U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics Probation and Parole in the United States, 2002 August 2003, NCJ 201135 ------------------------------------------------------- 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/ppus02.htm This report is on 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#Probation ------------------------------------------------------- By Lauren E. Glaze BJS Statistician ------------------------------------------------------ Highlights Probation -- * The adult probation population grew 1.6% in 2002, an increase of 63,434 probationers, about half the average annual growth of 3.1% since 1995. * 50% of all probationers had been convicted of a felony, 49% of a misdemeanor, and 1% of other infractions. Twenty-four percent were on probation for a drug law violation, and 17% for driving while intoxicated. * Among States in 2002, the probation population of only New Mexico (13%) and South Dakota (11%) increased 10% or more. The adult probation population decreased in 13 States, led by Idaho with the only double-digit decrease (down 12%). * Washington State had the highest rate of probationers per 100,000 residents, 3,819; New Hampshire had the lowest, 387. Parole -- * Overall, the Nation's parole population grew by 20,808 in 2002, or 2.8%, almost double the average annual growth of 1.5% since 1995. * Mandatory releases from prison as a result of a sentencing statute or good-time provision comprised 52% of those entering parole in 2002; in 1995 they were 45%. * A total of 12 States had double-digit increases in their parole population in 2002. Four States had a parole population increase of 20% or more: North Dakota (27%), New Mexico (26%), Kentucky (23%), and Oklahoma (21%). * 18 States had a decrease in their parole population. Four States, led by Washington (down 39%), had a decrease of more than 10%. ------------------------------------------------- The total Federal, State, and local adult correctional population -- incarcerated or in the community -- grew by 150,700 during 2002 to reach a new high of more than 6.7 million. About 3.1% of the U.S. adult population, or 1 in every 32 adults, were incarcerated or on probation or parole at yearend 2002. A total of 3,995,165 adult men and women were on probation at yearend 2002, representing a growth of 1.6% during the year. The adult parole population grew 2.8%, rising to a total of 753,141 by December 31, 2002. Since 1995 the parole population has been the slowest growing correctional population, increasing 1.5% annually, compared to jails (4.0% annually), prisons (3.5%), and probation (3.1%). Over 4.7 million adult men and women on probation or parole At yearend 2002 the number of adult men and women in the United States who were being supervised in the community reached a record high 4,748,306, up from 3,757,282 on December 31, 1995. These data were collected in the 2002 Annual Probation Survey and the 2002 Annual Parole Survey conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). In 2002 the number of adults under supervision in the community increased 1.8%, which was less than the average annual increase of 3.4% since 1995. The total adult correctional population, including those incarcerated and those being supervised in the community, reached a new high of 6,732,400 at the end of 2002. At yearend 2002, 3.1%, or about 1 in every 32 adults in the United States, were in State or Federal prisons, local jails, or under the supervision of probation or parole authorities, up from 2.7% in 1995. Texas and California led the Nation in number of adults supervised in the community More than 1 million persons being supervised in the community in 2002, or about 1 in 5 probationers and parolees, were in Texas and California. Texas led the Nation with 537,561 persons on probation or parole, followed by California with 471,306. Washington led the Nation with the largest percentage of its adult population under community supervision (3.8% at yearend 2002), followed by Delaware and Texas (each with 3.4%). California's community supervision rate of 1.8% was about half that of Texas. Ten States reported that fewer than 1% of their adult populations were on probation or parole. West Virginia had the lowest rate of supervision in the community (450 offenders per 100,000 adults). 2 States reported an increase of 10% or more in their probation population New Mexico reported an increase of 13% and South Dakota an increase of 11% in the number of adults on probation during 2002. Thirty-five States reported an increase in their adult probation populations during 2002. Ohio had the largest increase (with 16,024 additional persons on probation), followed by Washington State (7,487) and California (7,353). Thirteen States had fewer adults on probation at the end of 2002 than at the beginning of the year, led by Idaho, down 12%, the only double-digit decrease during 2002. 63,434 probationers added in 2002 During 2002 the probation population grew by nearly 63,434, an increase of 1.6%. This was more than half the increase recorded in 2001 (105,522) and the second smallest increase since 1995. At yearend 2002 the probation supervision rate totaled 1,854 probationers per 100,000 adult U.S. residents -- the equivalent of 1 in every 54 adults. Washington State with 3,819 probationers per 100,000 adult State residents had the highest rate of probation supervision; New Hampshire (with 387 per 100,000) had the lowest. More than 2.1 million adults entered probation supervision during 2002, an increase of over 18,500 probation entries from 2001. Since 1999 the annual number of entries to probation, however, has fluctuated -- increasing in 2000 and then dropping in 2001. -------------------------------------------------- At yearend 2002, women comprised 1 in 5 probationers; blacks, 1 in 3 Nationwide, women represented a slightly larger percentage of the probation population in 2002 than in 1995. Women were 23% of adults on probation in 2002 (906,600), up from 21% in 1995. At yearend 2002 more than half of all probationers were white (2,212,700); a third were black (1,228,300); and an eighth were of Hispanic origin (485,600). Persons of other races comprised about 2% of probationers (68,700). Half of all probationers convicted of a felony; a quarter convicted of a drug law violation Probationers are criminal offenders who have been sentenced to a period of conditional supervision in the community. At yearend 2002, 50% had been convicted of a felony offense. Sixty percent of probationers had a direct sentence to probation; 22% had received a sentence to incarceration that had been suspended; and 9% had received a split sentence that included incarceration followed by probation. An additional 10% had entered probation before completion of all court proceedings (including those who entered probation before final verdict). Approximately 3 of every 4 probationers were under active supervision and were required to regularly report to a probation authority in person, by mail, or by telephone. The percentage of probationers required to report regularly dropped steadily, from 79% in 1995 to 76% in 2000 and to 75% in 2002. At yearend 2002 at least 1 in 9 probationers had absconded: though still on probation, they had failed to report and could not be located. Among all persons on probation, absconders increased from 9% in 1995 to 11% in 2002. In 2002, 24% of probationers had a drug law violation; 17% were sentenced for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol; 13% for larceny/theft; and 10% for other assault, excluding sexual assault and domestic violence. Fewer than 10% were sentenced to probation for burglary (8%), domestic violence (7%), minor traffic offenses (6%), fraud (5%), and sexual assault (2%). More than 3 out of 5 of the more than 2 million adults discharged from probation in 2002 had successfully met the conditions of their supervision. The percentage of probationers discharged from probation supervision because of incarceration due to a rule violation or new offense dropped steadily, from 21% in 1995 to 15% in 2000 and to 14% in 2002. Another 3% of those discharged had absconded, and 13% had their probation sentence revoked without incarceration. ----------------------------------------------- Parole growth in 2002 almost double average annual growth since 1995 Also serving time in the community at the end of 2002 were 753,141 adults on parole. Parole is a period of conditional supervised release following a prison term. Prisoners may be released to parole either by a parole board decision or by mandatory conditional release. The 2.8% growth in parole during 2002 -- a net increase of 20,808 parolees -- was almost double the average annual increase of 1.5% in parole since 1995. This was also the largest increase in the parole population since 1995. Nearly all parolees had been convicted of a felony (96%). Double-digit increases in parole populations reported by 12 States For the year ending December 31, 2002, 12 States reported an increase of 10% or more in their parole population. North Dakota led with 27%, followed by three other States exceeding 20%: New Mexico (26%), Kentucky (23%), and Oklahoma (21%). A total of 18 States reported a decrease in their adult parole population during 2002. Washington State's decrease of 39% for the year ending December 31, was followed by three other States with a decrease of 10% or more: South Carolina (down 14%), Florida (down 13%), and Vermont (down 11%). Women accounted for more than 1 of every 7 adults on parole in 2002 About 1 of every 7 adults on parole in 2002 (108,200) were women. The female parole population has increased steadily: from 10% in 1995 to 12% in 2000 to 14% in 2002. About 42% of adults on parole on December 31, 2002, were black (313,800); 39% were white (292,400). Almost 1 in 5 parolees were Hispanic (136,600). About 1% were of other races (10,400). Mandatory releases to parole have risen since 1995 Discretionary releases of prisoners to parole supervision by a parole board have decreased from 50% of adults entering parole in 1995 to 39%, or 174,600, in 2002. Mandatory releases to parole supervision increased from 45% in 1995 to 52% (234,000) in 2002. At yearend 2002 more than 4 of every 5 parolees were under active supervision and were required to maintain regular contact with the paroling agency. About 8% of parolees were absconders and could not be located. More than 2 of every 5 parolees discharged from supervision returned to incarceration Of the nearly 448,000 parolees discharged from supervision in 2002, 45% had successfully met the conditions of their supervision. The success rate among those discharged from parole remained fairly stable after 1995 (45% in 1995, 43% in 2000, and 45% in 2002). Of those parolees discharged in 2002, 41% had been returned to incarceration either because of a rule violation or new offense. Another 9% had absconded, and 2% had failed to successfully meet the conditions of supervision but were discharged without incarceration. Correctional supervision rate highest in Texas and lowest in New Hampshire Texas led the Nation at yearend 2002 with 4,682 adults under correctional supervision per 100,000 adult State residents, followed by Delaware (4,557), Idaho (4,396), and Washington State (4,348). New Hampshire (960 per 100,000), West Virginia (980), and North Dakota (1,055) had the fewest adults on probation or parole or in prison or jail relative to their State populations. Offenders on probation or parole represented nearly 71% of all persons under correctional supervision at yearend. The 10 States with the highest rates of correctional supervision were also the 10 States with the highest rates of probation supervision. Minnesota with 3,654 persons under supervision per 100,000 adult residents had the lowest percentage incarcerated (8.9% of all persons under supervision). Other States with a low percentage incarcerated included Vermont (with 11%), Rhode Island (with 13%), and Washington State (with 14%). Mississippi with 59% of its correctional population incarcerated had the highest percentage among States, followed by West Virginia and Virginia (54%). Methodology The Annual Probation and Parole Surveys provide a count of the total number of persons supervised in the community on January 1 and December 31, 2002, 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. The first annual report on probation and parole appeared in 1979. Data for the Federal system are from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts as provided to the BJS Federal Justice Statistics Program. Because many States update their population counts, the January 1, 2002, numbers may differ from those previously published for December 31, 2001. Probation The 2002 Annual Probation Survey was sent to 473 respondents -- 36 central State reporters and 437 separate State, county, or court agencies. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (3), Arizona (2), Colorado (9), Florida (44), Georgia (5), Idaho (2), Kentucky (3), Michigan (130), Missouri (2), New Mexico (2), Ohio (186), Oklahoma (3), Tennessee (3), Washington (35), and West Virginia (2). Two local agencies (one in Michigan and one in Washington) did not provide data. For these agencies, the 12/31/01 population count was used as the 1/1/02 and 12/31/02 counts. Since 1997 the survey coverage has been expanded to include 186 additional agencies. At yearend 2002, 186,497 probationers were under the supervision of these agencies. For year-to-year comparisons, use total counts based on the same reporting agencies -- 3,266,837 in 1997 to compare with the final 1996 counts; 3,417,613 in 1998 to compare with final 1997; and 3,772,773 in 1999 to compare with final 1998. Entries to probation supervision were estimated for nonreporting agencies beginning in 1999. Reported entries for the period were as follows: 1,851,711 in 1999, 1,963,414 in 2000, 1,918,640 in 2001 and 1,888,485 in 2002. Parole The 2002 Annual Parole Survey was sent to 54 respondents, including 52 central reporters, the California Youth Authority, and 1 municipal agency. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (2) and California (2). One State agency, Massachusetts, was unable to provide data. For this agency, the 12/31/01 population count was used as the 1/1/02 and 12/31/02 counts. Federal parole as defined here includes supervised release, parole, military parole, special parole, and mandatory release. ----------------------------------------- The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Lawrence A. Greenfeld is the director. BJS Bulletins present the first release of findings from permanent data collection programs such as the Annual Probation and Parole Surveys. Lauren E. Glaze wrote this report while under the supervision of Allen J. Beck. Paige M. Harrison and Daniel J. Billings provided statistical verification. Data collection and processing were conducted by Lauren Glaze with assistance from Lara E. Reynolds and Todd D. Minton. Tom Hester edited the report. Jayne Robinson administered final production. August 2003, NCJ 201135 ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- This report in portable document format and in ASCII, its tables, and related statistical data are available at the BJS World Wide Web Internet site: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/ ----------------------------------------- End of file 08/13/03 ih