U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin Probation and Parole in the United States, 2003 July 2004, NCJ 205336 --------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ppus03.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#ppus --------------------------------------------------------------- By Lauren E. Glaze and Seri Palla BJS Statisticians ------------------------------------------------------------ Highlights Probation -- * The adult probation population grew 1.2% in 2003, an increase of 49,920 probationers, less than half the average annual growth of 2.9% since 1995. * 49% of all probationers had been convicted of a felony, 49% of a misdemeanor, and 2% of other infractions. Twenty-five percent were on probation for a drug law violation, and 17% for driving while intoxicated. * Four States had an increase of 10% or more in their probation population in 2003: Kentucky (up 17%), Mississippi (up 15%), and Nebraska and New Hampshire (each up 12%). The adult probation population decreased in 19 States, led by Minnesota with the only double-digit decrease (down 10%). * Washington State had the highest rate of probationers per 100,000 residents, 3,767; New Hampshire had the lowest, 426. Parole -- * Overall, the Nation's parole population grew by 23,654 in 2003, or 3.1%, almost double the average annual growth of 1.7% since 1995. * Mandatory releases from prison as a result of a sentencing statute or good-time provision comprised 51% of those entering parole in 2003; in 1995 they were 45%. * A total of 17 States had double-digit increases in their parole population in 2003. Five States had a parole population increase of 20% or more: North Dakota (up 53%), Alabama (up 31%), Kentucky (up 27%), New Hampshire (up 25%), and New Mexico (up 23%). * 12 States had a decrease in their parole population. Hawaii (down 11%) was the only State with a decrease of more than 10%. ------------------------------------------------------- The total Federal, State, and local adult correctional population -- incarcerated or in the community -- grew by 130,700 during 2003 to reach a new high of nearly 6.9 million. About 3.2% of the U.S. adult population, or 1 in every 32 adults, were incarcerated or on probation or parole at yearend 2003. A total of 4,073,987 adult men and women were on probation at yearend 2003, representing a growth of 1.2% during the year. The adult parole population grew 3.1%, rising to a total of 774,588 by December 31, 2003. Since 1995 the parole population has been the slowest growing correctional population, increasing 1.7% annually, compared to jails (4.0% annually), prisons (3.4%), and probation (2.9%). Over 4.8 million adult men and women on probation or parole At yearend 2003 the number of adult men and women in the United States who were being supervised on probation or parole reached a record high 4,848,575, up from 3,757,282 on December 31, 1995. These data were collected in the 2003 Annual Probation Survey and the 2003 Annual Parole Survey conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). In 2003 the number of adults under supervision in the community increased 1.5%, which was less than the average annual increase of 3.2% since 1995. The total adult correctional population, including those incarcerated and those being supervised in the community, reached a new high of 6,889,800 at the end of 2003. At yearend 2003, 3.2%, 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 2003, or about 1 in 5 probationers and parolees, were in Texas and California. Texas led the Nation with 534,260 persons on probation or parole, followed by California with 485,039. Washington led the Nation with the largest percentage of its adult population under community supervision (3.8% at yearend 2003), followed by Texas (3.3%) and Rhode Island (3.2%). California's community supervision rate of 1.9% was slightly more than half that of Texas. Nine States reported that fewer than 1% of their adult populations were on probation or parole. New Hampshire had the lowest rate of supervision in the community (549 offenders per 100,000 adults). 4 States reported an increase of 10% or more in their probation population In 2003 Kentucky reported an increase of 17% in the number of adults on probation, followed by Mississippi (up 15%), and Nebraska and New Hampshire (each up 12%). Twenty-nine States reported an increase in their adult probation population during 2003. Nineteen States had fewer adults on probation at the end of 2003 than at the beginning of the year, led by Minnesota, down 10%, the only double-digit decrease during 2003. 49,920 probationers added in 2003 During 2003 the probation population grew by 49,920, an increase of 1.2%. At yearend 2003 the probation supervision rate totaled 1,876 probationers per 100,000 adult U.S. residents –- the equivalent of almost 1 in every 53 adults. Washington State with 3,767 probationers per 100,000 adult State residents had the highest rate of probation supervision; New Hampshire (with 426 per 100,000) had the lowest. More than 2.2 million adults entered probation supervision during 2003, an increase of almost 100,600 probation entries from 2002. Since 1995 the annual number of entries to probation, however, has fluctuated --increasing from 1995 to 2000, dropping in 2001, and then increasing again in 2002 and 2003. -------------------------------------- At yearend 2003, 1 in 5 probationers were women; 1 in 3 were black Nationwide, women represented a slightly larger percentage of the probation population in 2003 than in 1995. Women were 23% of adults on probation in 2003 (933,100), up from 21% in 1995. At yearend 2003 more than half of all probationers were white (2,298,600); almost a third were black (1,209,000); and an eighth were of Hispanic origin (491,700). Persons of other races comprised about 2% of probationers (74,800). 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 2003, 49% had been convicted of a felony offense. Forty-seven percent of probationers had a direct sentence to probation; 29% had received a sentence to incarceration that had been suspended; and 9% had received a split sentence which included incarceration followed by probation. An additional 12% had entered probation before completion of all court proceedings (including those who entered probation before final verdict). About 7 in 10 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 71% in 2003. At yearend 2003, 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 2003. In 2003, 25% of probationers had a drug law violation; 17% were sentenced for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol; 12% for larceny/theft; and 9% for other assault, excluding sexual assault and domestic violence. Fewer than 10% were sentenced to probation for domestic violence (7%), minor traffic offenses (6%), burglary (5%), fraud (4%), and sexual assault (3%). About 3 in 5 of the more than 2 million adults discharged from probation in 2003 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 varied from 21% in 1995 to 15% in 2000 to 16% in 2003. Another 4% of those discharged had absconded, and 13% had their probation sentence revoked without incarceration. --------------------------------------------- Parole growth in 2003 almost double average annual growth since 1995 Also serving time in the community at the end of 2003 were 774,588 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 3.1% growth in parole during 2003 -- a net increase of 23,654 parolees -- was almost double the average annual increase of 1.7% in parole since 1995. This was also the largest increase in the parole population from 1995 to 2003. Nearly all parolees had been convicted of a felony (95%). 17 States report double-digit increases in parole populations For the year ending December 31, 2003, 17 States reported an increase of 10% or more in their parole population. North Dakota led with 53%, followed by four other States exceeding 20%: Alabama (31%), Kentucky (27%), New Hampshire (25%), and New Mexico (23%). A total of 12 States reported a decrease in their adult parole population during 2003. Hawaii's decrease of 11% for the year ending December 31, was followed by three other States with a decrease of 5% or more. Women accounted for 1 of every 8 adults on parole in 2003 About 1 of every 8 adults on parole in 2003 (96,900) were women. The female parole population has increased steadily: from 10% in 1995 to 12% in 2000 to 13% in 2003. About 41% of adults on parole on December 31, 2003, were black (316,900); 40% were white (309,900). Almost 1 in 5 parolees were Hispanic (136,700). About 1% were of other races (11,200). Since 1995 mandatory releases to parole have increased Discretionary releases of prisoners to parole supervision by a parole board have decreased from 50% of adults entering parole in 1995 to 39%, or 178,800, in 2003. Mandatory releases to parole supervision increased from 45% in 1995 to 51% (237,500) in 2003. At yearend 2003 more than 4 of every 5 parolees were under active supervision and were required to maintain regular contact with the paroling agency. About 7% of parolees were absconders and could not be located. About 2 of every 5 parolees discharged from supervision returned to incarceration Of the more than 470,500 parolees discharged from supervision in 2003, 47% 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 47% in 2003). Of those parolees discharged in 2003, 38% had been returned to incarceration either because of a rule violation or new offense. Another 9% had absconded, and 1% 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 2003 with 4,609 adults under correctional supervision per 100,000 adult State residents, followed by Washington State (4,350), and Delaware (4,235). New Hampshire (974 per 100,000), West Virginia (991), and North Dakota (1,189) had the fewest adults on probation or parole or in prison or jail relative to their State populations. Offenders on probation or parole represented 70% of all persons under correctional supervision at yearend. The eight States with the highest rates of correctional supervision were also the eight States with the highest rates of probation supervision, except for Massachusetts, which ranked 12th in correctional supervision but 6th in probation supervision. Minnesota with 3,411 persons under supervision per 100,000 adult residents had the lowest percentage incarcerated (11% of all persons under supervision). Other States with a low percentage incarcerated included Vermont (with 12%), Rhode Island (with 13%), and Washington State and Massachusetts (each with 15%). Mississippi with 56% of its correctional population incarcerated had the highest percentage among States, followed by Virginia (55%) and West Virginia (51%). 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, 2003, 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, 2003, numbers may differ from those previously published for December 31, 2002. Probation The 2003 Annual Probation Survey was sent to 469 respondents -- 34 central State reporters, the District of Columbia, the Federal system, and 433 separate State, county, or court agencies. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (3), Arizona (2), Colorado (9), Florida (43), Georgia (5), Idaho (2), Kentucky (3), Michigan (128), Missouri (2), Montana (4), New Mexico (2), Ohio (187), Oklahoma (3), Tennessee (3), Washington (35), and West Virginia (2). A locality in Ohio did not provide data. For this agency, the 12/31/02 population count was used as the 1/1/03 and 12/31/03 counts. Misdemeanor data in Idaho was not available. The 12/31/02 misdemeanor population count was used as the 1/1/03 and 12/31/03 counts. Since 1997 the survey coverage has been expanded to include 186 additional agencies. At yearend 2003, 193,607 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 1995 and 2000-2003. Reported entries for the period were as follows: 1,578,182 in 1995, 1,963,414 in 2000, 1,918,640 in 2001, 1,888,485 in 2002, and 1,918,470 in 2003. Parole The 2003 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). 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 and Seri Palla wrote and produced this report under the supervision of Allen J. Beck. Thomas P. Bonczar provided statistical verification. Seri Palla and Lauren Glaze also conducted the collection and processing of data. July 2004, NCJ 205336 -------------------------------------- End of file 07/20/04