Decarceration in the United States

Decarceration Background

U.S. Crime and Prison Incarceration Changes

Changes in the U.S. Correctional Populations, Population, Crime, and Arrests, 1980–2014, by indicator:

Prisons : 319,600 (in 1980); 1,561,500 (in 2014); which results in a change of 389% in the period 1980-2014
Probation : 1,118,000 (in 1980); 3,864,100 (in 2014); which results in a change of 246% in the period 1980-2014
Parole : 220,500 (in 1980); 856,900 (in 2014); which results in a change of 289% in the period 1980-2014
Jails : 182,250 (in 1980); 744,600 (in 2014); which results in a change of 309% in the period 1980-2014
Total Correctional System : 1,840,350 (in 1980); 7,027,100 (in 2014); which results in a change of 282% in the period 1980-2014
U.S. Population : 227 million (in 1980); 319 million (in 2014); which results in a change of 41% in the period 1980-2014
Reported Index Crimes : 13.4 million (in 1980); 9.4 million (in 2014); which results in a change of −30% in the period 1980-2014
Arrests : 13.7 million (in 1980); 11.2 million (in 2014); which results in a change of −18% in the period 1980-2014

Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Census, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Correctional Populations and Admissions in the United States

Correctional Populations and Admissions in 2014, by Correctional System:

Prisons : 1,561,500 (population); 631,310 (admissions)
Probation : 3,864,100 (population); 2,067,100 (admissions)
Parole : 856,900 (population); 546,300 (admissions)
Jails : 744,600 (population); 11,383,424 (admissions)
Total : 7,027,100 (population); 14,628,134 (admissions)
Assume 25% Duplication : 10,971,100 (admissions)
Adult Population : 245.3 million (population); 245.3 million (admissions)
Rate per 100 Adults : 2.9 (population); 4.5 (admissions)

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics website data collections and U.S. Census.

Changes in State Prisoner Population Trends

Trends in Court Sentencing

State Felony Court Sentencing Trends 1992 versus 2006, by indicator:

State Prison Population : 802,241 (in 1992); 1,132,244,311 (in 2006); resulting in a 55% change
Reported Crime : 14,438,191 (in 1992); 10,319,386 (in 2006); resulting in a −29% change
Arrests : 7,316,610 (in 1992); 8,526,688 (in 2006); resulting in a 17% change
Felony Convictions : 893,630 (in 1992); 1,132,290 (in 2006); resulting in a 21% change
Drug Cases : 280,232 (in 1992); 377,860 (in 2006); resulting in a 29% change
% Convicted : 68% (in 1992); 68% (in 2006); resulting in a 0% change
Disposition Rates : (in 1992); (in 2006); resulting in a change
Prison : 44% (in 1992); 41% (in 2006); resulting in a −3% change
Jail : 26% (in 1992); 28% (in 2006); resulting in a 2% change
Probation : 30% (in 1992); 28% (in 2006); resulting in a −2% change
Other : 2% (in 1992); 4% (in 2006); resulting in a 2% change

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics website data collections.

Trends in State Prison Length of Stay

Average State Prison Maximum Sentence Length (in months) for New Court Admissions by Crime Category 1993 versus 2009, by primary offense:

Violent : 107 months in 1993; 97 months in 209; producing a difference of −10 months in the period
Homicide : 188 months in 1993; 205 months in 209; producing a difference of 17 months in the period
Kidnap : 133 months in 1993; 108 months in 209; producing a difference of −25 months in the period
Rape : 141 months in 1993; 158 months in 209; producing a difference of 17 months in the period
Robbery : 102 months in 1993; 96 months in 209; producing a difference of −6 months in the period
Assault : 76 months in 1993; 65 months in 209; producing a difference of −11 months in the period
Property : 58 months in 1993; 50 months in 209; producing a difference of −8 months in the period
Burglary : 69 months in 1993; 59 months in 209; producing a difference of −10 months in the period
Larceny : 46 months in 1993; 42 months in 209; producing a difference of −4 months in the period
Motor vehicle theft : 44 months in 1993; 37 months in 209; producing a difference of −7 months in the period
Arson : 89 months in 1993; 81 months in 209; producing a difference of −8 months in the period
Fraud : 52 months in 1993; 44 months in 209; producing a difference of −8 months in the period
Stolen property : 52 months in 1993; 44 months in 209; producing a difference of −8 months in the period
Other property : 48 months in 1993; 44 months in 209; producing a difference of −4 months in the period
Drugs : 62 months in 1993; 57 months in 209; producing a difference of −5 months in the period
Possession : 60 months in 1993; 48 months in 209; producing a difference of -12 months in the period
Trafficking : 65 months in 1993; 67 months in 209; producing a difference of 2 months in the period
Other/unspecified drug : 54 months in 1993; 51 months in 209; producing a difference of −3 months in the period
Other Crimes : 89 months in 1993; 50 months in 209; producing a difference of −39 months in the period
Weapons : 52 months in 1993; 55 months in 209; producing a difference of 3 months in the period
Driving while intoxicated : 52 months in 1993; 44 months in 209; producing a difference of −8 months in the period
Other public-order : 48 months in 1993; 50 months in 209; producing a difference of 2 months in the period

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Corrections Reporting Program, 1993 and 2009

Prison Length of Stay and Prisoner Recidivism Rates

Three-Year Follow-Up Rate of Rearrest of State Prisoners Released in 1994 by Time Served in Prison, by time served:

6 Months or Less: 66.0% (3-Year Rearrest Rates)
7–12 months: 64.8% (3-Year Rearrest Rates)
13–18 months: 64.2% (3-Year Rearrest Rates)
19–24 months: 65.4% (3-Year Rearrest Rates)
25–30 months: 68.3% (3-Year Rearrest Rates)
31–36 months: 62.6% (3-Year Rearrest Rates)
37–60 months: 63.2% (3-Year Rearrest Rates)
61 months or more: 54.0% (3-Year Rearrest Rates)

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prison Statistics.

Decarceration