At the end of 1982, there were 412,303 inmates in state and federal prisons. The annual increase of almost 43,000 inmates was the highest in any year since data become available in 1925.
The male population aged 20-29 years is generally considered to be the most prison-prone population group. This group's size could continue to drive up the prison population through at least 1990. Other data look at State and Federal prison population growth, laws and practices affecting the prison population, prisoner housing and relief measures for overcrowding, female prisoners, short-term and unsentenced prisoners, and State prison population patterns. Five tables and two graphs are supplied.