National Prisoner Statistics (NPS)

Data Collection Status
Active
Frequency
Annual
Latest Data Available
2023
Data Experts
George Ebo Browne, PhD, BJS Statistician
Richard Kluckow, DSW, BJS Statistician
Tracy L. Snell, BJS Statistician
Collection Period

1926-present

Produces annual national- and state-level data on the number of prisoners in state and federal prison facilities. Aggregate data are collected on race and sex of prison inmates, inmates held in private facilities and local jails, system capacity, noncitizens, and persons age 17 or younger. Findings are released in the Prisoners series and the Corrections Statistical Analysis Tool (CSAT) - Prisoners. Data are from the 50 state departments of correction, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and until 2001, the District of Columbia. After 2001, persons sentenced under the District of Columbia criminal code were housed in federal facilities.

Methodology

Collection forms for December 31 are sent annually to central respondents in each of the 50 state departments of correction, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and 5 commonwealth territories. June 30 forms were sent to the central respondents through 2010, when the midyear collection was suspended pending redesign by BJS. Forms were sent to the District of Columbia until 2001, when its prison system ceased operations. As of December 31, 2001, persons sentenced for a felony in the District of Columbia are the responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Respondents are permitted to update the previous collection year's data when submitting the current year's. Data are submitted online at a secure site.

Questionnaires

Summary of Sentenced Population Movement (NPS 1b-new)

Publications and Products

Prisoners in 2022 – Statistical Tables

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Date Published
November 2023
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2021 – Statistical Tables

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Date Published
December 2022
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2020 – Statistical Tables

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Date Published
December 2021
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2019

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Date Published
October 2020
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2018

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Date Published
April 2020
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2017

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Date Published
April 2019
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2016

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Date Published
January 2018
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons, 2015 - Statistical Tables

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Date Published
August 2017
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2015

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Date Published
December 2016
Publication Type
Publication

Veterans in Prison and Jail, 2011-2012

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Date Published
December 2015
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2014

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Date Published
September 2015
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2013

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Date Published
September 2014
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2012 - Advance Counts

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Date Published
July 2013
Agencies
BJS
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2010 (Revised)

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Date Published
December 2011
Agencies
BJS
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2009 (Revised)

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Date Published
December 2011
Agencies
BJS
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners at Yearend 2009 - Advance Counts

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Date Published
June 2010
Agencies
BJS
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2008

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Date Published
December 2009
Agencies
BJS
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2007

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Date Published
December 2008
Publication Type
Publication

Prison Inmates at Midyear 2007

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Date Published
June 2008
Agencies
BJS
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons, 2006 - Statistical Tables

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Date Published
April 2008
Publication Type
Data Table

Prisoners in 2006

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Date Published
December 2007
Publication Type
Publication

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2006

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Date Published
June 2007
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2005

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Date Published
November 2006
Publication Type
Publication

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2005

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Date Published
May 2006
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners under State or Federal Jurisdiction

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Date Published
December 2005
Publication Type
Data Table

Prisoners in 2004

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Date Published
October 2005
Publication Type
Publication

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2004

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Date Published
April 2005
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons and Jails, 2002

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Date Published
December 2004
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2003

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Date Published
November 2004
Publication Type
Publication

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2003

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Date Published
May 2004
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons, 2001

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Date Published
January 2004
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2002

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Date Published
July 2003
Publication Type
Publication

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2002

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Date Published
April 2003
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2001

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Date Published
July 2002
Publication Type
Publication

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2001

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Date Published
April 2002
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 2000

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Date Published
August 2001
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons and Jails, 1999

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Date Published
July 2001
Publication Type
Publication

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2000

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Date Published
March 2001
Publication Type
Publication

Medical Problems of Inmates, 1997

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Date Published
January 2001
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1999

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Date Published
August 2000
Publication Type
Publication

Deaths among Prisoners

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Date Published
June 2000
Publication Type
Data Table

Prisoners Released Unconditionally

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Date Published
June 2000
Publication Type
Data Table

Persons Incarcerated

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Date Published
June 2000
Publication Type
Data Table

Prisoners Released

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Date Published
June 2000
Publication Type
Data Table

Incarceration Rates for Prisoners

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Date Published
June 2000
Agencies
BJS
Publication Type
Data Table

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1999

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Date Published
April 2000
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons, 1998 - Statistical Tables

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Date Published
April 2000
Publication Type
Data Table

Prisoners Released Conditionally

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Date Published
January 2000
Publication Type
Data Table

HIV in Prisons, 1997

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Date Published
November 1999
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1998

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Date Published
August 1999
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons and Jails, 1996

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Date Published
July 1999
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1997

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Date Published
August 1998
Publication Type
Publication

Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1997

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Date Published
January 1998
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons and Jails, 1995

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Date Published
August 1997
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1996

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Date Published
June 1997
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons, 1994

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Date Published
March 1996
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1994

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Date Published
August 1995
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in Prisons and Jails, 1993

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Date Published
August 1995
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners at Midyear, 1994

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Date Published
August 1994
Publication Type
Publication

Capital Punishment, 1992

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Date Published
December 1993
Publication Type
Publication

HIV in U.S. Prisons and Jails

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Date Published
September 1993
Publication Type
Publication

Capital Punishment, 1991

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Date Published
October 1992
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1991

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Date Published
May 1992
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1990

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Date Published
May 1991
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1989

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Date Published
May 1990
Publication Type
Publication

Capital Punishment, 1988

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Date Published
July 1989
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1988

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Date Published
April 1989
Publication Type
Publication

Capital Punishment, 1987

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Date Published
July 1988
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1987

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Date Published
April 1988
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners in 1986

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Date Published
May 1987
Agencies
BJS
Publication Type
Publication

Capital Punishment, 1985

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Date Published
October 1986
Publication Type
Publication

State and Federal Prisoners, 1925-85

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Date Published
October 1986
Publication Type
Publication

Capital Punishment, 1984

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Date Published
August 1985
Publication Type
Publication

Capital Punishment, 1982

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Date Published
July 1983
Publication Type
Publication

Capital Punishment, 1981

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Date Published
December 1982
Publication Type
Publication

Prisoners, 1925-81

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Date Published
December 1982
Publication Type
Publication

Death-Row Prisoners, 1981

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Date Published
July 1982
Publication Type
Publication

Capital Punishment, 1979

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Date Published
December 1980
Publication Type
Publication

Data and Documentation

Codebooks and Datasets

Changes Over Time

The following categories were added or altered over time: admission and release categories; race and ethnicity categories (1999, 2005); inmates held in local jails due to crowding (1978); inmates held in private facilities, local jails, and in another state (1999); persons age 17 or younger held (1998); non-U.S. citizens held (1998); and HIV information (1999).

The Prisoner Population Reports Midyear Counts (NPS-1A) survey was suspended pending redesign.

In 2021, BJS conducted a supplementary data collection as part of the NPS to measure the effects of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on state and federal prisoners, correctional staff, and facility operations (NPS-Coronavirus Supplement).

Date Created: May 26, 2009