11 sentenced female prisoners per
100,000 female residents), and Maine
and New Hampshire (both with 18).
Eleven States had an average annual
increase of more than 10% between
1995 and 2004, led by North Dakota
(18.0%), Montana (17.4%), and West
Virginia (15.1%). During this period the
State female prison population
increased an average of 4.7% per
year; the Federal female prison population increased 5.7% per year.
Privately operated prisons held 6.6%
of State and Federal inmates in 2004
At yearend 2004, 34 States and the
Federal system reported a total of
98,901 prisoners held in privately
operated facilities (table 7). Private
facilities held 5.6% of all State prisoners and 13.7% of Federal prisoners.
Among States, Texas (with 16,668
State inmates housed in private facilities) and Oklahoma (with 5,905)
reported the largest populations in
2004.
Six States had at least 25% of their
prison population housed in private
prisons, led by New Mexico (42%),
Alaska (31%), Montana (30%),
Wyoming and Hawaii (both 28%), and
Oklahoma (25%). At yearend 2004,
8.1% of State inmates in the South and
6.4% in the West were in privately
operated facilities, compared to 2.0%
in the Northeast and 1.4% in the
Midwest.

Table 6. Women under the jurisdiction of State or Federal
correctional authorities, yearend 1995, 2003, and 2004
Region and
jurisdiction

Number of female inmates
2004
2003
1995

Percent change
2003 to Average,
2004
1995 to 2004a

Incarceration
rate, 2004 b

104,848

100,846

68,468

4.0%

4.8%

64

12,164
92,684

11,635
89,211

7,398
61,070

4.5
3.9

5.7
4.7

7
57

8,910
1,488
125
741
119
1,470
2,789
1,827
208
143

9,108
1,548
124
708
117
1,517
2,914
1,823
222
135

8,401
975
36
656
109
1,307
3,615
1,502
157
44

-2.2%
-3.9
0.8
4.7
1.7
-3.1
-4.3
0.2
-6.3
5.9

0.7%
4.8
14.8
1.4
1.0
1.3
-2.8
2.2
3.2
14.0

27
44
18
11
18
33
28
28
11
25

Midwest
Illinois
Indianac
Iowa
Kansas
Michiganc
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin

16,545
2,750
1,892
757
620
2,113
544
2,507
369
129
3,185
292
1,387

15,682
2,700
1,758
716
629
2,198
435
2,239
323
113
2,897
269
1,405

10,864
2,196
892
425
449
1,842
217
1,174
211
29
2,793
134
502

5.5%
1.9
7.6
5.7
-1.4
-3.9
25.1
12.0
14.2
14.2
9.9
8.6
-1.3

4.8%
2.5
8.7
6.6
3.7
1.5
10.8
8.8
6.4
18.0
1.5
9.0
12.0

49
42
59
50
45
41
21
85
39
41
54
74
47

South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolinac
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennesseec
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

44,666
1,748
962
557
5,660
3,436
1,560
2,386
1,180
1,796
2,430
2,361
1,562
1,905
13,958
2,706
459

43,057
2,003
866
508
5,165
3,145
1,411
2,405
1,248
1,755
2,256
2,320
1,576
1,826
13,487
2,681
405

27,366
1,295
523
358
3,660
2,036
734
1,424
1,079
791
1,752
1,815
1,045
637
7,935
1,659
129

3.7%
-12.7
11.1
9.6
9.6
9.3
10.6
-0.8
-5.4
2.3
7.7
1.8
-0.9
4.3
3.5
0.9
13.3

5.6%
3.4
7.0
5.0
5.0
6.0
8.7
5.9
1.0
9.5
3.7
3.0
4.6
12.9
6.5
5.6
15.1

74
63
65
50
63
76
68
103
39
107
40
129
66
63
100
71
48

West
Alaska
Arizona
Californiac
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyomingc

22,563
397
2,765
11,188
1,900
699
647
473
878
581
985
510
1,330
210

21,364
392
2,656
10,656
1,736
685
591
419
880
576
883
427
1,288
175

14,439
243
1,432
9,082
713
312
212
112
530
278
465
161
793
106

5.6 %
1.3
4.1
5.0
9.4
2.0
9.5
12.9
-0.2
0.9
11.6
19.4
3.3
20.0

5.1%
5.6
7.6
2.3
11.5
9.4
13.2
17.4
5.8
8.5
8.7
13.7
5.9
7.9

63
54
87
60
83
69
92
101
75
56
54
42
42
83

U.S. total
Federal
State
Northeast
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusettsc
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont

a

The average annual percentage increase from 1995 to 2004.
The number of female prisoners with sentences of more than 1 year
per 100,000 female U.S. residents.
c
Growth from 1995 to 2004 may be slightly overestimated due to a change
in reporting from custody to jurisdiction counts.
b

Prisoners in 2004

5

Since yearend 2000 the number of
Federal inmates in private facilities has
increased 60%, while the number held
in State facilities has decreased 1.3%.
As a percentage of all inmates under
State and Federal jurisdiction, the
number held in private facilities has
remained stable (6.6%).
Number of inmates in privately
operated facilities
Percent of
Total
State Federal inmates
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000

98,901
95,707
93,912
91,953
90,542

74,133
73,842
73,638
72,702
75,018

24,768
21,865
20,274
19,251
15,524

6.6%
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.5

In 2004 local jails held 5% of State
and Federal prisoners
At the end of 2004, 32 States and the
Federal system reported a total of
74,378 State and Federal prisoners
held in jails or other facilities operated
by county or local authorities. These
inmates held in local jails represented
5% of all prisoners in 2004.
Louisiana had the largest percentage
of its State inmate population housed
in local jails (47%). Four other States C
led by Kentucky (29%) and Tennessee
(25%) C had at least a fifth of their
population housed in local jail facilities.
About 85% of prisoners held in local
jails were in the South (62,966).
Overall, the South held 10.5% of
prisoners in local jails, followed by the
West (1.8%), the Midwest (1.3%), and
the Northeast (0.9%).
From yearend 2000 to 2004 the
number of Federal inmates held in
local jails declined by about 50%, while
the number of State inmates in local
jails rose about 20%.
Number of State and Federal inmates
held in local jails, 2000 to 2004
Percent of
Total
State Federal inmates
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000

6

74,378
73,440
72,550
70,681
63,140

73,179
70,162
69,173
67,760
60,702

Prisoners in 2004

1,199
3,278
3,377
2,921
2,438

5.0%
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.5

Table 7. State and Federal prisoners held in private facilities and local jails,
by jurisdiction, yearend 2003 and 2004
Region and
jurisdiction

2004

Private facilities
Percent of all
2003 inmates, 2004a

74,378

73,440

5.0%

1,199
73,179

3,278
70,162

0.7
5.6

98,901

95,707

24,768
74,133

21,865
73,842

Northeast
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont

3,347
0
32
0
0
2,510
0
366
0
439

3,201
0
0
30
0
2,636
0
535
0
0

2.0%
0.0
1.6
0.0
0.0
9.4
0.0
0.9
0.0
22.3

1,555
-0
236
9
1,258
52
0
---

1,911
-0
361
7
1,542
1
0
---

0.9%
-0.0
2.3
0.4
4.7
0.1
0.0
---

Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin

3,479
0
641
0
0
480
307
0
0
35
1,929
6
81

5,142
0
652
0
0
480
177
0
0
0
1,901
25
1,907

1.4%
0.0
2.7
0.0
0.0
1.0
3.5
0.0
0.0
2.6
4.3
0.2
0.4

3,273
0
2,024
0
0
52
484
0
0
43
0
42
628

2,483
20
1,724
0
0
42
363
0
0
44
0
29
261

1.3%
0.0
8.4
0.0
0.0
0.1
5.5
0.0
0.0
3.2
0.0
1.4
2.7

South
Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

48,267
244
0
0
4,328
4,693
1,746
2,921
127
4,744
212
5,905
6
5,105
16,668
1,568
0

48,222
1,698
0
0
4,330
4,589
1,640
2,918
122
3,463
215
6,022
44
5,049
16,570
1,562
0

8.1%
0.9
0.0
0.0
5.1
9.2
9.8
7.9
0.5
22.6
0.6
25.3
0.0
19.7
9.9
4.4
0.0

62,966
1,645
1,230
-42
5,117
5,084
17,469
135
4,624
0
1,807
429
6,577
13,228
4,502
1,077

60,810
1,340
1,016
-48
4,949
3,969
16,549
234
4,724
0
1,869
424
6,283
13,331
5,106
968

10.5%
6.4
8.9
-0.0
10.0
28.5
47.3
0.6
22.0
0.0
7.7
1.8
25.4
7.9
12.7
21.3

West
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

19,040
1,392
4,176
2,989
2,819
1,666
1,263
1,166
0
2,686
0
0
327
556

17,277
1,386
2,323
3,507
3,013
1,478
1,267
1,059
0
2,751
0
0
0
493

6.4%
30.6
12.8
1.8
13.9
28.0
19.8
30.1
0.0
42.1
0.0
0.0
2.0
28.1

5,385
-186
2,452
638
-133
614
153
0
18
1,189
1
1

4,958
-174
2,415
221
-239
567
190
0
0
1,065
0
87

1.8%
-0.6
1.5
3.1
-2.1
15.8
1.3
0.0
0.1
19.9
0.0
0.1

U.S. total
Federalb
State

6.6%

2004

Local jails
Percent of all
2003 inmates, 2004a

13.7
5.6

--Not applicable. Prison and jails form an integrated system.
a
Based on the total number of inmates under State or Federal jurisdiction.
b
Includes Federal inmates in non-secure privately operated facilities (7,065 in 2004,
and 6,471 in 2003).

24 States and Federal system
prisons at or above highest capacity
To estimate the capacity of their
prisons, jurisdictions were asked to

supply three measures for capacity at
yearend 2004: rated, operational, and
design capacities. These measures
were defined as follows:

Table 8. Reported Federal and State prison capacities, yearend 2004

Region
and jurisdiction
Federal

Type of capacity measure
OperaRated
tional
Design

Custody population
as a percent of C
Lowest
Highest
capacitya
capacitya

109,498

…

…

140 %

140 %

Northeast
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont

…
1,779
…
2,419
…
60,237
37,570
3,861
1,716

…
1,779
…
2,238
26,040
61,663
37,570
3,861
1,716

…
1,779
7,778
2,213
…
53,611
37,570
4,054
1,355

...
111 %
126
101
88
104
107
78
89

...
111 %
126
110
88
119
107
82
113

Midwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin

32,609
16,737
6,989
9,257
…
8,008
…
…
1,005
35,429
…
…

32,609
22,778
7,854
…
49,537
8,008
32,192
3,969
952
…
3,194
17,798

27,339
…
6,989
…
…
…
…
3,175
1,005
…
…
…

135 %
94
109
97
98
100
95
104
109
119
95
124

161 %
128
122
97
98
100
95
130
115
119
95
124

South
Alabama
Arkansasb
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippib
North Carolina
Oklahomab
South Carolina
Tennesseeb
Texasb
Virginia
West Virginia

…
13,065
6,537
…
…
12,301
19,470
…
22,180
31,500
23,782
…
20,122
161,008
31,358
3,590

25,214
12,848
5,359
84,685
49,731
12,301
19,664
23,767
22,180
…
23,859
23,599
19,670
157,222
…
4,072

12,388
12,175
4,223
63,130
…
12,301
…
…
22,180
…
23,859
…
…
161,008
…
3,590

101 %
96
103
98
103
94
99
97
74
113
95
96
96
87
94
98

205 %
103
160
132
103
94
100
97
74
113
95
96
98
89
94
111

…
30,608
…
…
…
5,939
…
10,813
…
…
…
12,504
1,232

3,098
34,208
159,948
14,153
3,487
5,902
1,700
10,625
6,633
12,246
4,832
15,062
1,190

3,098
26,346
80,890
12,836
2,451
5,939
…
8,335
6,207
12,246
5,040
15,062
1,161

101 %
82
102
119
112
76
123
102
97
103
94
110
98

101 %
107
203
131
159
76
123
132
103
103
98
132
104

West
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevadab
New Mexicob
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

...Data not available.
a
Population 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
Includes capacity of private and contract facilities and inmates housed in them.

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.
Twenty-one jurisdictions gave only 1
measure or the same figure for each
measure (table 8). For the 28 jurisdictions with more than 1 reported type of
capacity, estimates of population as a
percent of capacity are based on the
highest and lowest figures provided.
At yearend 2004, 25 States reported
operating below 100% of their highest
capacity, and 24 States and the
Federal prison system, at 100% or
more of their highest capacity.
Mississippi, at 74% of its highest
capacity, reported the lowest percent of
capacity occupied. Alabama, 105%
over lowest reported capacity, had the
highest percent of capacity occupied.
At yearend 2004 the Federal prison
system was operating at 40% over
capacity. Overall, State prisons were
operating between 99% of their highest
capacity and 115% of their lowest
capacity (table 9).
Table 9. State prison population
as a percent of capacity, 1995-2004
State prisons
Highest capacity
Lowest capacity

1,192,870
1,033,408

Population as a
percent of capacity*
Highest
1995
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

114
100
101
101
100
99

Lowest
1995
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

125
115
116
117
116
115

*Excludes prisoners held in local jails and in
privately operated facilities (unless included
in the reported capacity).

Prisoners in 2004

7

60% of State and Federal inmates
black or Hispanic at yearend 2004
At yearend 2004 black inmates represented an estimated 41% of all
inmates with a sentence of more than
1 year, while white inmates accounted
for 34% and Hispanic inmates, 19%.

Total
Hispanic
One raceb
White
Black
Other races
Two or more racesb

Percent of prisoners
under State or Federal
jurisdictiona
1995 2003 2004
100% 100% 100%
17.6
19.0
19.2
33.5
45.7
3.2
--

35.0
44.1
1.9
--

34.3
40.7
2.9
2.9

identifying with two or more races
(2.9%). Adoption of these guidelines
reduced the number and percentage of
inmates identified as non-Hispanic
white and black.
An estimated 8.4% of black males,
age 25-29, in prison in 2004

When incarceration rates are
estimated separately by age group,
black males in their twenties and
thirties are found to have high rates
relative to other groups (table 11).
Comparisons with previous estimates
of inmates by race and Hispanic origin Expressed in terms of percentages,
8.4% of black males age 25 to 29 were
are complicated by new collection
in prison on December 31, 2004,
practices. Following guidelines
compared to 2.5% of Hispanic males
provided by the Office of Management
and about 1.2% of white males in the
and Budget, estimates in 2004 were
same age group. Although incarceramade separately for persons identifying
tion rates drop with age, the percentwith one race (97.1%) and those
age of black males age 45 to 54 in
prison in 2004 was still nearly 3.3% C
Table 10. Number of sentenced prisoners under State or Federal jurisdiction,
higher than the highest rate (2.5%)
by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and age, 2004
among Hispanic males (age 25 to 29)
Number of sentenced prisoners
and more than twice the highest rate
Males
Females
(1.2%) among white males (age 25 to
Blackb Hispanic
Totala
Whiteb
Blackb
Hispanic
Totala
Whiteb
29).

Although the total number of sentenced
inmates rose sharply (up 32% between
1995 and 2004), the racial and Hispanic composition of the inmate population
changed only slightly. At yearend 2004
black males (551,300) outnumbered
white males (449,300) and Hispanic
males (260,600) among inmates with a
sentence of more than 1 year (table
10). More than 40% of all sentenced
male inmates were black.

Total
1,337,700
18-19
23,300
20-24
210,700
25-29
237,700
30-34
221,200
35-39
210,300
40-44
183,000
45-54
182,700
55 or older
67,200

449,300
5,500
57,900
68,700
71,300
71,300
68,200
72,200
33,700

551,300
10,900
91,000
103,300
90,200
88,800
76,700
70,900
18,600

a
Based on inmates with a sentence
of more than 1 year.
b
Excludes Hispanics.
--Not collected.

260,600
5,500
49,100
54,200
47,900
39,300
27,800
27,300
9,000

Note: Based on estimates by gender, race, Hispanic
origin, and age from the 2003-04 Survey of Inmates in
State Correctional Facilities (forthcoming) and updated
from jurisdiction counts by gender at yearend.
Estimates were rounded to the nearest 100. See
Methodology for estimation details.

96,100
1,300
12,100
15,300
14,900
19,800
16,400
13,500
2,700

42,500
500
5,400
6,300
6,400
8,600
7,700
6,200
1,400

32,100
500
4,000
5,300
4,900
6,800
5,100
4,700
700

15,000
300
2,200
2,800
2,500
2,900
2,200
1,700
400

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

Table 11. Number of sentenced prisoners under State or Federal jurisdiction
per 100,000 residents, by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and age, 2004

Age
Total
18-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-54
55 or older

Number of sentenced prisoners per 100,000 residents of each group
Males
Females
Totala Whiteb Blackb Hispanic
Totala Whiteb Blackb Hispanic
926
548
1,948
2,373
2,139
1,986
1,599
893
231

463
208
886
1,172
1,127
1,035
857
477
144

3,218
1,810
6,217
8,367
7,368
7,159
5,870
3,257
780

1,220
790
2,357
2,480
2,402
2,256
1,854
1,346
456

Note: Based on estimates of the U.S. resident
population on July 1, 2004, by gender, race,
Hispanic origin, and age. Detailed categories
exclude persons identifying with two or more races.

8

Prisoners in 2004

64
33
119
159
147
189
142
64
7

42
20
86
110
102
126
96
40
5

170
88
272
404
361
492
341
186
21

75
50
128
160
148
187
158
82
17

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

Female incarceration rates, though
substantially lower than male incarceration rates at every age, reveal
similar racial and ethnic disparities.
Black females (with an incarceration
rate of 170 per 100,000) were more
than twice as likely as Hispanic
females (75 per 100,000) and 4 times
as likely as white females (42 per
100,000) to be in prison on December
31, 2004. These differences among
white, black, and Hispanic females
were consistent across all age groups.

Violent offenders made up half of
State prisoners in 2002
In absolute numbers, an estimated
624,900 inmates in State prison at
yearend 2002 (the latest available
data) were held for violent offenses:
148,300 for murder, 170,900 for
robbery, 116,900 for assault, and
142,000 for rape and other sexual
assaults (table 12). In addition,
253,000 inmates were held for
property offenses, 265,000 for drug
offenses, and 87,500 for publicorder offenses.
Overall, the proportion of violent
offenders increased from 46.5% in
1995 to 50.5% in 2002. Property
offenders decreased from about
23% in 1995 to 20.4% in 2002; drug
offenders remained stable around
21%.
Percent of sentenced State inmates
1995
2002
Total
100.0%
100.0%
Violent
46.5
50.5
Property
22.9
20.4
Drug
21.5
21.4
Public-order
8.7
7.1
Other
0.3
0.6

Offenses of State prisoners
varied by gender, race, and
Hispanic origin
About half of male State prisoners
were serving time for a violent offense
in 2002, compared to a third of female
prisoners (table 13). Women were
more likely to be serving time for
property and drug offenses (28.7% and
31.5%, respectively) than males
(19.9% and 20.7%).
Offense types also varied by race and
Hispanic origin. Approximately half of
white, black, and Hispanic State
inmates were violent offenders. White
prisoners were more likely to be
serving time for a property offense
(26.4%), compared to blacks (17.6%)
and Hispanics (15.7%). Drug offenders
made up a larger portion of Hispanic
State inmates (27.4%) than of black
inmates (25.1%) or white inmates
(14.8%).

Table 12. Estimated number of sentenced prisoners under State jurisdiction,
by offense, gender, race, and Hispanic origin, 2002
All inmates
1,237,500

Male
1,157,700

Female
79,800

Blacka
Whitea
435,100 501,700

Hispanic
225,000

Violent offenses
Murderb
Manslaughter
Rape
Other sexual assault
Robbery
Assault
Other violent

624,900
148,300
16,900
60,800
81,200
170,900
116,900
29,800

598,600
140,200
15,300
60,400
80,100
164,600
110,300
27,800

26,300
8,100
1,600
500
1,000
6,400
6,600
2,100

213,800 257,300
44,700 63,200
7,100
6,600
31,300 19,900
44,700 16,700
38,100 94,800
36,300 45,500
11,500 10,600

112,500
30,800
2,100
6,900
12,300
28,600
25,500
6,400

Property offenses
Burglary
Larceny
Motor vehicle theft
Fraud
Other property
Drug offenses

253,000
131,200
48,100
18,600
30,700
24,400

230,100
126,400
40,900
17,800
22,300
22,600

22,900
4,800
7,200
800
8,400
1,800

114,900
58,000
21,000
7,100
16,700
12,000

265,000

239,900

25,100

87,500

82,600

4,900

7,000

6,400

600

Offense
Total

Public-order offensesc

Other/unspecified
Note: Data are for inmates with a sentence of
more than 1 year under the jurisdiction of State
correctional authorities. The numbers of inmates
by gender were based on jurisdiction counts at
yearend (NPS-1); numbers by race and Hispanic
origin were based on data from the 2003-04
Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities
(forthcoming); and numbers within each category
by offense were estimated using the National
Corrections Reporting Program, 2002.
d

88,400
46,200
18,300
5,400
10,700
7,800

35,300
18,100
6,700
4,900
2,000
3,600

64,500 126,000

61,700

38,800

27,900

13,900

3,100

2,200

1,600

All estimates were rounded to the nearest
100.
a
Excludes Hispanics.
b
Includes nonnegligent manslaughter.
c
Includes weapons, drunk driving, court
offenses, commercialized vice, morals and
decency charges, liquor law violations, and
other public-order offenses.
d
Includes juvenile offenses and unspecified
felonies.

Table 13. Estimated percent of sentenced prisoners under State jurisdiction
by offense, gender, race, and Hispanic origin, 2002
All inmates
100%

Male
100%

Female
100%

Whitea
100%

Blacka
100%

Hispanic
100%

Violent offenses
Murderb
Manslaughter
Rape
Other sexual assault
Robbery
Assault
Other violent

50.5%
12.0
1.4
4.9
6.6
13.8
9.4
2.4

51.7%
12.1
1.3
5.2
6.9
14.2
9.5
2.4

33.0%
10.2
2.0
0.6
1.3
8.0
8.3
2.6

49.1%
10.3
1.6
7.2
10.3
8.8
8.3
2.6

51.3%
12.6
1.3
4.0
3.3
18.9
9.1
2.1

50.0%
13.7
0.9
3.1
5.5
12.7
11.3
2.8

Property offenses
Burglary
Larceny
Motor vehicle theft
Fraud
Other property
Drug offenses

20.4%
10.6
3.9
1.5
2.5
2.0

19.9%
10.9
3.5
1.5
1.9
2.0

28.7%
6.0
9.0
1.0
10.5
2.3

26.4%
13.3
4.8
1.6
3.8
2.8

17.6%
9.2
3.6
1.1
2.1
1.6

15.7%
8.0
3.0
2.2
0.9
1.6

21.4%

20.7%

31.5%

14.8%

25.1%

27.4%

7.1%

7.1%

6.1%

8.9%

5.6%

6.2%

Offense
Total

c

Public-order offenses

0.6%
0.6%
0.8%
0.7%
0.4%
0.7%
Other/unspecifiedd
Note: Data are for inmates with a sentence of more than 1 year
under the jurisdiction of State correctional authorities.
a
Excludes Hispanics.
b
Includes nonnegligent manslaughter.
c
Includes weapons, drunk driving, court offenses, commercialized vice, morals and decency
charges, liquor law violations, and other public-order offenses.
d
Includes juvenile offenses and unspecified felonies.

Prisoners in 2004

9

While the number of offenders in each
Violent offenders under Federal jurismajor offense category increased, the
diction increased 46% from 1995 to
number incarcerated for a drug offense
2003, and accounted for almost 8% of
accounted for the largest percentage of
the total growth during the period.
Prisoners sentenced for drug offenses Homicide offenders increased 146%,
the total growth (49%), followed by
constituted the largest group of Federal from 1,068 in 1995 to 2,632 in 2003.
public-order offenders (38%).
inmates (55%) in 2003, down from
60% in 1995 (table 14). On September
Table 14. Number of sentenced inmates in Federal prisons,
30, 2003, the date of the latest availby most serious offense, 1995, 2000, and 2003
able data in the Federal Justice StatisPercent of
Percent
Number of sentenced inmates
tics Program, Federal prisons held
in Federal prisons
total growth,
change,
86,972 sentenced drug offenders,
1995-2003 1995-2003
Offense
1995
2000
2003
compared to 52,782 at yearend 1995.
88,658 131,739 158,426
78.7%
100%
Total
Changing Federal prison population
related to drug and immigration
offenses

Between 1995 and 2003 the number
of Federal inmates held for publicorder offenses increased 170%, most
of which was the increase in immigration offenses (up 394%). The number
of immigration offenders rose from
3,420 in 1995 to 16,903 in 2003.
Immigration violators represented over
10% of Federal inmates in 2003.
The number of weapons offenders held
in Federal prisons increased about
120% (from 7,446 to 16,377) between
1995 and 2003 and represented about
10% of the inmate population in 2003.

11,409
1,068
8,377
1,964

13,740
1,363
9,712
2,665

16,688
2,632
10,398
3,658

46.3%
146.4
24.1
86.3

7.6%
2.2
2.9
2.4

7,842
177
5,823
1,842

10,135
462
7,506
2,167

11,283
567
8,241
2,475

43.9%
220.3
41.5
34.4

4.9%
0.6
3.5
0.9

Drug offenses

52,782

74,276

86,972

64.8%

49.0%

Public-order offenses
Immigration
Weapons
Other public-order

15,655
3,420
7,446
4,789

32,325
13,676
10,822
7,827

42,325
16,903
16,377
9,045

170.4%
394.2
119.9
88.9

38.2%
19.3
12.8
6.1

970

1,263

1,158

19.4%

0.3%

Violent offenses
Homicidea
Robbery
Other violent
Property offenses
Burglary
Fraud
Other property

Other/unknownb

Note: All data are from the BJS Federal justice
database. Data are for September 30 and based on
sentenced inmates, regardless of sentence length.

The number of Immigration and Customs detainees
dropped 19% during 2004
The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reported 19,057 detainees on December 31,
2004, down from 23,514 at yearend 2003. Nearly
two-thirds of these detainees (11,570) were held in
Federal and State prisons and local jails, and about a third
were held in ICE-operated facilities (4,545) and private
facilities under exclusive contract to the ICE (1,678).
The number of detainees under ICE jurisdiction more than
doubled between 1995 and 2004. This increase most
affected State prisons, local jails, and other facilities
maintaining intergovernmental agreements with ICE; they
held 11,570 detainees in 2004, up from 2,286 in 1995.
Among the 19,057 ICE detainees for immigration violations at yearend 2004, 10,931 had been convicted of
criminal offenses, and 1,402 had pending criminal cases

10

Prisoners in 2004

a

Includes murder, nonnegligent manslaughter, and negligent manslaughter.
b
Includes offenses not classifiable.

(not shown in table). Detainees convicted of violent
offenses (32.1%) and drug offenses (30.1%) constituted
the largest groups under ICE jurisdiction, followed by
property offenses (15.5%) and public-order offenses
(14.1%).
Detainees under the jurisdiction of the Bureau
of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),
by type of facility, yearend 1995, 2003, and 2004

Facility type

Number of detainees
2004
2003
1995

Total
19,057 23,514
ICE-operated facilities
4,545
5,109
Private facilities under
1,678
1,935
exclusive contract to ICE
Federal Bureau of Prisons
1,214
1,338
Other Federal facilities
50
88
Intergovernmental agreements 11,570 15,044
State prisons
178
477
Local jails
7,877 11,376
Other facilities
3,515
3,191

Percent
change,
2003-04

8,177
3,776

-19.0%
11.0

652
1,282
181
2,286
8
1,984
294

-13.3
-9.3
-43.2
-23.1
-62.7
-30.8
10.2

Number of prisoners held by military authorities
nearly unchanged during 2004
There were 2,177 prisoners under military jurisdiction at
yearend 2004. Fifty-nine percent of the prisoners held by
the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard
had sentences of 1 year or more. At yearend 2004 the
Army’s Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas,
and five other local or regional Army facilities held the
largest share of inmates under military jurisdiction (46%).
The 11 Navy facilities held 30% of all inmates; the 6 Marine
Corps facilities held 19% of all inmates; and the 34 Air
Force facilities held 5% of all inmates.
The operational capacity of the 56 military confinement
facilities was 3,290 (not shown in a table). At yearend 2004
these facilities were operating at 66% of their operational
capacity. About 88% of prisoners held by the Army, Air
Force, Navy, and Marine Corps were convicted inmates;
12% were unconvicted persons.
Methodology

National Prisoner Statistics
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS),
with the U.S. Census Bureau as its
collection agent, obtains yearend and
midyear counts of prisoners from
departments of correction in each of
the 50 States and the Federal Bureau
of Prisons.
The National Prisoner Statistics (NPS)
distinguishes prisoners in custody from
those under jurisdiction. To have
custody of a prisoner, a State must
hold that person in one of its facilities.
To have jurisdiction means that a State
has legal authority over the prisoner.
Prisoners under a State=s jurisdiction
may be in the custody of a local jail,
another State=s prison, or other correctional facility. Some States are unable
to provide both custody and jurisdiction
counts.

Prisoners under military jurisdiction, by branch of
service, yearend 2003 and 2004
Branch of
service

Percent
Total
change,
2004 2003 2003-04

Sentenced to
Percent
more than 1 year change,
2004
2003 2003-04

To which prisoners
belonged
Total
2,177 2,165
Air Force
400
391
Army
853
840
Marine Corps
495
539
Navy
409
377
Coast Guard
20
18

0.6%
2.3
1.5
-8.2
8.5
11.1

1,295
243
614
241
188
9

1,258
251
572
229
199
7

2.9%
-3.2
7.3
5.2
-5.5
28.6

Holding prisoners
Total
2,177 2,165
Air Force
109
105
Army
998
967
Marine Corps
416
441
Navy
654
652

0.6%
3.8
3.2
-5.7
0.3

1,295
11
811
153
320

1,258
17
763
134
344

2.9%
-35.3
6.3
14.2
-7.0

NPS excludes inmates held by the
District of Columbia (DC), which as of
yearend 2001 operated only a jail
system.

Military Corrections Statistics
BJS obtains yearend counts of prisoners in the custody of U.S. military
authorities from the Department of
Defense Corrections Council. In 1994
the council, comprised of representatives from each branch of military
service, adopted a standardized report
(DD Form 2720) with a common set
of items and definitions. This report
gives data on persons held in U.S.
military confinement facilities inside
and outside the continental United
States, by branch of service, gender,
race, Hispanic origin, conviction status,
sentence length, and offense. It also
has data on the number of facilities,
and their design and rated capacities.

Commonwealth government had legal
authority (inmates under jurisdiction)
and all inmates physically located in
prison or jail facilities (inmates in
custody). These counts are collected
by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and
sentence length. In addition, BJS
obtains reports of the total design,
rated, and operational capacity of
correctional facilities.

Estimating age-specific incarceration
rates
The number of sentenced prisoners
within each group was estimated for
men, women, whites, blacks, and
Hispanics. In 2004 estimates were
produced separately for inmates under
State jurisdiction by combining data by
gender from NPS and advance data
from the 2003-04 Survey of Inmates in
State Correctional Facilities.

The Federal Justice Statistics Program
(FJSP) provided counts of sentenced
Federal inmates by age for each
demographic group at the end of fiscal
In 1995 BJS began collecting yearend
year 2003. The NPS provided counts
counts of prisoners from the departments of correction in the U.S. Territo- of sentenced Federal inmates by
gender at yearend 2004 and counts by
ries (American Samoa, Guam, and
U.S. Virgin Islands) and U.S. Common- race and Hispanic origin at midyear
wealths (Northern Mariana Islands and 2004. The FJSP counts were
converted to percentages and multiPuerto Rico). These counts include all
plied by the NPS totals at yearend
inmates for whom the Territory or
2004.

Other inmate counts
Excluded from NPS counts are
persons confined in locally administered confinement facilities who are
under the jurisdiction of local authorities. NPS counts include all inmates
in State-operated facilities in Alaska,
Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode
Island, and Vermont, which have
combined jail-prison systems.

Prisoners in 2004

11

Estimates of the U.S. resident population for July 1, 2004, by age, gender,
race and Hispanic origin were obtained
from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Age-specific rates of incarceration for
each demographic group were calculated by dividing the estimated number
of sentenced prisoners in each age
group by the number of U.S. residents
in each age group and then multiplying
by 100,000. Detailed categories
exclude persons identifying with two or
more races. Totals by gender include
all inmates and U.S. residents, regardless of racial identification.

This report in portable document
format and in ASCII, its tables, and
related statistical data are available
at the BJS World Wide Web Internet
site: <http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/ >

12

Prisoners in 2004

The Bureau of Justice Statistics
is the statistical agency of the
U.S. Department of Justice.
Lawrence A. Greenfeld is the director.
BJS Bulletins present the first release
of findings from permanent data
collection programs such as the
National Prisoner Statistics.
Paige M. Harrison and Allen J. Beck
wrote this report. Jennifer C. Karberg
and Timothy A. Hughes provided
statistical assistance and verification.
Tom Hester and Carolyn C. Williams
edited the report. Jayne Robinson
administered final production.

Data collection and processing for
the NPS program were carried out
by Theresa M. Reitz and Pamela H.
Butler under the supervision of
Charlene M. Sebold, Governments
Division, Census Bureau, U.S.
Department of Commerce.
Lauren E. Glaze and Christopher J.
Mumola collected and processed data
on prisoners in the U.S. Territories,
in U.S. military facilities, and in facilities operated by or for the Bureau of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
October 2005, NCJ 210677

NPS jurisdiction notes

Idaho C Rated capacity is defined as
100% of the maximum capacity; operational capacity as 95% of the maximum
(except in one facility which is 100%).

Alaska C Prisons and jails form one
integrated system. All NPS data
include jail and prison populations.
Counts exclude individuals in electronic Illinois C Population counts are based
on jurisdiction data. Counts of inmates
and special monitoring programs.
with a sentence of more than 1 year
Arizona C Population counts are
include an undetermined number with
based on custody data. Counts exclude a sentence of 1 year.
55 sentenced inmates housed in
Iowa C Population counts are based
contracted local jail facilities, some
on custody data. Counts of inmates
awaiting transfer to the DOC.
with a sentence of more than 1 year
The definition of operational capacity
include an undetermined number with
has changed to include temporary
a sentence of 1 year or less.
beds and double bunks used in situaKansas C Population counts of
tions of crowding.
inmates with a sentence of more than
California C Population counts include 1 year include an undetermined
felons and civil addicts who are tempo- number with a sentence of 1 year or
rarily absent, such as in court, jail or
less.
hospital.
Colorado C Population counts include Louisiana C Counts are as of December 29, 2004. Counts include 16,069
214 male and 1 female inmate in the
males and 1,400 females housed in
Youthful Offender System.
local jails as a result of a partnership
with the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association
Capacity figures exclude 6 privately
and local authorities.
run facilities under contract with the
Department of Corrections.
Massachusetts C By law, offenders
Connecticut C Prisons and jails form may be sentenced to terms of up to 2½
years in locally operated jails. Such
one integrated system. All NPS data
offenders are included in counts and
include jail and prison populations.
rates for local jails. About 6,200
inmates with sentences of more than 1
Legislation in 1995 abolished the
year were held in local jails in 2004.
capacity law so that prisons no longer
have a rated or operational capacity.
Design capacity is recorded separately Michigan C Operational capacity
includes institution and camp net
in each facility.
capacities and populations in commuDelaware C Prisons and jails form one nity programs.
integrated system. All NPS data
Minnesota C Custody numbers
include jail and prison populations.
include ICE and U.S. Marshal contract
Jurisdiction counts exclude inmates
prisoners.
housed in facilities in other States.
Capacity counts include Department
of Correction halfway houses.
Federal C Custody counts include
inmates housed in privately operated
secure facilities under contract with
BOP or with State or local government
that has an intergovernmental agreement. Custody counts exclude offenders under home confinement.

Mississippi C Operation and design
capacities include private prison
capacities.
Missouri C Design capacities are not
available for older prisons. Operational
capacity is defined as the number of
available beds including those temporarily off-line.

Rated capacity excludes contract beds. Montana C Counts include 278
inmates under intensive supervision in
the community. Capacity figures
Georgia C Population counts are
include 2 county operated regional
based on custody data, including
inmates in privately operated facilities.
prisons (an estimated 300 beds), 1
private prison (500 beds), and a State
Facilities in Georgia are not given rated operated boot camp (60 beds).
or design capacities.
Nebraska C Operational capacity is
Hawaii C Prisons and jails form one
defined as stress capacity (or 125% of
integrated system. All NPS data
design capacity), which is ordered by
include jail and prison populations.
the governor and set by the Department of Corrections.

Nevada C Rated capacity is defined as
emergency capacity. Design capacity is
defined as one bed per cell.
New Jersey C Population counts of
inmates with a sentence of more than
1 year include an undetermined
number with a sentence of 1 year.
New Mexico C Operational capacity
includes the maximum number of
contracted beds in private facilities.
North Carolina C Capacity figures
refer to standard operating capacity,
based on single occupancy per cell and
50 square feet per inmate in multiple
occupancy units.
Ohio C Population counts of inmates
with a sentence of more than 1 year
include an undetermined number with
a sentence of 1 year or less.
Oklahoma C Population counts of
inmates with a sentence of more than
1 year include an undetermined
number with a sentence of 1 year.
Capacity figures include private prisons
and contract jails.
Oregon C Inmates with under a 1 year
maximum sentence remain under the
control of local counties.
Rhode Island C Prisons and jails form
one integrated system. All NPS data
include jail and prison populations.
Custody numbers for 2003 and 2004
are not comparable.
South Carolina C Population counts
include 60 inmates who were unsentenced, under safekeeping, or ICE
status.
South Dakota C Operational capacity
is planned capacity. Rated and design
capacities are not recognized.
Tennessee C Population counts of
inmates with a sentence of more than
1 year include an undetermined
number with a sentence of 1 year.
Texas C Jurisdiction counts include
inmates serving time in a pre-parole
transfer (PPT) or intermediary
sanctions facility (ISF), substance
abuse felony punishment facility
(SAFPF), temporary releases to
counties, and paper-ready inmates in
local jails.
Capacity figures include public,
privately operated, and county
contracted facilities that are State
funded. Non-contracted county jail
beds are excluded.

Prisoners in 2004

13

Vermont C Prisons and jails form
one integrated system. All NPS data
include jail and prison populations.
Virginia C Rated capacity is the DOC
count of beds, which takes into account
the number of inmates that can be
accommodated based on staff,
programming, services, and design.
Washington C A recently revised law
allows increasing numbers of inmates
with sentences of less than 1 year to
be housed in prison.
Wisconsin C Operational capacity
excludes contracted local jails, Federal,
other State, and private facilities.

14

Prisoners in 2004