Legal Commentary

DOJ Report: Inmate Population Reaches 2.3 Million

By Jeralyn

The Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released its latest report on the inmate population in America's jails and prisons. The headline spins "Slower Growth..." The reality: Our prison population increased once again, and we now have 2.3 million in our nation's prisons and jails.

The report is available here. Chief findings, according to the DOJ press release:

• Between January and June 2007, the prison population increased by 1.6% (or 24,919 prisoners), compared to a 2% increase during the first six months of 2006.
• The number of prisoners sentenced to more than 1 year increased 1.7% between December 31, 2006 and June 30, 2007, or at about the same rate as the total number of prisoners under jurisdiction.
• Between 2000 and 2007, the number of inmates in custody in prisons or jails increased by 367,200. Male inmates (315,100) accounted for 86% of the increase to the custody population. Female inmates (52,100) made up the remaining 14%.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on June 10, 2008 (boomark / email).