Allen J. Beck, Ph.D., Paige M. Harrison, Bureau of Justice Statistics

August 12, 2001    NCJ 188207

Reports the number of persons in State and Federal prisons at yearend, compares the increase in the prison population during 2000 with that of the previous year, and gives the prison growth rates since 1990. It also includes data from December 31, 2000 indicating the number of male and female prisoners; incarceration rates for the States; the ten highest and ten lowest jurisdictions for selected characteristics, including growth rate, number of prisoners held, and incarceration rates; and data on prison capacities and the use of local jails, privately operated prisons, and Federal and other State facilities used to house inmates. The report also examines data on prison construction, added capacity, and facility operations, based on the 2000 Census of State and Federal Adult Correctional Facilities.

Highlights:

• In the last 6 months of 2000, the State prison population declined about 6,200 inmates (down 0.5%) -- the first measured decline in the State prison population since 1972.
• On December 31, 2000, State prisons were operating between full capacity and 15% above capacity, while Federal prisons were operating at 31% above capacity.
• At yearend 2000, 91,612 women were in State or Federal prisons -- 6.6% of all prison inmates. Since 1990 the number of male prisoners has grown 77% (reaching 1,290,280 in 2000), while the number of female prisoners has increased 108%.

Part of the Prisoners Series

Press Release
Full report (PDF 104K)
ASCII file (43K)
Spreadsheet (Zip format 52K)

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