U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics Probation and Parole in the United States, 2005 November 2006, NCJ 215091 Revised 01/16/07 -------------------------------------------------------- This File is text only without graphics and many of the tables. A Zip archive of the tables in this report in spreadsheet format (.csv) and the full report including tables and graphics in .pdf format are available from: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ppus05.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.opj.usdoj.gov/bjs/pubalp2.htm#ppus -------------------------------------------------------- By Lauren E. Glaze and Thomas P. Bonczar BJS Statisticians -------------------------------------------------------- Highlights Probation —- * The adult probation population grew 0.5% in 2005. This was an increase of 19,070 probationers, or the smallest increase in the last 26 years. * About 50% of all probationers had been convicted of a felony, 49% of a misdemeanor, and 1% of other infractions. Twenty-eight percent were on probation for a drug law violation, and 15% for driving while intoxicated. * One State, Mississippi (up 17%), had an increase of 10% or more in its probation population in 2005. * The adult probation population decreased in 15 States, led by Maine (down 9%) and Vermont (down 8%). Parole —- * In 2005 the Nation's parole population grew 1.6%. This was an increase of 12,556 parolees during the year. * Mandatory releases from prison as a result of a sentencing statute or good-time provision comprised 51% of those entering parole in 2005, up from 45% in 1995. * 11 States had double-digit increases in their parole population in 2005, led by Arkansas (up 23%), North Dakota (up 17%), and West Virginia (up 16%). * 14 States had a decrease in their parole population. Nebraska (down 17%) was the only State with a decrease of more than 10%. --------------------------------------------------------- During 2005 the total Federal, State, and local adult correctional population -- incarcerated or in the community -- grew by 60,800 to over 7 million. The growth of 0.9% during the year was less than half of the average annual increase of 2.5% since 1995. About 3.2% of the U.S. adult population, or 1 in every 32 adults, were incarcerated or on probation or parole at yearend 2005. The probation population increased 0.5% in 2005 to reach 4,162,536 on December 31. This represented an increase of 19,070 additional probationers, or the smallest increase in the last 26 years. The adult parole population reached a total of 784,408 on December 31, 2005. It grew 1.6%, or slightly more than the average annual increase of 1.4% since 1995. Nearly 5 million persons on probation or parole The number of adult men and women in the United States who were being supervised on probation or parole at the end of 2005 reached a new high of 4,946,944, up from 3,757,282 on December 31, 1995. These data were collected in the 2005 Annual Probation Survey and the 2005 Annual Parole Survey, conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Probationers are criminal offenders who have been sentenced to a period of correctional supervision in the community in lieu of incarceration. 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. In 2005 the growth in the combined probation and parole populations was 0.6%. An additional 31,626 probationers or parolees were added during the year. Probationers accounted for half the growth in the correctional population since 1990 Probationers accounted for more than half the total growth in the correctional population since 1990. Overall, the correctional population increased by nearly 2.5 million, or 57%, from 1990 to 2005. Probationers accounted for 53% of the growth (or 1,492,000), followed by prisoners (25%, or 703,000), jail inmates (12% or 342,000), and parolees (9% or 253,000). Community supervision declined as a percentage of the correctional population Between 1990 and 2005 the prison population was the fastest growing correctional population, with an average annual increase of 4.5%, followed by jails (4.2%), and parole and probation (2.6% each). As a percentage of the correctional population, offenders under community supervision accounted for 69% of the correctional population in 2005 (down from nearly 74% in 1990), while those incarcerated accounted for 31%(up from 26% in 1990). Probationers continued to account for the majority of all persons under correctional supervision in 2005 (58%, down from 61% in 1990). Parolees were 11% of the total population in 2005 (down from 12% in 1990). Prisoners increased to 20% of the total correctional population (up from 17% in 1990), while jail inmates increased to 10% (up from 9% in 1990). Correctional supervision rate rose sharply from 1980 to 2005 The rate of U.S. adult residents under correctional supervision nearly tripled between 1980 (1,117 per 100,000) and 2005 (3,150 per 100,000). During 2005 the U.S. resident population increased at a higher rate (1.1%) than the population under correctional supervision (0.9%). Despite growth in the total correctional population from 6,995,200 in 2004 to 7,056,000 in 2005, the rate of U.S. men and women under correctional supervision in 2005 (3,150 per 100,000 adult residents) remained about the same as in 2004 (3,156). 6 of the 10 States with largest probation populations also had large parole populations Texas, California, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Illinois had 6 of the 10 largest probation populations in the Nation at yearend 2005. These 6 States accounted for more than a third of all probationers (37%). The same 6 States were among the 10 States with the largest parole populations in the Nation. Almost half of all parolees were supervised within these 6 States (46%). Texas and California accounted for more than 1 million adults supervised in the community, or about 1 in 5 probationers and parolees. Each State had at least a half million adults on probation or parole: Texas with 532,228, and California with 500,003. Among the other States, Massachusetts had the largest percentage of its adult population under community supervision (3.4% at yearend 2005), followed by Texas (3.2%) and Rhode Island (3.1%). California had the largest parole population and the second largest probation population in the Nation. The percentage of California's adult population under community supervision was 1.9%, or slightly below the Nation's percentage of 2.2%. Eight States reported rates of community supervision below 1,000 per 100,000 adult residents. New Hampshire had the lowest rate of supervision in the community (595 offenders per 100,000 adults). 9 States reported an increase of 5% or more in their probation population In 2005 Mississippi (up 17%) had the largest increase in probationers, followed by West Virginia (up 10%), and Wyoming (up 9%). A total of 32 States reported an increase in their adult probation population during 2005. Fifteen States had fewer adults on probation at the end of 2005 than at the beginning of the year. Maine(down 9%)led the Nation with the largest decrease, followed by Vermont (down 8%), and Washington (down 6%). 19,070 probationers added in 2005 During 2005 the probation population grew by 19,070. The growth in the number of probationers (0.5%) was the smallest growth in probation since the survey began in 1980. At yearend 2005 the probation supervision rate totaled 1,858 probationers per 100,000 adult U.S. residents--the equivalent of 1 in every 54 adults. Two States, Massachusetts (3,350 per 100,000)and Rhode Island(3,091 per 100,000), had more than 3% of their adult resident population under probation supervision. A total of 10 States had fewer than 1% of their adult resident population under probation supervision. One State, New Hampshire(457 per 100,000), had a rate below 500 probationers per 100,000 adult residents. Small growth in probation population during 2005 Since 2001 the growth in probation has steadily dropped. The annual change was 2.8% in 2001, 2.3% in 2002, 1.2% in 2003, and 0.6% in 2004. The 0.5% growth in the probation population during 2005 was the smallest in the last 26 years.***Since Probation and Parole in the United States, 2004, was published, Washington State revised their 2004 data which resulted in the 2003-04 national percent change increasing from 0.2% to 0.6%.*** Growth in probation since 1990 linked to entries Since 1990 the probation population has steadily increased from 2,670,200 to 4,162,536 in 2005. Although the number of entries decreased from 1990 (1,637,600) to 1994 (1,397,500), entries exceeded exits during that period, resulting in an average annual increase of 3.0% in the probation population. The number entering probation has increased each year since 1994, except for a 2.0% decrease in 2001 and a 0.5% decrease in 2004. From 1995 through 1999 the annual increase in the probation population fluctuated between 87,000 and 120,000 additional probationers each year. Beginning in 2001 the annual increase in the number of probationers declined from 105,500 to 92,300 in 2002, to 49,900 in 2003, to 23,400 in 2004. In 2005 the annual increase reached its lowest since data collection began in 1980--an additional 19,070 probationers. 5 States accounted for nearly a third of the growth in probation from 1995 to 2005 In absolute numbers the probation population increased by 858,500 between 1995 and 2005. California experienced the largest growth 107,700), followed by Pennsylvania(60,700), Michigan(37,200), Illinois(33,600), and Minnesota(33,300). These five States accounted for 32% of the growth in probation since 1995. Between 1995 and 2005 New York had the largest decrease in the number of probationers(49,000), followed by Washington (16,200), and the Federal system (8,700). ------------------------------------------------ At yearend 2005 almost 1 in 4 probationers were female; more than 1 in 2 were white Nationwide women represented a slightly larger percentage of the probation population in 2005 than in 1995. Women were 23% of adults on probation in 2005 (956,200), up from 21% in 1995. At yearend 2005 more than half of all probationers were white (2,290,500); almost a third were black (1,239,600); and an eighth were Hispanic (539,700). Persons of other races comprised about 2% of probationers (92,600). Direct sentences more common in 2005 than 1995 A larger percentage of probationers in 2005 had received a direct sentence to probation (57%) than in 1995 (48%). A smaller percentage had a probation sentence combined with incarceration (10% compared to 15% in 1995). The percentage of probationers that received a suspended sentence to incarceration has slowly declined, from 26% in 1995 to 22% in 2005. Half of all probationers convicted of a felony Probationers convicted of a felony (50%) accounted for a larger percentage of the population than probationers convicted of a misdemeanor (49%). About 1% of probationers had been convicted of other infractions. The largest percentage of the probation population was convicted of a drug law violation (28%), followed by a DWI (15%) and larceny/theft (12%). Seven in 10 probationers were under active supervision at yearend. Probationers under active supervision are required to regularly report to a probation authority in person, by mail, or by telephone. The percentage of probationers required to report regularly declined steadily, from 79% in 1995 to 70% in 2005. About 1 in 10 persons still on probation had absconded at yearend 2005. Though still on probation, absconders had failed to report and could not be located. The percentage of absconders on probation increased slightly in the last 10 years (10% in 2005, up from 9% in 1995). Success rates have remained stable since 1995 Fifty-nine percent of the more than 2.2 million adults discharged from probation in 2005 had successfully met the conditions of their supervision. The percentage of probationers discharged successfully has varied between 62% (1995) and 59% (2005). Probationers discharged from supervision because of incarceration due to a new offense or rule violation has varied, from 21% in 1995 to 15% in 2000 to 16% in 2005. Another 3% of those discharged from probation had absconded and 13% had their probation revoked without incarceration. ------------------------------------------------ Parole population grew by 12,556 during 2005 At the end of 2005 a total of 784,408 adult men and women were on parole or mandatory conditional release following a prison term. The population grew by 12,556 parolees during the year, or 1.6%. This was greater than the average annual increase of 1.4% since 1995. At yearend 2005, 350 persons were under parole supervision per 100,000 adult residents, or 1 in every 286 adults in the United States. Pennsylvania (787 per 100,000), Arkansas (782), and Oregon (766) had the highest rates of parole supervision. Maine, which abolished parole in 1975, had the lowest rate of supervision (3 per 100,000). Parole populations increased in 33 States At total of 33 States and the District of Columbia had more adults on parole at the end of 2005 than at the beginning of the year. Double-digit increases were reported in 11 States. Arkansas (up 23%) had the largest increase, followed by North Dakota(up 17%), and West Virginia(up 16%). A total of 14 States reported a decrease in their parole population during 2005. Nebraska (down 17%) had the only double-digit decrease. Four States had decreases of 5% or more: Hawaii (down 8%), Oklahoma and Massachusetts (both down 7%), and Alabama (down 6%). State parole population increasing after stability during the 1990s From 1980 to 1992 the State parole population increased from 196,800 to 618,700, or an average of 10% annually. From 1992 to 1998, the growth in the population slowed, increasing a total of 10,500 or the equivalent of an average annual increase of nearly 0.3%. In the following period, 1998 to 2005, the State parole population added 64,000 parolees, or 1.4% annually. Growth in State parole linked to entries From 1980 to 1990 the number of entries to State parole supervision more than tripled, from 113,400 to 349,000. State parole entries continued to rise during the 1990s (up an average of 2.4% annually). Parole discharges also increased during the period (up an average of 4.6% annually). From 2000 to 2005 the number of State parole entries continued to exceed the number of exits. Both rose slowly, 1.7% annually. Discretionary releases to parole supervision continued to decline As a percentage of all releases from State prison, discretionary releases by a parole board steadily declined from 55% in 1980 to 22% in 2004. From 1980 to 1995 mandatory parole releases increased (from 19% to 39%). Mandatory releases remained fairly stable between 1995 and 2004 (39%). These trends were consistent with the change in release policy occurring within many States after 1980, resulting in a shift away from discretionary releases in favor of determinate sentences and mandatory supervised release. (See Trends in State Parole, 1990- 2000, October 2001, NCJ 184735.) Releases from State prison due to expiration of sentence increased from 13% of all releases in 1990 to 21% in 2001. Between 2001 and 2004 expiration of sentence releases declined to 19%. From 1990(5%)through 1999(6%)releases to probation remained stable. Since 2000 releases to probation have steadily increased from 6% to 10% in 2004. Other conditional releases have fluctuated over the years (3% in 1980, up to 10% in 1990, down to 6% in 2000). Since 2001 (3%) other conditional releases have steadily increased, reaching 6% in 2004. Proportion of females on parole increased between 1995 and 2005 At yearend 2005 women made up about 1 in 8 adults on parole (93,000). A greater percentage of women were on parole at the end of 2005 (12%), compared to 1995 (10%). As a percentage of all parolees, blacks decreased from 45% in 1995 down to 40% in 2005. During this same period, the percentage of parolees who were white steadily increased (34% in 1995, 38% in 2000, and 41% in 2005). Almost 1 in 5 parolees were Hispanic (141,100). About 2% of parolees were of other races (12,700). More than 8 in 10 parolees were under active supervision Active supervision requires parolees to regularly report to a parole authority in person, by mail, or by telephone. This type of supervision increased as a percentage of all parolees, from 78% in 1995 to 83% in 2000. In 2005 the percentage of parolees on active supervision(83%)remained stable. Parolees on inactive status, excluded from regular reporting but still on parole, decreased as a percentage of all parolees, from 11% in 1995 to 4% in 2005. Another 7% of all parolees still on parole in 2005 had absconded, 4% were supervised out of State, and 1% were supervised through some other type of status. About 4 in 10 parolees served a sentence for a drug offense About 94% of all parolees had been sentenced to 1 year or more in State or Federal prison at yearend 2005. The largest percentage of parolees had been convicted of a drug offense (37%, down from 40% in 2002). Since 2002 the percentage of parolees supervised for property(26%)and violent(24%)offenses remained stable. An equal percentage of parolees were supervised for property (25%) and violent offenses (25%) at yearend 2005. In 2005, 7% of parolees had been convicted of other offenses, such as public order violations or unclassified offenses, up from 10% in 2002. Rates of success for parolees have remained stable since 1995 As a percentage of all discharges, parolees who successfully met the conditions of their supervision have remained nearly stable between 1995 and 2005(45% in both years). During this period the success rates for parolees were consistently lower than the success rates for probationers (62% in 1995 and 59% in 2005). Since 1995 the total estimated number of parolees discharged from supervision increased from 391,300 to 503,800 in 2005. During this time the number of successful exits increased from 176,300 to 227,600. In 2005, 191,800 parolees were discharged from supervision and returned to incarceration because of a new offense or rule violation, up from 160,000 in 1995. While the number of parolees returned to incarceration increased, the percentage of all exits resulting in re-incarceration remained nearly stable (41% in 1995 and 38% in 2005). Methodology The Annual Probation Survey and Annual Parole Survey provide a count of the total number of persons supervised in the community on January 1 and December 31, 2005, 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 was released 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, 2005, numbers may differ from those previously published for December 31, 2004. Probation The 2005 Annual Probation Survey was sent to 466 respondents 33 central State reporters, the District of Columbia, the Federal system, and 431 separate State, county, or court agencies. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (3), Arizona(2), Colorado(8), Florida(43), Georgia(5),Idaho(2), Kentucky (3), Michigan (127), Missouri (2), Montana (4), New Mexico (2), Ohio (185), Oklahoma (3), Pennsylvania (2), Tennessee (3), Washington (35), and West Virginia (2). Since 1995 the survey coverage has been expanded to include 180 additional agencies. At yearend 2005, 226,192 probationers were under the supervision of these agencies. Parole The 2005 Annual Parole Survey was sent to 54 respondents, including 50 State central reporters, the District of Columbia, the Federal system, the California Youth Authority, and 1 municipal agency in Alabama. 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. Jeffrey L. Sedgwick is director. BJS Bulletins present the first release of findings from permanent data collection programs. Lauren E. Glaze and Thomas P. Bonczar wrote this report, under the supervision of Allen J. Beck. Margaret E. Noonan provided statistical verification. Seri Palla Irazola conducted the data collection. The processing of data was conducted by the authors. Tina Dorsey and Doris J. James edited the report. Jayne Robinson prepared the report for printing. November 2006, NCJ 215091 -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- This report in portable document format and in ASCII and its related statistical data and tables are available at the BJS World Wide Web Internet site: -------------------------------------------- Revised 01/16/07 End of file 11/15/06 ih