U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics Prisoners in 1999 August 2000, NCJ 183476 By Allen J. Beck, Ph.D. BJS Statistician --------------------------------------------------------------- This file is text only without graphics and many of the tables. A Zip archive of the tables in this report in spreadsheet format (.wk1) and the full report including tables and graphics in .pdf format are available from: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/p99.htm This report is one in a series. More recent editions may be available. To view a list of all in the series go to http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pubalp2.htm#prisoners ---------------------------------------------------------------- Highlights Decem- Number of inmates ber 31 Federal State 1990 65,526 708,393 1995 100,250 1,025,624 1998 123,041 1,177,532 1999 135,246 1,231,475* Sentenced prisoners per 100,000 resident population Federal State 20 272 32 379 38 423 42 434 Population housed as a percent of highest capacity Federal State -- 115% 126% 114 127 113 132 101 *In 1999, 6 States expanded their reporting criteria. For comparisons with previous years, the count 1,209,123 should be used. * During 1999 the number of female prisoners rose by 4.4%, greater than the increase in male prisoners (3.3%). At yearend 1999, 90,668 women were in State or Federal prisons -- 6.6% of all prison inmates. * On December 31, 1999, State prisons were operating between 1% and 17% above capacity, while Federal prisons were operating at 32% above capacity. * Texas (163,190), California (163,067), and the Federal system (135,246) together held 1 in every 3 prisoners in the Nation. Thirteen States, each holding fewer than 5,000 inmates, together held less than 3% of the Nation=s prisoners. * Two States -- Idaho (up 12.9%) and Wisconsin (10.9%) -- had increases of at least 10% in 1999. Nine jurisdictions experienced decreases, led by Rhode Island (down 12.8%) and the District of Columbia (-12.0%). * At yearend 1999, privately operated facilities housed 71,208 inmates (5.2% of State and Federal inmates); local jails housed 63,635 State inmates (5.2% of State prisoners). * Factors underlying the growth in the State prison population between 1990 and 1998 included -- -- a 54% rise in the number of parole violators returned to prison and a 7% increase in new court commitments. -- a drop in annual release rates from 37% in 1990 to 31% in 1998. -- an increase in the average time served in prison by released inmates (from 22 months in 1990 to 28 months in 1998) and in the time expected to be served by those entering prison (from 38 months to 43 months). -- an increase in violent offenders (representing 51% of State growth) and drug offenders (19% of State growth). * Analyses of imprisonment rates from 1990 to 1999 reveal -- -- a 60% increase among males and an 84% increase among females in the number of sentenced prisoners per 100,000 residents. -- large disparities by race and Hispanic origin. In 1999 the rate among black males in their late twenties reached 9,392 prisoners per 100,000 residents compared to 3,126 among Hispanic males and 990 among white males ------------------------------------------------------------------ The total number of prisoners under the jurisdiction of Federal or State adult correctional authorities was 1,366,721 at yearend 1999. During the year the States and the District of Columbia added 31,591 prisoners, and the Federal prison system added 12,205 prisoners. Overall, the Nation=s prison population grew 3.4%, which was less than the average annual growth of 6.5% since 1990. During 1999 the prison population rose at the lowest rate since 1979 and had the smallest absolute increase since 1988. The rate of incarceration in prison at yearend 1999 was 476 sentenced inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents -- up from 292 in 1990. About 1 in every 110 men and 1 in every 1,695 women were sentenced prisoners under the jurisdiction of State or Federal authorities. Overall, the United States incarcerated 2,026,596 persons at yearend 1999. This total represents persons held in -- -- Federal and State prisons (1,284,894, which excludes State prisoners in local jails) -- territorial prisons (18,394) -- local jails (605,943) -- facilities operated by or exclusively for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (7,675) -- military facilities (2,279) -- jails in Indian country (1,621) -- juvenile facilities (105,790, as of October 29, 1997). About 1 in every 137 residents in the United States and its Territories were incarcerated. Nearly 1.9 million were in prisons and local jails; 135,800 held in other facilities On December 31, 1999, 1,284,894 inmates were in the custody of State and Federal prison authorities, and 605,943 were in the custody of local jails authorities. During 1999 the number of inmates in State prisons increased by 2.1%; in Federal prisons, 13.4%; and in local jails, 2.3%. Since 1990 the incarcerated population has grown on average 5.7% annually. The rate of incarceration in prison and jail in 1999 was 690 inmates per 100,000 residents -- up from 458 per 100,000 in 1990. At yearend 1999 other correctional authorities also held inmates. The U.S. Territories and Commonwealths -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands -- reported 18,394 inmates under the jurisdiction of their prison systems at yearend 1999 -- an increase of 3.2% since 1998. Puerto Rico, the largest of the Territories, had the most prisoners (15,465 at yearend 1999), down 6.4% since 1998. The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) reported 17,986 detainees on December 31, 1999, up 4.6% from 1998. Though many of these detainees (10,311) were held in Federal and State prisons and local jails, 7,675 were held in INS-operated facilities or other confinement facilities. U.S. military authorities held 2,279 prisoners in 65 facilities at yearend 1999, down 6.1% since 1998. Army facilities held 45% of all inmates under military jurisdiction; Navy faciliites, 30%; Marine Corps, 21%; and Air Force, 4%. Other correctional authorities include 69 Indian country jails and detention centers, which held 1,621 inmates on June 30, 1999. In addition, 105,790 juveniles were held in 1,121 public and 2,310 private residential placement facilities on October 29, 1997 (when the last count was completed). Overall, the U.S. incarcerated 2,026,596 persons at yearend 1999 -- the equivalent of 1 in every 137 residents in the U.S. and its Territories. U.S. prison population rose 3.4% during 1999 -- the smallest annual growth rate since 1979 The 1999 growth in the number of inmates under State or Federal jurisdiction (3.4%) was slightly smaller than the percentage increase recorded during 1998 (4.7%). The population under the jurisdiction of State and Federal authorities increased by 43,796 inmates during 1999, significantly lower than in 1998 (up 58,420). Since yearend 1990 the prison population has grown an average of 65,867 per year, for an increase of 592,802 in 9 years. Prisoners with sentences of more than 1 year ("sentenced prisoners") represented 96% of the total prison population at yearend 1999. During the 12-month period, the sentenced prison population grew 3.2%. The remaining prisoners had sentences of a year or less or were currently unsentenced (that is, awaiting trial in States with combined prison-jail systems). The sentenced Federal prison population (up 10.2%) grew at over 4 times the rate of the sentenced State prison population during 1999 (up 2.5%). The sentenced Federal population grew faster than in 1998 (9.2%), while growth in the sentenced State population was down from 1998 (3.9%). Prison incarceration rates have risen sharply since 1990 On December 31, 1999, the number of sentenced prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents was 476. Of the 12 States with rates greater than that for the Nation, 8 were in the South, 3 were in the West, and 1 was in the Midwest. Three States -- Minnesota (125), Maine (133), and North Dakota (137) -- had rates that were less than a third of the national rate. The District of Columbia, a wholly urban jurisdiction, held 1,314 sentenced prisoners per 100,000 residents. Since 1990 the number of sentenced prisoners per 100,000 residents has risen from 292 to 476. During this period, incarceration rates rose most in the South (from 316 to 543) and West (from 277 to 421). The rate in the Midwest rose from 239 to 367, and the rate in the Northeast grew from 232 to 330. The number of sentenced Federal prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents increased from 20 to 42. Two States reported increases of at least 10% during 1999; 8 States reported decreases Between January 1 and December 31, Idaho experienced the largest increase (up 12.9%), followed by Wisconsin (10.9%), Colorado (9.5%), Mississippi (9.4%), Oregon (9.2%), and Wyoming (9.0%). Eight States and the District of Columbia experienced a decline in prison populations. Rhode Island had the largest decline (down 12.8%), followed by the District of Columbia (down 12.0%), Massachusetts (down 3.8%), and Alaska (down 3.6%). In absolute numbers of inmates, 6 jurisdictions grew by at least 2,000. The Federal system (up 12,205 inmates), experienced the largest growth, followed by Georgia (up 2,829), Texas (up 2,727), Florida (up 2,372), Virginia (up 2,177), and Wisconsin (up 2,014). These six jurisdictions incarcerated 29% of all prisoners but accounted for nearly 56% of the total growth during 1999. Since 1990 the sentenced inmate population in State prisons has grown 71%. During this period nine States more than doubled their sentenced inmate populations, led by Texas (up 173%), Idaho (up 147%), and West Virginia (up 126%). Between 1990 and 1999 the Federal system reported an increase of 127% -- 63,872 additional inmates with sentences of more than 1 year. Among States, Louisiana had the highest incarceration rate; Minnesota, the lowest At yearend 1999 the 10 jurisdictions with the largest prison populations had under their jurisdiction 821,067 inmates, or 60% of the Nation's total prison population. Texas (163,190), California (163,067), and the Federal system (135,246) accounted for a third of the population. The 10 States with the smallest prison populations each held fewer than 4,000 inmates. Collectively, these States held only 1.7% of the Nation=s total prison population. Louisiana had the highest prison incarceration rate (776 sentenced inmates per 100,000 residents), followed by Texas (762), Oklahoma (662), and Mississippi (626). Seven States had prison incarceration rates below 200, led by Minnesota (125), Maine (133), and North Dakota (137). Since 1990 two States had average annual prison population increases of at least 10%: Texas (11.8%) and Idaho (10.6%). Eight States had average annual growth rates of less than 4%, led by Maine (1.3%), Rhode Island (2.1%), and Alaska (2.6%). Female prisoner population more than doubled since 1990 During 1999 the number of women under the jurisdiction of State or Federal prison authorities increased 4.4%, outpacing the rise in the number of men (up 3.3%) for the fourth consecutive year. At yearend 90,688 women and 1,276,053 men were in State or Federal prisons. Since 1990 the annual rate of growth of the female inmate population has averaged 8.3%, higher than the 6.4% average increase in the number of male inmates. While the total number of male prisoners has grown 75% since 1990, the number of female prisoners has increased 106%. By yearend 1999 women accounted for 6.6% of all prisoners nationwide, up from 5.7% in 1990. Relative to their number in the U.S. resident population, men were 15 times more likely than women to be incarcerated in a State or Federal prison. At yearend 1999 there were 59 sentenced female inmates per 100,000 women in the United States, compared to 913 sentenced male inmates per 100,000 men. Over a third of all female prisoners were held in the 3 largest jurisdictions: Texas (12,502), California (11,368), and the Federal system (9,913). Oklahoma (with 134 sentenced female inmates per 100,000 female State residents) and Texas and Lousiana (both with 100) had the highest female incarceration rates. Maine (with 9 sentenced female prisoners per 100,000 female residents) and Rhode Island (11) had the lowest incarceration rates. Since 1990 the female prisoner population has grown at an annual average rate of at least 10% in 18 States. Tennessee reported the highest average annual increase in female prisoners (15.0%), followed by North Dakota (14.9%), Montana (14.7%), and Idaho (14.3%). The District of Columbia, which is transferring jurisdiction of its prison inmates to the Federal system, was the only jurisdiction to report fewer female prisoners since 1990. In 1999, the District of Columbia recorded a 23% decline in the number of female inmates. Privately-operated prisons held over 71,000 State and Federal inmates in 1999 At yearend 1999, 31 States, the District of Columbia, and the Federal system reported a total of 71,208 prisoners held in privately operated facilities. These private facilities held 5.5% of all State prisoners and 2.8% of Federal prisoners. Texas (with 11,653 State inmates housed in private facilities) and Oklahoma (with 6,228) reported the largest number in 1999. Five States -- New Mexico (39%), Alaska (35%), Oklahoma (28%), Montana (25%), Hawaii (24%) -- had at least 20% of their prison population housed in private facilities. Except for Wisconsin (with 17% of its State inmates in private facilities) and New Jersey (with 8%), the use of private facilities was concentrated among Southern and Western States. Overall, 8.1% of State inmates in the South and 5.8% in the West were in privately operated facilities at the end of 1999. Local jails held nearly 64,000 State prisoners At the end of 1999, 34 States reported a total of 63,635 State prisoners held in local jails or other facilities operated by county or local authorities. These inmates held in local jails represented 5.2% of all State prisoners in 1999. Louisiana had the largest percentage of its State inmate population housed in local jails, 44%. Three other States -- Montana (28%), Tennessee (25%), and Kentucky (21%) -- had at least 20% of their population housed in local jail facilities. In addition to housing inmates in privately-operated facilities and local jails (within their own State and elsewhere), 35 States reported placing inmates in Federal facilities and in other State-operated facilities. On December 31, 1999, 6,952 prisoners nationwide were held under such arrangements -- representing less than 1% of all State prisoners. Michigan placed the most inmates (774), followed by California (640) and Wisconsin (562). Vermont (26%) and the District of Columbia (15%) had more than 10% of their prison population housed in facilities of other States or the Federal system. Prison capacity measures vary Prison capacity and the extent of crowding are difficult to determine because of the absence of uniform measures for defining capacity. Jurisdictions apply a variety of capacity measures to reflect both the available space to house inmates and the ability to staff and operate an institution. To estimate the capacity of their prisons, jurisdictions were asked to supply three measures for yearend 1999: rated, operational, and design capacities. These measures were defined as follows: 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. Of the 51 reporting jurisdictions, 30 supplied a rated capacity; 44, an operational capacity; and 35, a design capacity. Twenty-one jurisdictions provided only 1 measure or the same figure for each measure they reported. For the 30 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. Seven States included private and contract facilities in their capacity counts, and as a result, inmates held in these facilities were added to the populations counts. California also reported operational capacity for the first time. To make valid comparisons with previous years, the highest capacity totals were based on California's design capacity . Twenty-two States and Federal system were operating at or above capacity Prisons generally require reserve capacity to operate efficiently. Dormitories and cells need to be maintained and repaired periodically, special housing is needed for protective custody and disciplinary cases, and space may be needed to cope with emergencies. At yearend 1999, 26 States and the District of Columbia reported that they were operating at or below 99% of their highest capacity. Twenty-two States and the Federal prison system reported operating at 100% or more of their highest capacity. Rhode Island, which was operating at 76% of its highest capacity, reported the lowest percent of capacity occupied. California, operating at 94% over its lowest reported capacity, had the highest percent of capacity occupied. By yearend 1999 the Federal prison system was estimated to be operating at 32% over capacity, increasing since yearend 1998 (27%). Overall, State prisons in 1999 were operating at 1% above their highest capacity and 17% above their lowest capacity. Black males outnumbered white males among State and Federal inmates at yearend 1999 Percent of prisoners under State or Federal jurisdiction* 1990 1999 Total 100.0% 100.0% White 35.6 33.0 Black 44.5 45.7 Hispanic 17.4 17.9 Other 2.5 3.4 *Based on inmates with sentences of more than 1 year. At yearend 1999, black inmates represented an estimated 46% of all inmates with sentences of more than 1 year, while white inmates accounted for 33% and Hispanic inmates, 18%. Although the total number of sentenced inmates rose sharply (up 75% between 1990 and 1999), there were only small changes in the racial and Hispanic composition of the inmate population. At yearend 1999, black males (558,700) outnumbered white males (403,700) and Hispanic males (219,500) among inmates with sentences of more than 1 year. Nearly 43% of all sentenced inmates were black males. An estimated 9% of black males in their late twenties were in prison in 1999 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. Expressed in terms of percentages, 9.4% of black non-Hispanic males age 25 to 29 were in prison in 1999, compared to 3.1% of Hispanic males and about 1.0% of white males in the same age group. Although incarceration rates drop with age, the percentage of black males age 45 to 54 in prison in 1999 was still nearly 2.8% -- only slightly lower than the highest rate (3.1%) among Hispanic males (age 25 to 29) and more than twice the highest rate (1.1%) among white males (age 30 to 34). Female incarceration rates, though substantially lower than male incarceration rates at every age, reveal similar racial and ethnic disparities. Black non-Hispanic females (with an incarceration rate of 212 per 100,000) were more than twice as likely as Hispanic females (87 per 100,000) and nearly 8 times more likely than white non-Hispanic females (27 per 100,000) to be in prison in 1999. These differences among white, black, and Hispanic females were consistent across all age groups. Growth linked to increasing number of inmates in State prison for violent and drug offenses Between 1990 and 1998 the distribution of the four major offense categories -- violent, property, drug, and public-order offenses -- changed slightly among State prisoners. The percent held for property and drug offenses dropped while the percent held for public-order offenses rose. Percent of sentenced State inmates 1990 1998 Total 100% 100% Violent 46 48 Property 25 21 Drug 22 21 Public-order 7 10 In absolute numbers, an estimated 545,200 inmates in State prison at yearend 1998 were held for violent offenses, 159,600 for robbery, 134,600 for murder, 109,500 for assault, and 100,800 for rape and other sexual assaults. In addition, 242,900 inmates were held for property offenses, 236,800 for drug offenses, and 113,900 for public-order offenses. Overall, the largest growth in State inmates between 1990 and 1998 was among violent offenders. During the 8-year period, the number of violent offenders grew 229,300, while the number of drug offenders grew 87,100. As a percentage of the total growth, violent offenders accounted for 51% of the growth; drug offenders 19%; property offenders 15%; and public-order offenders 15%. Sources of growth differ among men and women and among white, black, and Hispanic inmates The increasing number of violent offenders accounted for the 53% of the total growth among male inmates and 27% among female inmates. Drug offenders accounted for the largest source of the total growth among female inmates (36%), compared to 18% among male inmates. The increasing number of property offenses accounted for a slightly higher percent of the growth among female inmates (20%) than male inmates (15%). Although the number of public-order offenders rose sharply, they accounted for only 15% of the total growth among male inmates and 17% of the growth among female inmates. The sources of population growth also differed among white, black, and Hispanic prisoners. Overall, the increasing number of drug offenses accounted for 25% of the total growth among black inmates, 18% of the total growth among Hispanic inmates, and 12% of the growth among white inmates. Violent offenders accounted for the largest source of growth for all groups -- among white State inmates (45%), black inmates (52%), and Hispanic inmates (56%). Rise in State prison population linked to increasing numbers of parole violators returned to prison Underlying the growth in the State prison population between 1990 and 1998 has been a 54% increase in the number of offenders returned to prison for parole violations. In 1998, 206,751 of the offenders entering State prison had violated the conditions of their release, up from 133,870 in 1990. These offenders had been released to parole either by decision of a parole board or by provision of the statute under which they were sentenced. The primary reason for their return to prison was an arrest or conviction for a new offense. Based on reports from inmates in State prison in 1997 (the latest data), 60% of the inmates returned after serving time on parole had been arrested or convicted for a new offense. Nineteen percent of the parole violators had absconded or failed to report to a parole officer; 14% had a drug-related violation such as a positive test, possession, or failure to report for testing or treatment; and 14% had other reasons such as possession of a gun or failure to report to counseling, to secure employment, or to pay fines or fees. Percent of parole violators in State prison, 1997* Arrest/conviction for new offense 59.5% Drug-related violations 13.7 Absconded/failed to report 19.0 Other reasons 13.9 *Data are from the Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities, 1997. Detail adds to more than 100% because some inmates may have had more than 1 reason. Between 1990 and 1998 the number of new court commitments to State prison rose from 323,069 to 347,270. Though the number admitted in 1998 was 7.5% larger than the number in 1990, the number of new court commitments has fluctuated during the 9-year period. Parole violators returned on drug offenses more than doubled since 1990 Drug offenders accounted for more than half of the total increase in parole violators returned to State prison. The number of drug offenders returned to prison rose from 30,900 in 1990 to 68,600 in 1998 (representing 52% of the total 72,900 increase among returned parolees). Though fewer in number, public-order offenders (primarily weapons and DWI offenders) had the largest percentage increase among returned parolees (up 123%). The number of parolees returned to State prison on a violent offense also rose (up 51%) but accounted for less than a quarter of the rise among returned parolees. In contrast to parole violators, growth in the number of new court commitments to State prisons was largely the result of an increasing number of sentenced violent offenders (up 20%) and public-order offenders (up 44%). Courts sentenced 104,200 violent offenders to prison in 1998, up from 86,600 in 1990. The number of drug offenders entering prison directly from court rose only slightly from 102,400 in 1990 to 107,000 in 1998 (an increase of 4.5%). State prison growth the result of declining release rates and increas- ing time served While the actual number of prisoners released each year grew between 1990 and 1998, the rate of release (or the number released relative to the number of inmates in prison) dropped sharply. In 1998, 520,172 offenders were released from State prison, up from 405,374 in 1990. However, the release rate dropped from 37 per 100 State prisoners in 1990 to 31 per 100 in 1998. A major source of prison growth is increasing time served. Among inmates released from prison for the first time on their current offense (that is, first releases) the average time served increased from 22 months in 1990 to 28 months in 1998. The percentage of inmates released after serving 6 months or less dropped steadily from a peak in 1993 (29%) to 1998 (15%). At the same time, the percentage of release State prisoners having served at least 10 years in prison edged upward, from 1.3% to 2.0%. The projected average time to be served by inmates entering prison before their first release also increased from 38 months in 1990 to 43 months in 1998. New court commitments to State prison* Mean Mean minimum sentence time to be served 1990 70 mos. 38 mos. 1995 72 42 1998 65 43 *Based on inmates with sentences of more than 1 year, but less than life or death. Changing Federal prison population related to drugs, weapons, and immigration violations Prisoners sentenced for drug offenses constitute the largest group of Federal inmates (58%) in 1998, up from 53% in 1990. On September 30, 1998, the date of the latest available data, Federal prisons held 63,011 sentenced drug offenders, compared to 30,470 at yearend 1990. Between 1990 and 1998, the number of Federal inmates held for immigration offenses increased 330% and the number held for weapons offenses increased 185%. The number of immigration offenders rose from 1,728 in 1990 to 7,430 in 1998; weapons offenders rose from 3,073 to 8,742. By September 30, 1998, weapons offenders represented 8.0% of Federal inmates and immigration violators 6.8%. Although the number of robbers showed an increase of 70% between 1990 and 1998, their increase was offset by a decline of nearly 20% among other violent offenders (such as inmates held for assault and sex offenses). Overall, the percentage of violent Federal inmates declined from 17% to 12%. While the number of offenders in each major offense category increased, the number incarcerated for a drug offense accounted for the largest percentage of the total growth (63%). Public-order offenders accounted for 26% of the increase; violent offenders, 6%, and property offenders, 1%. Factors contributing to the rise in the Federal inmate population between 1990 and 1998 include -- * an increase in defendants con- victed in U.S. district courts from 47,494 to 60,958 * an increase in the percentage sentenced to prison from 60.3% to 69.6% * an increase in the average time expected to be served by persons entering Federal prison from about 35 months to 45 months in 1998.* (For a detailed analysis Of the relative importance of each of these factors, by crime type, gender, And race/Hispanic origin, see A. Blumstein and A. Beck, Prison Growth in U.S. Prisons, 1980-1996, (in Crime And Justice, A Review of Research, University of Chicago Press, 1999) and W. Sabol and J. McGready, Time Served in Prison by Federal Offenders, 1986-97, (NCJ 171682).) Methodology National Prisoner Statistics The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), with the U.S. Bureau of the Census as its collection agent, obtains yearend and midyear counts of prisoners from departments of correction in each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In an effort to collect comparable data from all jurisdictions, 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. (See NPS jurisdiction notes.) 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. 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 provides information on persons held in U.S. military confinement facilities inside and outside the continental United States, by branch of service, sex, race, Hispanic origin, conviction status, sentence length, and offense. It also includes data on the number of facilities, and their design and rated capacities. Surveys of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities The Surveys of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, which BJS conducts regularly every 5 to 6 years, provide detailed data on individual characteristics of prison inmates. Based on scientifically selected samples of facilities and of inmates held in them, these surveys provide detailed information unavailable from any other source. (See Substance Abuse and Treatment, State and Federal Prisoners, 1997, NCJ 172871, for a description of the 1997 surveys, sample designs, and accuracy.) For this report, information on sex, race/Hispanic origin, age, offense, and sentence length was drawn from the 1997 surveys. National Corrections Reporting Program BJS obtains data on sentence length and minimum time to be served before first release for persons admitted to State prison and time served by those released from State prison in the National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP). The data cover persons released from custody regardless of the jurisdiction where the prisoner was sentenced. The number of jurisdictions reporting data varies for year to year. In 1998, 40 States and the District of Columbia reported data on admissions and releases. While NCRP collects individual level data on all offenders, time served calculations in this report were restricted to prisoners with sentences of more than 1 year. Estimating age-specific incarceration rates The number of sentenced prisoners within each age group was estimated for men, women, whites, blacks, and Hispanics. Estimates for 1999 were produced by combining data from NPS and from the State and Federal prison inmate surveys. The following procedures were used: 1. To obtain estimates of the number of sentenced State and Federal inmates by sex, race, and Hispanic origin in each year, NPS midyear 1999 custody counts for men and women were used. These counts of State and Federal inmates were multiplied by the proportion white, black, Hispanic, or other race as estimated from the State and Federal inmate surveys in 1997. The estimates were then adjusted to equal the number of sentenced inmates by sex in State and Federal prisons as reported in NPS for yearend 1999. 2. To obtain estimates by age in each year, age distributions for each demographic group were drawn from the State and Federal prison inmate surveys. These percentages were then multiplied by the number of sentenced inmates for each group defined by sex, race, and Hispanic origin. 3. Estimates of the U.S. resident population for July 1, 1999, were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of the Census. (See U.S. Population Estimates, by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 1990 to 1995, PPL-41, and updates for 1999.) These data were then adjusted for the 1990 decennial census, using the 1990 Post Enumeration Survey. 4. 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. NPS jurisdiction notes Alabama -- Capacity figures exclude community programs. Alaska -- Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations. Arizona -- Population counts are based on custody data. Operational capacity excludes temporary beds and double bunks used in situations of crowding. Arkansas -- Only one type of capacity, set by the Board of Corrections and Community Punishment, is reported. California -- Population counts include inmates temporarily out to court. Colorado -- Population counts include 2,413 male inmates in private county contract facilities. Capacity figures exclude county contract facilities. Connecticut -- Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations. Legislation in 1995 abolished the capacity law so that prisons no longer have a rated or operational capacity. Delaware -- Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations. Reporting criteria were expanded in 1999 to include home confinement clients in supervised custody facilities. Comparable counts for 1998 were not available. District of Columbia -- Prisons and jails form one integrated system. Counts exclude include jail populations. Federal -- Rated capacity excludes contract beds. Florida -- Population counts are based on custody data. Rated capacity is the maximum safe capacity. Georgia -- Population counts are based on custody data. Counts exclude an undetermined number of inmates housed in local jails awaiting transfer to prison. Hawaii -- Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations. Idaho -- Reporting criteria were expanded in 1999. To calculate percent change, the jurisdiction counts of 4,233 males and 375 females in 1999 were used. Operational capacity is the emergency maximum capacity. Illinois -- Population counts are based on custody data. Counts of inmates with a sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number with a sentence of 1 year or less. Capacity figures include 651 inmates on electronic detention. Iowa -- Population counts are based on custody data. Counts of inmates with a sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number with a sentence of 1 year or less. Kansas -- Counts of inmates with a sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number with a sentence of 1 year or less. Louisiana -- Population counts include 13,583 males and 1,309 females housed in local jails as a results of a partnership with the Louisiana Sheriff's Association and local authorities. Operational capacity is based on day-to-day operations. Rated and operational capacities include contractual work release facilities. Maryland -- Sentence length is estimated and applied to manual population counts. Operational capacity was estimated by applying a percentage to the population count. Massachusetts -- Population counts are for January 2, 2000. By law, offenders may be sentenced to terms of up to 2« years in locally operated jails. Such offenders are included in counts and rates for local jails. About 6,200 inmates with sentences of more than 1 year were held in local jails in 1999. Michigan -- Population counts are based on custody data and include inmates housed in institutions, camps, community correction centers, out of state, and on electronic monitoring. Counts exclude inmates housed in local jails. Operational capacity includes institution and camp net capacities and community programs. Minnesota -- Population counts include 80 male inmates held in a private facility. Capacity is defined as the total beds minus 10% of the segregation beds and 2% of the remaining beds reserved for maintenance. Mississippi -- Operation and design capacities include private prison capacities. Missouri -- Operational capacity is defined as the number of beds, including those temporarily off-line. Montana -- Population counts include a small number of inmates with unknown sentence length. Nebraska -- Operational capacity is defined as stress capacity (or 125% of design capacity), which is ordered by the governor and set by the DOC. Nevada -- Population counts are for January 3, 2000. Rated capacity is defined as emergency capacity. Design capacity is defined as one bed per cell. Capacity figures include 500 beds in a private facility. New Jersey -- Population counts of inmates with a sentence of more than 1 year include inmates with sentences of 1 year. New Mexico -- Capacity figures include the number of beds contracted with private facilities. New York -- Reporting criteria were expanded in 1999 to include sentenced inmates who were in local jails for 10 days or longer. To calculate percent change, the jurisdiction counts of 68,276 males and 3,533 females for 1999 were used. North Carolina -- Counts by sentence length are estimates. North Dakota -- Capacity figures include a new facility opened in 1998 and double bunking in the State Penitentiary. Ohio -- Population counts of inmates with a sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number with a sentence of 1 year or less. Rated capacity is reported for 8/1/99. Oklahoma -- Population counts of inmates with a sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number with a sentence of 1 year or less. Capacity figures include private prisons and contract jails. Oregon -- Inmates with under a 1 year maximum sentence remain under the control of local counties. Operational capacity includes temporary beds for 348 males and 160 females. Pennsylvania -- Rated and design capacities are single-cell capacities. Operational capacity is based on multiple occupancy. Rhode Island -- Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations. South Carolina -- Operational capa- city includes triple cell beds, and excludes short term administrative segregation, infirmary/hospital, and mental health beds. Design capacity excludes triple cell beds, infirmary/hospital and mental health beds. South Dakota -- Operational capacity is planned capacity. Tennessee -- Reporting criteria were expanded in 1999 to include sentenced felons housed in local jails. To calculate percent change, the jurisdiction counts of 17,555 males and 990 females for 1999 were used. Counts of inmates with a sentence of more than 1 year include those with sentences of 1 year. Texas -- Reporting criteria were expanded in 1999 to include inmates serving time in a pre-parole transfer (PPT) or intermediate sanctions facility (ISF), a substance abuse felony punishment facility (SAFPF), temporary releases to counties, and "paper ready" inmates in local jails. To calculate percent change, the jurisdiction counts 137,180 males and 11,354 females for 1999 were used. Capacity figures include privately operated and contract facilities. Utah -- Reporting criteria were expanded in 1999 to include inmates on parole awaiting revocation. To calculate percent change, the jurisdiction counts of 4,335 males and 307 females for 199 were used. Vermont -- Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations. Counts include inmates housed in other States but exclude inmates on furlough or intermediate sanctions. Virginia -- Rated, operational, and design capacity are calculated using an operational capacity method in which all inmates housed in a cell are counted. Washington -- Population counts include certain inmates with sentences of less than 1 year due to recently revised law. Wisconsin -- Counts exclude temporary probation or parole placements and persons on escape status. Counts include Alternatives to Revocation (ATRs), adult inmates held in contract juvenile facilities, and inmates held in local jails or in out-of-State, private, and Federal prisons due to crowding. Operational capacity includes a DOC juvenile facility and a non-DOC State -owned facility. Excluded are contracted local jails, Federal, other State, and private facilities. The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D., is director. BJS Bulletins present the first release of findings from permanent data collection programs such as the National Prisoner Statistics. Allen J. Beck wrote this report. Todd D. Minton, Christopher J. Mumola and Paula M. Ditton provided statistical assistance and verification. Tom Hester and Rhonda Keith produced and edited the report. Jayne Robinson administered final production. Data collection and processing for the NPS program were carried out by Brian DeVos under the supervision of Gertrude B. Odom and Marilyn M. Monahan, Demographic Surveys Division, U.S. Bureau of the Census. August 2000, NCJ 183476 End of file 08/03/00 ih