Prison Statistics

BJS Publications

This list is in order of the most recent publication first. Additional titles are listed on other topical pages and a comprehensive list is contained on the BJS publications page. To see a full abstract of a publication with links to electronic versions of the publication, click on the title below.

HIV in Prisons, 2003, 9/05. Provides the number of HIV-positive and active AIDS cases among State and Federal prisoners at yearend 2003. NCJ 210344

HIV in Prisons, 2002, 12/04. NCJ 205333

HIV in Prisons, 2001, 01/04. NCJ 202293

HIV in Prisons, 2000, 10/02. NCJ 196023

HIV in Prisons and Jails, 1999, 7/01. NCJ 187456

1998 tables on HIV in Prisons are available in spreadsheets in zip format (20K). 4/00

HIV in Prisons, 1997 11/99. NCJ 178284

HIV in Prisons and Jails, 1996, 7/99. NCJ 174437

HIV in Prisons and Jails, 1995, 8/97. NCJ 164260

HIV in Prisons, 1994, 3/96. NCJ 158020

HIV in Prisons and Jails, 1993, 8/95. NCJ 152765

Previous edition (non-electronic)

Suicide and Homicide in State Prisons and Local Jails, 8/05. Describes historical trends in State prison and local jail inmate mortality rates based on inmate death records submitted by local jails (for 2000-2002) and State prisons (for 2001-2002). NCJ 210333

Sexual Violence Reported by Correctional Authorities, 2004, 7/05. Presents data from the Survey on Sexual Violence, 2004, an administrative records collection of incidents of inmate-on-inmate and staff-on-inmate sexual violence reported to correctional authorities. NCJ 210333

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2004, 4/05. Presents data on prison and jail inmates, collected from National Prisoner Statistics counts and the Annual Survey of Jails in 2004. NCJ 208801

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2003, 5/04. NCJ 203947

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2002, 4/03. NCJ 198877

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2001, 4/02. NCJ 191702

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2000, 3/01. NCJ 185989

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1999, 4/00. NCJ 181643

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1998, 3/99. NCJ 173414

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1997, 1/98. NCJ 167247

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1996, 1/97. NCJ 162843

Prisoners at Midyear 1995: Press release, 12/95. NCJ 158021

American Indians and Crime: A BJS Statistical Profile, 1992-2002, 12/04. Reports the rates and characteristics of violent crimes experienced by American Indians and summarizes data on American Indians in the criminal justice system. NCJ 203097

Prisoners in 2003, 11/04. Reports the number of persons in State and Federal prisons at yearend, compares the increase in the prison population during 2003 with that of the previous year, and gives the prison growth rates since 1995. NCJ 205335

Prisoners in 2002, 7/03. NCJ 200248

Prisoners in 2001, 7/02. NCJ 195189

Prisoners in 2000, 8/01. NCJ 188207

Prisoners in 1999, 8/00. NCJ 183476

Prisoners in 1998, 8/99. NCJ 175687

Prisoners in 1997, 8/98. NCJ 170014

Prisoners in 1996, 6/97. NCJ 164619
For 1995 see Prison and Jail Inmates, 1995, 8/96. NCJ 161132
Prisoners in 1994, 8/95. NCJ 151654

Profile of Nonviolent Offenders Exiting State Prisons, 05/02. Provides a description of the general characteristics of prison populations serving time for nonviolent crimes as they exit State prisons. NCJ 207081

Cross-National Studies in Crime and Justice, 09/04. Summarizes the results from a study that documents crime and criminal punishment trends from 1981 to 1999 in eight countries: Australia, Canada, England, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. NCJ 200988

Data Collections for the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, 07/04. Reports on the status of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) efforts to measure the incidence and prevalence of sexual assault within the Nation's correctional facilities. NCJ 206109

State Prison Expenditures, 2001, 06/04. Presents comparative data on the cost of operating the Nation's State prisons. The study is based on institutional corrections elements of the Fiscal 2001 Survey of Government Finances which State budget officers reported to the U.S. Census Bureau. NCJ 202949

State Prison Expenditures, 1996, 8/99. NCJ 172211

Hepatitis Testing and Treatment in State Prisons, 4/04. Presents facility policies related to Hepatitis C testing and treatment and hepatitis B vaccinations, based on the 2000 Census of State and Federal Adult Correctional Facilities, which gathered data from 1,584 State institutions. NCJ 199173

Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released from Prison in 1994, 11/03. Presents, for the first time, data on the rearrest, reconviction, and reimprisonment of 9,691 male sex offenders, including 4,295 child molesters, who were tracked for 3 years after their release from prisons in 15 States in 1994. NCJ 198281

Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 2000, 8/03. Presents information on facilities, inmates, programs, and staff of State and Federal correctional facilities throughout the Nation. NCJ 198272

Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 1995, 8/97. NCJ 166582

Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001, 08/03. Presents estimates of the number of living persons in the United States, 1974 to 2001, who have ever been to State or Federal prison. NCJ 197976

Education and Correctional Populations, 01/03. Compares educational attainment of State and Federal prison inmates, jail inmates, and probationers to that of the general population. NCJ 195670

Correctional Populations in the United States, Presents data on the number of persons in the United States who were under some form of correctional supervision.

In electronic formats only:

Correctional Populations in the United States, 1998 - Statistical tables, 09/02. NCJ 192929

In print and electronic formats:

Correctional Populations in the United States, 1997, 11/00. Includes the Survey of State and Federal inmates.
Full report NCJ 177613
Executive Summary NCJ 177614

Correctional Populations in the United States, 1996, 4/99. Includes the survey of Inmates in local jails.
Full report NCJ 170013
Executive Summary NCJ 171684

Correctional Populations in the United States, 1995, 5/97. Summarizes the 1995 Census of State and Federal Adult Correction Facilities.
Full report NCJ 163916
Executive Summary NCJ 163917

Correctional Populations in the United States, 1994, 7/96. Includes data on military corrections.
Full report NCJ 160091
Executive Summary NCJ 161559

Correctional Populations in the United States, 1993, 10/95. Includes State-by-State data about local jails.
Full report NCJ 156241
Executive Summary NCJ 156675

Previous editions (non-electronic)

Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1994, 6/02. Reports on the rearrest, reconviction, and reincarceration of former inmates who were tracked for 3 years after their release from prisons in 15 States in 1994. NCJ 193427.

Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1983, 4/89. NCJ 116261

Firearm Use by Offenders, 11/01. Describes firearm use of State and Federal prison inmates including types of firearms used, characteristics of inmates using firearms, why and where inmates used their firearms, and where they obtained their firearms. NCJ 189369.

Mental Health Treatment in State Prisons, 2000, 7/01. Reports on facility policies related to screening of inmates at intake, conducting psychiatric or psychological evaluations, and providing treatment (including 24-hour mental health care, therapy/counseling, and use of psychotropic medications). NCJ 188215.

Medical Problems of Inmates, 1997, 1/01 Presents survey data on offenders who were in prison who reported a medical problem since admission or a physical impairment or mental condition. NCJ 181644

Defense Counsel in Criminal Cases, 11/00. Examines issues of legal representation for defendants in Federal district court and large local jurisdictions, and inmates in local jails and Federal and State prison. NCJ 179023

Incarcerated Parents and Their Children, 8/00. Presents data from the 1997 Surveys of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities concerning inmates with children under the age of 18, whether or not inmates lived with their children prior to admission, and the children's current care givers. NCJ 182335

Profile of State Prisoners under Age 18, 1985-97, 2/00. Presents trend data from 1985 to 1997 on persons under 18 in State prison, focusing primarily on persons admitted to prison under the age of 18: their demographic characteristics, offenses, average sentence length, and expected time served. NCJ 176989

Veterans in Prison or Jail, 1/00. Presents data from the 1997 Surveys of Inmates in Adult State and Federal Correctional Facilities and the 1996 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails concerning inmates' prior military service. NCJ 178888

Time Served in Prison by Federal Prison by Federal Offenders, 1986-97, 6/99. Describes changes in sentences imposed and time served brought about by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 by cohorts of offenders entering and exiting Federal prison between 1986 and 1997. NCJ 171682

Mental Health and Treatment of Inmates and Probationers, 7/99 Presents survey data on offenders who were in prison or jail or on probation and who reported prior treatment for a mental or emotional problem. NCJ 174463

DWI Offenders under Correctional Supervision, 6/99 Provides data on offenders in jail, in prison, or on probation for driving while intoxicated. NCJ 172212

Prior Abuse Reported by Inmates and Probationers, 4/99. Describes prior physical and sexual abuse reported by persons in prison, in jail, or on probation. NCJ 172879

Assessing the Accuracy of State Prisoner Statistics, 2/99. Compares two series of data on characteristics of State prisoners: State prison records and State court records. NCJ 173413

Truth in Sentencing in State Prisons, 1/99. Describes the development and use of truth-in-sentencing (TIS) laws and presents data on the growing number of States that have adopted TIS and the increasing amount of time offenders are serving in State prison. NCJ 170032

Substance Abuse and Treatment, State and Federal Prisoners, 1997, 1/99. Presents data from the 1997 Survey of Inmates in Adult State and Federal Correctional Facilities concerning prisoners' use of alcohol and illegal drugs and the substance abuse treatment they received. NCJ 172871

State and Federal Corrections Information Systems , 10/98. Reports on a recently completed inventory of information systems in State and Federal departments of adult corrections. The inventory establishes a basis for improving the capacity to provide comparable data and to facilitate cross-jurisdictional research. NCJ 170016

Crime and Justice in the United States and in England and Wales, 1981-96, 10/98. Presents data that compares crime in the United States and England with respect to crime rates (as measured both by victimization surveys and police statistics), conviction rates, incarceration rates, and length of sentences. NCJ 169284

Lifetime Likelihood of Going to State or Federal Prison, 3/97. Describes characteristics of persons admitted to prison for the first time, compares lifetime and one-day prevalence rates, considers changes in admission rates since 1991, and discusses the estimation techniques. NCJ 160092

Prison and Jail Inmates, 1995, 8/96. Reports that at the end of 1995, there were almost 1.6 million men and women in the Nation's jails and prisons. NCJ 161132

National Corrections Reporting Program, 1992, 10/94, NCJ 145862 Describes the demographic characteristics, offenses, sentence length, and time served of persons admitted to and released from the Nation's prison and parole systems.

Tables for subsequent years are available in spreadsheets as listed below.

Performance Measures for the Criminal Justice System, 10/93 . This compendium of Discussion Papers represents the work of the BJS-Princeton University Study Group on Criminal Justice Performance Measures. NCJ 143505

Selected statistics

Correctional Populations in the United States - Statistical tables
in spreadsheet and portable document format files. Subjects include:

• Jail inmates
• Probation
• Prisoners
• Parole
• Capital Punishment
• U.S. military corrections

1998 data are currently available, 9/02

National trends

Suicide and Homicide rates, 1980-2003

Prison population by offense type, 1980-99

Correctional populations, 1980-2000

Correctional populations by gender, 1986-97

Proportion of the population under correctional supervision
by gender, 1986-97

Correctional populations by race, 1986-97

Proportion of the population under correctional supervision
by race, 1986-97

Incarceration rate trends,1986-2000

• Time served in State prison, by offense, release type, gender, and race, 10/05 Spreadsheets in zip format:
  1993 (19K) | 1994 (22K) | 1995 (22K) | 1996 (23K) | 1997 (29K) |
  1998 (18K) | 1999 (17K) | 2000 (20K) | 2001 (20K) | 2002 (10K)
  
  
• Sentence length of State prisoners, by offense, admission type, gender, and race, 10/05, Spreadsheets in zip format:
  1993 (24K) | 1994 (24K) | 1995 (26K) | 1996 (27K) | 1997 (27K) |
  1998 (21K) | 1999 (18K)| 2000 (21K) | 2001 (20K) | 2002 (10K)
  
  
• Most serious offense of State prisoners, by offense, admission type, age, gender, race, and Hispanic origin, 10/05, Spreadsheets in zip format:
  1993 (29K) | 1994 (29K) | 1995 (29K) | 1996 (30K) | 1997 (23K) |
  1998 (27K) | 1999 (27K) | 2000 (27K) | 2001 (20K) | 2002 (11K)

Incarceration rates for prisoners, under State or Federal jurisdiction, per 100,000 residents, 1977-98, 9/00, Spreadsheet (21K)

Year-end totals

• Prisoners under State or Federal jurisdiction , Federal and State-by-State, 1977-98, 9/00

  All prisoners, Spreadsheet (22K)
  

  Female prisoners, Spreadsheet (24K)

  Male prisoners, Spreadsheet (20K)
  
  

• Prisoners under State or Federal jurisdiction sentenced to more than one year, Federal and State-by-State, 1977-98, 9/00

  All prisoners Spreadsheet (23K)

  Male prisoners Spreadsheet (22K)

  Female prisoners Spreadsheet (22K)
  
  

• Prisoners in custody of State or Federal correctional authorities, Federal and State-by-State, 9/00

  Prisoners in custody, 1977-98, Spreadsheet (11K)

  Prisoners sentenced to more than a year, 1977-98, Spreadsheet (83K)

  Female prisoners, 1983-98, Spreadsheet (5K)

  Male prisoners, 1983-98, Spreadsheet (5K)

Annual admissions

• Prisoners sentenced to more than one year who were admitted to State or Federal jurisdiction, 1977-98, 9/00

  All prisoners Spreadsheet (22K)

  Male prisoners Spreadsheet (22K)

  Female prisoners Spreadsheet (22K)
  
  

• New court commitments sentenced to more than one year who were admitted to State or Federal jurisdiction, 1977-98, 9/00

  All inmates Spreadsheet (22K)

  Male inmates Spreadsheet (22K)

  Female inmates Spreadsheet (22K)
  
  

• Conditional release violators sentenced to more than one year, returned to State or Federal jurisdiction, 1977-98, 9/00

  All violators Spreadsheet (24K)

  Male violators Spreadsheet (22K)

  Female violators Spreadsheet (22K)

Annual releases

• Sentenced prisoners released from State or Federal jurisdiction, 1977-98, 9/00

  All prisoners, Spreadsheet (22K)

  Male prisoners, Spreadsheet (23K)

  Female prisoners, Spreadsheet (25K),

  
  
  
• Prisoners released unconditionally from State or Federal jurisdiction, 1977-98, 9/00

  All prisoners, Spreadsheet (30K)

  Male prisoners, Spreadsheet (29K)

  Female prisoners, Spreadsheet (29K)

  
  
  
• Prisoners released conditionally from State or Federal jurisdiction, 1977-98, 9/00

  All prisoners, Spreadsheet (30K)

  Male prisoners, Spreadsheet (30K)

  Female prisoners, Spreadsheet (29K)

  
  
  
• Deaths among sentenced prisoners, under State or Federal jurisdiction, 1978-98, 9/00, Spreadsheet (18K)

Persons incarcerated

• Prison and Jail Inmates, by State 9/00

  All inmates, 1983, 1988, 1993, Spreadsheet (43K)

  Male inmates, 1988, 1993, Spreadsheet (46K)

  Female inmates, 1988, 1993, Spreadsheet (37K)

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Also by BJS staff

Beck, Allen J. "Growth, Change, and Stability in the U.S. Prison Population, 1980-1995" Corrections Management Quarterly, forthcoming 1(2), 1-14.

Greenfeld, Lawrence A., Allen Beck, and Darrell Gilliard, "Prisons: Population trends and key issues for management," Criminal Justice Review, Vol. 21, No. 1, 1996.

Langan, Patrick A., "America's soaring prison population," Science, 251, pp. 1568-1573, March 29, 1991.

Langan, Patrick A., "Racism on trial: new evidence to explain the racial composition of prisons in the United States," Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 76, 3, pp. 666-683.

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Related sites

From BJS

• Criminal offenders
• Reentry Trends in the United States

Other relevant sites

• Office of Justice Programs page on Corrections/Managing Offenders
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons
• "Changing America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being by Race and Hispanic Origin", a Council of Economic Advisors chartbook from the Government Printing Office