U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EDT BJS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1997 202/633-3047
NATION'S PROBATION AND PAROLE POPULATION
REACHED ALMOST 3.9 MILLION LAST YEAR
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Almost 3.9 million
adult men and women were on probation or parole
at the end of 1996, an increase of about 128,000
during the year, the Justice Department reported
today. The number of offenders being supervised
in the community on probation or parole
increased 3.4 percent during 1996, compared to
the 3.3 percent annual average since 1990.
The total number of adults under
correctional supervision-- incarcerated or in
the community--reached a new high of 5.5 million
at the end of 1996. As of last December 31, 2.8
percent of the U.S. adult population, or about
one in every 35 adults, were incarcerated or on
probation or parole.
At the end of last year, 3,180,363 adult
offenders were on probation. More than half (55
percent) had been convicted of a felony, 26
percent had been convicted of a misdemeanor, 17
percent for driving while intoxicated or under
the influence of alcohol and 2 percent for other
offenses.
An additional 704,709 adults at year-end
1996 were on parole, which is conditional,
supervised release following a prison term.
Parolees are subject to re-incarceration for
rule violations. Almost all of the offenders on
parole (96 percent) had served a felony
sentence. Fewer than half of all those entering
parole in 1996 had received their release as a
result of a parole board decision; 48 percent
had received a mandatory release because of a
sentencing statute or a good-time provision that
released them from prison.
Three-quarters of probationers and parolees
maintained regular contact with a supervisory
agency. The other offenders were not required
to have regular contact (7 percent of
probationers and 10 percent of parolees) or
could not be located (10 percent of probationers
and 7 percent of parolees).
Texas had the largest number of adults on
probation and parole with more than 538,000
under supervision, followed by California with
389,000. At the end of 1996, 3.9 percent of all
adults in Texas were on probation or parole.
Fourteen states reported that fewer than 1
percent of their adult populations were on
probation or parole. West Virginia had the
lowest probation and parole supervision rate
(466 offenders per 100,000 adults), followed by
North Dakota (553), Kentucky (560) and
Mississippi (587).
Five states reported increases of at least
10 percent in their probation populations during
1996, led by Virginia (up 22.1 percent) and
Alabama (up 16.0 percent). Eight states
reported increases of at least 10 percent in
their parole populations, led by New Hampshire
(up 35.8 percent) and Alaska (up 20.5 percent).
Women represent a growing percentage of the
probation and parole populations nationwide.
There were 515,600 women on probation (21
percent of all probationers) and 79,300 on
parole (11 percent of all parolees) in 1996, up
from 18 percent and 8 percent respectively in
1990.
At the end of 1996 just over a third of
probationers (765,700) and nearly half of
parolees (297,000) were black, while two-thirds
of probationers (1,417,700) and half of parolees
(345,400) were white. Persons of other races
accounted for about 1 percent of each population
(29,900 probationers and 8,200 parolees.)
Hispanics, who may be of any race, comprised 15
percent of probationers (271,000) and 20 percent
of parolees (108,400).
During 1996 more than 1.5 million
probationers and almost 400,000 parolees were
released from supervision. Two-thirds of those
exiting probation (708,600) and just under half
of those exiting parole (179,900) had
successfully met the conditions of their
supervision. Eighteen percent of probationers
(196,900) who were released in 1996 and 40
percent of parolees (155,600) were subsequently
re-incarcerated because of a rule violation or
new offense.
The data were collected and analyzed by
Jodi M. Brown and Allen J. Beck, Bureau of
Justice Statistics (BJS) statisticians. More
information from BJS is available at the BJS
Internet site:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/
Additional criminal justice materials can
be obtained from the Office of Justice Programs
homepage at:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
After hours contact: Stu Smith at 301/983-9354
Percent Number on
Probation change in probation on
Region and population, 1996 Probation probation 12/31/96 per
jurisdiction 1/1/96 Entries Exits population, population 100,000
12/31/96 during 1996 adult residents
U.S. total 3,077,861 1,651,544 1,545,937 3,180,363 3.3 1,621
Federal/a 35,457 18,796 19,952 34,301 -3.3 17
State 3,042,404 1,632,748 1,525,985 3,146,062 3.4 1,603
Northeast 538,941 243,971 224,307 558,605 3.6 1,434
Connecticut 54,507 37,290 35,819 55,978 2.7 2,261
Maineb 8,641 2,651 3,596 7,696 -10.9 815
Massachusetts 43,680 36,436 35,258 44,858 2.7 960
New Hampshire 4,347 3,232 3,165 4,414 1.5 509
New Jersey 126,759 61,851 62,729 125,881 -.7 2,098
New York 168,012 47,502 34,934 180,580 7.5 1,323
Pennsylvania 106,823 41,643 37,934 110,532 3.5 1,206
Rhode Island 18,850 9,385 7,789 20,446 8.5 2,708
Vermont 7,322 3,981 3,083 8,220 12.3 1,860
Midwest 675,380 481,350 459,923 702,419 4.0 1,532
Illinois 109,489 72,672 66,658 115,503 5.5 1,329
Indiana 95,267 77,962 73,639 99,590 4.5 2,294
Iowa 16,579 12,559 13,754 15,384 -7.2 721
Kansas 16,547 13,805 14,620 15,732 -4.9 835
Michigan/c 141,436 117,050 112,937 148,595 5.1 2,106
Minnesotac 83,778 57,314 55,853 88,039 5.1 2,581
Missouri/c 41,728 23,799 20,804 44,644 7.0 1,126
Nebraska 13,895 12,753 12,145 1 4,503 4.4 1,199
North Dakota 2,320 1,581 1,380 2,521 8.7 531
Ohioc 103,327 65,556 64,155 102,755 -.6 1,234
South Dakota/c,d 3,745 4,324 4,151 3,484 -7.0 660
Wisconsinc 47,269 21,975 19,827 51,669 9.3 1,354
South 1,248,608 629,386 594,268 1,281,451 2.6 1,858
Alabama/c,e 33,410 7,416 4,251 38,764 16.0 1,213
Arkansas 22,397 7,828 6,192 24,033 7.3 1,299
Delaware/c 16,124 : : 16,528 2.5 3,012
District of Columbia 10,414 5,399 6,073 9,740 -6.5 2,246
Floridac 243,736 156,044 147,648 249,479 2.4 2,273
Georgia 142,954 71,241 70,038 144,157 .8 2,669
Kentucky/c 11,499 7,503 6,171 11,689 1.7 401
Louisiana 33,753 11,920 10,298 35,375 .8 1,135
Maryland 71,029 35,467 35,943 70,553 -.7 1,864
Mississippi 9,595 3,827 3,423 9,999 4.2 510
North Carolina/c 97,921 54,271 49,111 102,483 4.7 1,867
Oklahomac 27,866 13,970 13,729 28,090 .8 1,161
South Carolina 39,821 15,479 13,218 42,082 5.7 1,524
Tennessee 36,485 20,685 19,769 37,401 2.5 936
Texas/f 421,213 192,793 188,217 425,789 1.1 3,113
Virginia 24,264 25,543 20,187 29,620 22.1 587
West Virginia/c 6,127 : : 5,669 -7.5 404
West 579,475 278,041 247,487 603,587 4.2 1,421
Alaska/e 3,481 1,699 1,420 3,760 8.0 890
Arizona 40,614 12,854 10,278 43,190 6.3 1,318
California 280,545 147,585 136,111 292,019 4.1 1,269
Colorado/c 42,687 20,919 18,619 41,212 -3.5 1,459
Hawaii 12,957 7,082 5,801 14,238 9.9 1,623
Idaho/g 5,308 2,239 1,692 5,855 10.3 696
Montana/b 4,318 1,509 1,354 4,473 3.6 692
Nevada/b 8,634 5,733 4,607 9,760 13.0 823
New Mexico 8,524 9,197 8,793 8,928 4.7 737
Oregon/g 39,725 16,878 14,311 42,292 6.5 1,766
Utah 8,562 4,125 3,576 9,111 6.4 689
Washington/c 120,466 46,198 38,878 125,317 4.0 3,059
Wyoming/c 3,654 2,023 2,047 3,432 -6.1 986
Note: Counts are subject to revision. Final counts and additional data will be published
in Correctional Populations in the United States,1996.
:Not known.
a/Defined as persons received for probation directly from court.
b/Total entries and exits are estimated.
c/Because of nonresponse or incomplete data, the population on December 31, 1996,
d/oes not equal the population on January 1, 1996, plus entries, minus exits.
dData are for year ending June 30, 1996.
e/January 1, 1996, population count is estimated.
f/Data are for year ending August 31, 1996.
g/Total entries are estimated.
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Percent Number on
change in parole on
Parole Parole parole 12/31/96 per
Region and population, 1996 population, population 100,000
jurisdiction 1/1/96 Entries Exits 12/31/96 during 1996 adult residents
U.S. total 679,421 421,055 395,721 704,709 3.7 359
Federal/a 51,461 30,518 22,846 59,133 14.9 30
State 627,960 390,537 372,875 645,576 2.8 329
Northeast 175,207 74,605 67,564 181,856 3.8 467
Connecticut 1,233 1,505 1,655 1,083 -12.2 44
Maine 55 2 0 57 3.6 6
Massachusetts/b,c 5,256 3,889 3,917 4,836 -8 104
New Hampshire 785 854 573 1,066 35.8 123
New Jersey 37,867 13,530 9,850 41,547 9.7 692
New York 55,568 27,064 25,495 57,137 2.8 419
Pennsylvania 73,234 26,903 25,124 75,013 2.4 819
Rhode Island 591 532 548 575 -2.7 76
Vermont 618 326 402 542 -12.3 123
Midwest 86,598 60,401 60,443 87,013 .5 190
Illinois 29,541 22,763 22,240 30,064 1.8 346
Indiana 3,200 4,382 4,007 3,575 11.7 82
Iowa 2,340 1,964 2,104 2,200 -6 103
Kansas 6,094 4,074 4,164 6,004 -1.5 319
Michigan 13,862 9,463 8,716 14,609 5.4 207
Minnesota 2,117 2,698 2,438 2,377 12.3 70
Missouri/b,c 13,001 4,316 5,384 12,197 -6.2 308
Nebraska 661 823 778 706 6.8 58
North Dakota 114 191 201 104 -8.8 22
Ohio 7,432 4,785 5,886 6,331 -14.8 76
South Dakota 688 614 577 725 5.4 137
Wisconsin/b 7,548 4,328 3,948 8,121 7.6 213
South 240,478 108,639 104,231 244,475 1.7 354
Alabama/c 7,793 1,651 4,231 5,213 -33.1 163
Arkansas/c 4,685 5,551 5,093 5,143 9.8 278
Delaware/c 1,033 : : 1,033 -- 188
District of Columbia 6,340 2,951 2,171 7,120 12.3 1,642
Floridad 11,197 3,984 5,938 9,243 -17.5 84
Georgia/b 19,434 11,959 10,036 21,146 8.8 392
Kentucky 4,257 3,491 3,127 4,621 8.6 159
Louisiana 19,028 11,408 9,438 20,998 10.4 674
Maryland 15,748 11,080 10,582 16,246 3.2 429
Mississippi/b 1,510 1,107 886 1,513 .2 77
North Carolina 18,501 10,544 16,687 12,358 -33.2 225
Oklahoma 2,356 465 662 2,159 -8.4 89
South Carolina 5,545 1,334 1,512 5,367 -3.2 194
Tennessee 8,851 3,918 3,835 8,934 .9 223
Texasc 103,089 28,149 18,644 112,594 9.2 823
Virginia/b,c 10,188 10,479 10,767 9,918 -2.7 197
West Virginia 923 568 622 869 -5.9 62
West 125,677 146,892 140,637 132,232 5.3 311
Alaska/b 459 542 378 553 20.5 131
Arizona 4,109 5,314 5,638 3,785 -7.9 115
California 91,807 126,506 121,250 97,063 5.7 422
Colorado 3,024 3,039 2,769 3,294 8.9 117
Hawaii 1,689 623 579 1,733 2.6 198
Idaho 619 469 396 692 11.8 82
Montana/b 744 : : 771 3.6 119
Nevada/b 2,863 : : 3,216 12.3 271
New Mexico 1,366 1,381 1,321 1,426 4.4 118
Oregon 15,019 6,893 6,112 15,800 5.2 660
Utah 2,700 1,914 1,639 2,975 10.2 225
Washington/c 875 42 357 560 -36 14
Wyoming/b 403 169 198 364 -9.7 105
Note: Counts are subject to revision. Final counts and additional data will be published
in Correctional Populations in the United States, 1996.
: Not known.
--Not Calculated.
a/Defined as persons received for probation supervision upon release from prison.
Includes supervised release, parole, military parole, special parole, and mandatory release.
b/Because of nonresponse or incomplete data, the population on December 31, 1996,
does not equal the population on January 1, 1996, plus entries, minus exits.
c/All data are estimated.
d/The January 1, 1996, count is estimated.
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Number of adults under community supervision or incarcerated, 1985-96
Total estimated Percent of U.S.
correctional Community supervision Incarcerated adults under
Year populationa Probation Parole Jail Prison supervision
1985 3,011,500 1,968,712 300,203 254,986 487,593 1.7
1990 4,348,000 2,670,234 531,407 403,019 743,382 2.3
1991 4,535,600 2,728,472 590,442 424,129 792,535 2.4
1992 4,762,600 2,811,611 658,601 441,781 850,566 2.5
1993 4,944,000 2,903,061 676,100 455,500 909,381 2.6
1994 5,141,300 2,981,022 690,371 479,800 990,147 2.7
1995 5,335,100 3,077,861 679,421 499,300 1,078,545 2.7
1996b 5,525,000 3,180,363 704,709 510,400 1,129,500 2.8
Percent change
1899 3.6 3.3 3.7 2.2 4.7
1889 83.5 61.5 134.7 100.2 131.6
Average annual percent change
1894 4.1 3.0 4.8 4.0 7.2
1889 5.7 4.5 8.1 6.5 7.9
Note: See printed copy.
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Community corrections among the States, yearend 1996
10 States Persons
with the 10 States 10 States supervised 10 States Persons
the largest the largest with the highest per 100,000 with the lowest per 100,000
community Number with percent Percent rates of super- adult U.S. rates of super- adult U.S.
corrections supervised increase increase vision, 1996 residents/a vision, 1996 residents/a
Probation:
Texas 425,789 Virginia 0 Texas 3,113 Kentucky 401
California 292,019 Alabama 16 Washington 3,059 West Virginia 404
Florida 249,479 Nevada 13 Delaware 3,012 New Hampshire 509
New York 180,580 Vermont 12 Rhode Island 2,708 Mississippi 510
Michigan 148,595 Idaho 10 Georgia 2,669 North Dakota 531
Georgia 144,157 Hawaii 10 Minnesota 2,581 Virginia 587
New Jersey 125,881 Wisconsin 9 Indiana 2,294 South Dakota 660
Washington 125,317 North Dakota 9 Florida 2,273 Utah 689
Illinois 115,503 Rhode Island 9 Connecticut 2,261 Montana 692
Pennsylvania 110,532 Alaska 8 Michigan 2,106 Idaho 696
Parole:
Texas 112,594 New Hampshire 0 Texas 823 Maine 6
California 97,063 Alaska 21 Pennsylvania 819 Washington 14
Pennsylvania 75,013 Minnesota 12 New Jersey 692 North Dakota 22
New York 57,137 Nevada 12 Louisiana 674 Connecticut 44
New Jersey 41,547 Idaho 12 Oregon 660 Nebraska 58
Illinois 30,064 Indiana 12 Maryland 429 West Virginia 62
Georgia 21,146 Louisiana 10 California 422 Minnesota 70
Louisiana 20,998 Utah 10 New York 419 Rhode Island 76
Maryland 16,246 Arkansas 10 Georgia 392 Ohio 76
Oregon 15,800 New Jersey 10 Illinois 346 Mississippi 77
Note: The District of Columbia as a wholly urban jurisdiction is excluded.
a/Rates are computed using the U.S. adult resident population on July 1, 1996.
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Characteristics of adults on probation,
1985, 1990, and 1996
1985 1990 1996
Sex
Male 84% 82% 79%
Female 16 18 21
Race
White 70% 68% 64%
Black 29 31 35
Other races 1 1 1
Hispanic origin
Hispanic 0 0 0
Non-Hispanic 86 82 85
Supervision status
Active 85% 83% 79%
Inactive 7 9 7
Absconded 6 6 10
Out-of-State 2 2 2
Other ** ** 2
Entries to probation
Probation without incarceration 93% 87% 72%
Probation with incarceration 5 8 13
Probation of other types 2 5 15
Exits from probation
Successful completion 80% 69% 65%
Returned to incarceration 8 14 18
With new sentence 3 3 5
Without new sentence 5 11 13
Other unsuccessful 6 9 5
Other 6 7 13
Type of offense
Felony 50% 48% 55%
Misdemeanor 49 31 26
Driving while intoxicated ** 21 17
Other infractions 1 1 2
Note: Percentages are based on reported data only.
**Not available.
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Characteristics of adults on parole,
1985, 1990, and 1996
1985 1990 1996
Sex
Male 93% 92% 89%
Female 7 8 11
Race
White 54% 52% 53%
Black 44 47 46
Other races 2 1 1
Hispanic origin
Hispanic 17% 18% 20%
Non-Hispanic 83 82 80
Supervision status
Active 82% 82% 78%
Inactive 6 6 10
Absconded 8 6 7
Out-of-State 4 6 5
Other ** ** 1
Entries to parole
Discretionary parole 58% 59% 46%
Mandatory parole 42 41 48
Reinstatement ** ** 4
Other ** ** 2
Discharges from parole
Successful completion 58% 50% 46%
Returned to incarceration 35 46 40
With new sentence 12 17 12
With revocation pending 2 11 28
Other 21 18 1
Transferred to another State 2 1 2
Other 5 3 12
Length of sentence
Less than 1 year 1% 5% 4%
One year or more 99 95 96
Note: Percentages are based on reported data only.
**Not available
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Explanatory notes
The 1996 Probation and Parole Data Surveys provide a count of
the total number of persons supervised in the community on
January 1 and December 31, 1996, and a count of the number
entering and leaving supervision during the year. These surveys
cover all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Federal
system.
Probation
The 1996 Probation Data Survey was sent to 272 respondents _ 39
central State reporters and 233 separate State, county, or court
agencies. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (3),
Arizona (2), Colorado (9), Florida (15), Georgia (2), Michigan
(114), Missouri (2), New Mexico (2),
Ohio (52), Oklahoma (3), Tennessee (3), Washington (24), and
West Virginia (2). One local agency in Michigan did not provide
data. For this agency, the 12/31/95 population count was used
as an estimate of the 1/1/96 and 12/31/96 counts.
Parole
The 1996 Parole Data Survey was sent to 54 respondents _ 52
central reporters, the California Youth Authority, and 1
municipal agency. States with multiple reporters were Alabama
(2), and California (2).
END OF FILE
Date Published: August 20, 1997