Correctional Populations in the United States, 2016

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics

Correctional Populations in the United States, 2016

April 2018, NCJ 251211

Bulletin

Danielle Kaeble and Mary Cowhig, BJS Statisticians

An estimated 6,613,500 persons were under the supervision of U.S. adult correctional systems on December 31, 2016 (figure 1). The adult correctional population consists of persons held in prisons and jails and persons on probation and parole. The correctional population decreased 0.9% from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016. From 2007 to 2016, the correctional population declined by an average of 1.2% annually, ranging from a decrease of 0.4% in 2008 to 2.1% in 2010. At year-end 2016, about 1 in 38 persons in the United States were under correctional supervision.

This report summarizes data from several Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) collections on populations supervised by adult correctional systems in the United States. (See Methodology.)

Figure 1 Total population under the supervision of U.S. adult correctional systems, 2006?2016

Number (in millions)

8

7

Total

6

5

4

Probation

3

2

1

0

'06

'10

Prison Parole Jail

'15 '16

Note: Estimates may not be comparable to previously published BJS reports because of updated information or rounding. See Methodology for details.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Annual Probation Survey, Annual Parole Survey, Annual Survey of Jails, and National Prisoner Statistics program, 2006?2016.

HIGHLIGHTS

In 2016, the number of persons supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems dropped for the ninth consecutive year.

From 2007 to 2016, the portion of the adult population under supervision of U.S. correctional systems decreased by 18%, from 3,210 to 2,640 per 100,000 adult residents.

The percentage of adults supervised by the U.S. correctional system was lower in 2016 than at any time since 1993.

The incarceration rate has declined since 2009 and is currently at its lowest rate since 1996.

On December 31, 2016, an estimated 6,613,500 persons were supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems, about 62,700 fewer persons than on January 1, 2016.

About 1 in 38 adults (or 2.6% of persons age 18 or older in the United States) were under some form of correctional supervision at year-end 2016.

The correctional population declined 0.9% during 2016 due to decreases in both the community supervision (down 1.1%) and incarcerated (down 0.5%) populations.

The community supervision population fell from 4,586,900 on January 1, 2016, to 4,537,100 on December 31, 2016.

All of the decrease in the community supervision population in 2016 was due to a decline in the probation population (down 52,500).

The incarcerated population decreased slightly from 2,172,800 in 2015 to 2,162,400 in 2016.

All of the decrease in the incarcerated population was due to a decline in the prison population (down 21,200), while the jail population remained relatively stable.

For more information on the individual components included in the total correctional population, see Prisoners in 2016 (NCJ 251149, BJS web, January 2018), Probation and Parole in the United States, 2016 (NCJ 251148, BJS web, March 2018), and Jail Inmates in 2016 (NCJ 251210, BJS web, February 2018). These systems include persons living in the community while supervised by probation or parole agencies, and those incarcerated under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons or in the custody of local jails. (See Terms and definitions.)

Community supervision and incarcerated populations continued a steady decline

The decline in the U.S. correctional population from January 1, 2016 (6,676,200 persons), to December 31, 2016 (6,613,500), continued a downward trend that began in 2008 (table 1). Persons supervised in the

community on either probation (3,673,100 persons) or parole (874,800) continued to account for the majority of the U.S. correctional population at year-end 2016. Nearly 7 in 10 persons under correctional supervision were supervised in the community (4,537,100) on December 31, 2016, and 3 in 10 (2,162,400) were incarcerated in state or federal prisons or local jails.1

The 0.9% decrease in the correctional population from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016, was due to a 1.1% decline in the number of persons supervised in the community and a 0.5% decline in the incarcerated population. The decrease in the community supervision population during 2016 accounted for nearly 80% of the decline in the total correctional population. The number of persons under supervision in the

1The total correctional, community supervision, and incarcerated populations exclude offenders with dual correctional statuses to avoid double counting. See table 5 and Methodology.

Table 1 Number of persons supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems, by correctional status, 2000 and 2006?2016

Year 2000 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016*

January 1e December 31

Total correctional populationa 6,467,800 7,199,600 7,339,600 7,312,600 7,239,100 7,089,000 6,994,500 6,949,800 6,899,700 6,856,900 6,740,300

6,676,200 6,613,500

Community supervision

Totala,c

Probation Parole

4,564,900 3,839,400 725,500

5,035,000 4,236,800 798,200

5,119,000 4,293,000 826,100

5,093,400 4,271,200 826,100

5,019,900 4,199,800 824,600

4,888,500 4,055,900 840,800

4,818,300 3,973,800 855,500

4,790,700 3,944,900 858,400

4,749,800 3,912,900 849,500

4,713,200 3,868,400 857,700

4,650,900 3,789,800 870,500

4,586,900 4,537,100

3,725,600 3,673,100

870,700 874,800

Totala 1,945,400 2,256,600 2,296,400 2,310,300 2,297,700 2,279,100 2,252,500 2,231,300 2,222,500 2,225,100 2,172,800

Incarceratedb Local jaild 621,100** 765,800** 780,200** 785,500** 767,400** 748,700 735,600 744,500 731,200 744,600 727,400

Prison 1,394,200 1,568,700 1,596,800 1,608,300 1,615,500 1,613,800 1,599,000 1,570,400 1,577,000 1,562,300 1,526,600

~ 2,162,400

~

~

740,700 1,505,400

Average annual percent change,

2007?2016

-1.2%

Percent change,

January 1, 2016?December 31,

2016f

-0.9%

-1.3%

-1.7%

0.6%

-1.1%

-1.4%

0.5%

-0.7%

-0.6%

-0.7%

-0.5%

1.8%

-1.4%

Note: Estimates are rounded to the nearest 100 and may not be comparable to previously published BJS reports due to updated information or rounding. Counts include estimates for nonresponding jurisdictions. All probation, parole, and prison counts are for December 31, except where noted; jail counts are for the last weekday in June. Detail may not sum to total due to rounding and adjustments made to account for offenders with dual correctional statuses. See Methodology. See the Key Statistics page on the BJS website for correctional population statistics prior to 2000 or other years excluded in this table.

*Comparison year.

**Difference with comparison year is significant at the 95% confidence level.

~Not applicable. aAdjusted to account for offenders with dual correctional statuses. See Methodology. bIncludes offenders held in local jails or under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons. cIncludes some offenders held in a prison or jail but who remained under the jurisdiction of a probation or parole agency. dThe Annual Survey of Jails is a nationally representative sample of jails rather than a full census. eThe total correctional population for January 1, 2016, is the sum of the total community supervision population for January 1, 2016, and the total incarcerated population for December 31, 2015, adjusted for the number of persons in 2015 on dual correctional statuses. fWithin-year change for the prison population is calculated as the difference between December 31, 2015, and 2016, while change for the jail population is calculated as the difference between the last weekday of June 2015 and June 2016.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Annual Probation Survey, Annual Parole Survey, Annual Survey of Jails, and National Prisoner Statistics program, 2000 and 2006?2016.

CORREC TIONAL POPULATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, 2016 | APRIL 2018

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community decreased by 49,800 from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016, to 4,537,100. During 2016, the probation population decreased by 1.4%, while the parole population increased by 0.5%, resulting in an overall decline in the community supervision population. From 2007 to 2016, the community supervision population decreased by an annual average of 1.3%. At year-end 2016, the number of persons under community supervision was the lowest observed since 1999 (4,485,300) (not shown).

On December 31, 2016, an estimated 2,162,400 persons were either under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons or in the custody of local jails--10,400 fewer persons than in 2015. By year-end 2016, the number of persons incarcerated in state or federal prisons or local jails fell to the lowest level observed since 2004 (2,136,600) (not shown).

During 2016, the prison population decreased 1.4%, while the jail population remained relatively stable. The U.S. prison population on December 31, 2016

Table 2 Number of persons supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems, by correctional status, 2007 and 2016

2007

2016

Percent

Percent

of total

of total

Correctional population Population population Population population

Totala

7,339,600 100% 6,613,500 100%

Probationb

4,293,000 58.5

3,673,100 55.5

Prisonb

1,596,800 21.8

1,505,400 22.8

Paroleb

826,100 11.3

874,800 13.2

Local jailc

780,200 10.6

740,700 11.2

Offenders with dual

correctional statusesd 156,400

:

180,500 :

Note: Counts are rounded to the nearest 100 and include estimates for nonresponding jurisdictions. Detail may not sum to total due to rounding and because offenders with dual correctional statuses were excluded from the total correctional population but included in individual populations. See Methodology.

: Not calculated.

aTo avoid double counting, the total represents the combined probation, prison, parole, and jail counts minus those who have dual correctional statuses. See Methodology.

bPopulation as of December 31.

cPopulation as of the last weekday in June.

dSome probationers and parolees on December 31 were held in a prison or jail but still remained under the jurisdiction of a probation or parole agency, and some parolees were also on probation. In addition, some prisoners were being held in jail. See table 5 and Methodology.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Annual Probation Survey, Annual Parole Survey, Annual Survey of Jails, and National Prisoner Statistics program, 2007 and 2016.

(1,505,400), was at its lowest level since 2004 (1,497,100) (not shown). The total incarcerated population in 2016 was 0.5% lower than in 2015.

Probation and prison populations decreased, while parole population increased

After peaking in 2007, the total U.S. correctional population declined annually through 2016. The composition of the population remained generally unchanged despite the decreasing size of the probation population during that time. Probationers accounted for the majority of offenders under correctional supervision in 2007 (59%) and 2016 (56%) (table 2). Prisoners represented less than a quarter of the U.S. correctional population in 2007 (22%) and 2016 (23%). Parolees (11% in 2007 and 13% in 2016) and jail inmates (11% in both 2007 and 2016) remained the smallest percentage of the correctional population during the 9-year period.

From 2007 to 2016, decreases in the probation (down 619,800 persons), prison (down 91,400), and jail (down 39,500) populations accounted for the overall decline in the U.S. correctional population (table 3). The decrease in the probation population accounted for 85% of the total decline in the correctional population,

Table 3 Change in the number of persons supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems, 2007?2016

2007?2016

Correctional population Total changea

Change in Percent of population total change

-726,200

100%

Probationb

-619,800

85.3

Prisonb Local jailc

-91,400

12.6

-39,500

5.4

Paroleb

48,700

-6.7

Offenders with dual correctional statusesd

24,100

:

Note: Estimates are rounded to the nearest 100 and include adjustments for nonresponding jurisdictions. See Methodology. Detail may not sum to total due to adjustments to exclude offenders with dual correctional statuses from the total to avoid double counting. See table 5 and Methodology.

: Not calculated.

aTo avoid double counting, the total represents the combined probation, prison, parole, and jail counts minus those who have dual correctional statuses. See table 5 and Methodology.

bPopulation as of December 31.

cPopulation as of the last weekday in June.

dSome probationers and parolees on December 31 were held in a prison or jail but still remained under the jurisdiction of a probation or parole agency, and some parolees were also on probation. In addition, some prisoners were held in a jail on December 31. See table 5 and Methodology.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Annual Probation Survey, Annual Parole Survey, Annual Survey of Jails, and National Prisoner Statistics program, 2007?2016.

CORREC TIONAL POPULATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, 2016 | APRIL 2018

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as probationers represented the largest share of offenders under correctional supervision. The parole (up 48,700) population was the only population to increase during this time, slightly offsetting the overall decline.

Correctional supervision rate decreased for the ninth consecutive year

After peaking at 3,210 offenders per 100,000 U.S. residents age 18 or older in 2007, the correctional supervision rate trended downward, falling to a low of 2,640 per 100,000 by year-end 2016 (table 4). The percentage of adults supervised by U.S. correctional system was lower in 2016 than at any time since 1993 (2,550 per 100,000) (not shown). Both the change in the correctional population and change in the U.S population had an impact on the rate. More than half (53%) of the decrease in the correctional supervision rate from 2007 to 2016 was attributed to the decrease in the number of offenders under correctional supervision (not shown). The remaining 47% resulted from the increase in the U.S. resident population age 18 or older from 2007 to 2015, which is used to calculate the rates. By year-end 2016, the

correctional supervision rate fell to the lowest rate since 1993 (2,550 per 100,000), when almost 1.9 million fewer persons were supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems (not shown).

On December 31, 2016, 1,810 offenders per 100,000 U.S. adult residents were on probation or parole. This was the same rate as in 1992 when the community supervision population was smaller by about 1.1 million offenders and the U.S. resident population was smaller by about 63 million people (not shown). The community corrections rate has declined for nine consecutive years since reaching a high in 2007 (2,240 per 100,000).

In 2016, 860 persons per 100,000 U.S. adult residents were under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons or in the custody of local jails. The incarceration rate has declined since 2009 (980 per 100,000) after reaching a high of 1,000 per 100,000 U.S. adult residents from 2006 to 2008. The incarceration rate had declined since 2009 and is currently at its lowest rate since 1996 (830 per 100,000) (not shown).

Table 4

Rate of persons supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems, by correctional status, 2000 and 2006?2016

Community supervision population

Incarcerated populationb

Total correctional populationa

Number on Number on

Number in prison

Number supervised probation or probation or

Number in prison or local jail per

Number supervised U.S. adult residents per 100,000 U.S.

parole per

parole per 100,000 or local jail per 100,000 U.S.

per 100,000 U.S. under correctional residents of all

Year adult residentsc supervision

agesd

100,000 U.S. U.S. residents of all 100,000 U.S. residents of

adult residentsc agesd

adult residentsc all agesd

2000

3,060

1 in 33

2,280

2,160

1,610

920

690

2006

3,190

1 in 31

2,400

2,230

1,680

1,000

750

2007

3,210

1 in 31

2,420

2,240

1,690

1,000

760

2008

3,160

1 in 32

2,390

2,200

1,670

1,000

760

2009

3,100

1 in 32

2,350

2,150

1,630

980

750

2010

3,000

1 in 33

2,280

2,070

1,570

960

730

2011

2,930

1 in 34

2,240

2,020

1,540

940

720

2012

2,880

1 in 35

2,210

1,980

1,520

920

710

2013

2,830

1 in 35

2,170

1,950

1,490

910

700

2014

2,780

1 in 36

2,140

1,910

1,470

900

690

2015

2,710

1 in 37

2,090

1,870

1,440

870

680

2016

2,640

1 in 38

2,040

1,810

1,400

860

670

Note: Rates are estimated to the nearest 10. Estimates may not be comparable to previously published BJS reports due to updated information or rounding. See the Key Statistics page on the BJS website for correctional population statistics prior to 2000 or other years excluded in this table. aIncludes offenders in the community under the authority of probation or parole agencies, under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons, or in the custody of local jails. bIncludes offenders under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons or held in local jails. cRates are based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates of the U.S. resident population, age 18 or older, for January 1 of the following year. dRates are based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates of the U.S. resident population, all ages, for January 1 of the following year.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Annual Probation Survey, Annual Parole Survey, Annual Survey of Jails, and National Prisoner Statistics program, 2000 and 2006?2016; and U.S. Census Bureau, postcensal resident populations for January of the following year 2001 and 2006?2016.

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Terms and definitions

Adult--persons subject to the jurisdiction of an adult criminal court or correctional agency. Adults are age 18 or older in most jurisdictions. Persons age 17 or younger who were prosecuted in criminal court as if they were adults are considered adults, but persons age 17 or younger who were under the jurisdiction of a juvenile court or agency are excluded. (See Methodology for more information on prisoners and local jail inmates age 17 or younger.)

Annual change--change in a population between two consecutive years.

Average annual change--average (mean) annual change in a population across a specific period.

Community supervision population--estimated number of persons living in the community while supervised on probation or parole.

Community supervision rate--estimated number of persons supervised in the community on probation or parole per 100,000 U.S. residents of all ages (i.e., total community supervision rate) or U.S. residents age 18 or older (i.e., adult community supervision rate).

Correctional population--estimated number of persons living in the community while supervised on probation or parole and persons under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons or in the custody of local jails.

Correctional supervision rate--estimated number of persons supervised in the community on probation or parole, and inmates under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons or in the custody of local jails per 100,000 U.S. residents of all ages (i.e., total correctional supervision rate) or U.S. residents age 18 or older (i.e., adult correctional supervision rate).

Imprisonment rate--estimated number of prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction sentenced to more than one year per 100,000 U.S. residents of all ages (i.e., total imprisonment rate) or U.S. residents age 18 or older (i.e., adult imprisonment rate). This statistic does not appear in this report; see Prisoners in 2016 (NCJ 251149, BJS web, January 2018).

Incarcerated population--estimated number of persons under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons, and those in the custody of local jails.

Incarceration rate--estimated number of persons under the jurisdiction of state or federal prisons, and those in the custody of local jails per 100,000 U.S. residents of all ages (i.e., total incarceration rate) or U.S. residents age 18 or older (i.e., adult incarceration rate).

Indian country jail population--estimated number of inmates held in correctional facilities operated by tribal authorities or the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), U.S. Department of the Interior. These facilities include confinement facilities, detention centers, jails, and other facilities operated by tribal authorities or the BIA. (See Jails in Indian Country, 2016, NCJ 250981, BJS web, November 2017.)

Local jail population--estimated number of inmates held in confinement facilities operated under the authority of a sheriff, police chief, or city or county administrator. They are intended for adults but may hold juveniles before or after they are adjudicated. Facilities include jails, detention centers, city or county correctional centers, special jail facilities (such as medical or treatment centers and pre-release centers) and temporary holding or lockup facilities that are part of the jail's combined function. Inmates sentenced to jail facilities usually have a sentence of one year or less. (See Jail Inmates in 2016, NCJ 251210, BJS web, February 2018.)

Military prison population--estimated number of service personnel incarcerated under the jurisdiction of U.S. military correctional authorities (see appendix table 2).

Parole population--estimated number of persons who are on conditional release in the community following a prison term while under the control, supervision, or care of a state or federal correctional agency. Violations of the conditions of supervision during this period may result in a new sentence of confinement or a return to confinement for a technical violation. This population includes parolees released through discretionary (i.e., parole board decision) or mandatory (i.e., provisions of a statute) supervised release from prison, those released through other types of post-custody conditional supervision, and those sentenced to a term of supervised release.

Prison population--estimated number of prisoners incarcerated in a long-term confinement facility run by a state or the federal government, which typically holds felons and offenders with sentences of more than one year, although sentence length may vary by jurisdiction.

Prison jurisdiction population--estimated number of prisoners under the jurisdiction or legal authority of state or federal correctional officials, regardless of where the prisoner is held. This population represents BJS's official measure of the prison population and includes prisoners held in public or private prisons,

CORREC TIONAL POPULATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, 2016 | APRIL 2018

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