U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EST          BJS
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 1997             202/633-3047

    NATION'S JAIL AND PRISON INCARCERATION RATE
         ALMOST DOUBLED DURING LAST DECADE

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The incarceration rate in
the nation's federal and state prisons and local
jails almost doubled during the last decade, the
Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics
(BJS) announced today.  However, this growth
recently slowed somewhat.  
     In 1985 jails and prisons held an estimated
313 men and women per 100,000 United States
residents.  By June 30, 1996, this had increased
to 615 inmates per 100,000 residents or one in
every 163 residents.
     Between year-end 1985 and mid-year 1996 the
incarcerated population grew from 744,208 to
1,630,940, an average growth of 7.8 percent a
year.  During this same period, the populations of
federal prisons grew at an average of 9.5 percent,
state prisons at 8.1 percent and jails at 6.9
percent.
     During the period from July 1, 1995 through
June 30, 1996, total incarceration grew by 4.4
percent--4.3 percent for federal prisons, 5.6
percent for state prisons and 2.3 percent for
local jails.
     Thirty-nine percent of the prison population
growth during the 12 months ending last June 30
was accounted for by California (10,954), the
federal system (4,256), Pennsylvania (4,095) and
North Carolina (3,853).  
     During this same period the prison population
increased by at least 10 percent in 13 states, led
by Nebraska (16 percent), Montana (15.2 percent),
North Carolina (14.4 percent), Oregon (14.1
percent), Wisconsin (13.9 percent) and
Pennsylvania (13.7 percent). 
     New Hampshire, Connecticut and the District
of Columbia had declines in their prison
populations.
     As of last June 30 there were 93,167 federal
prisoners, 1,019,281 state prisoners and 518,492
jail inmates.
     From July 1, 1995, through June 30, 1996, the
number of prisoners under state and federal
jurisdiction rose by 58,805 inmates, somewhat less
than the average 1990-1995 growth of 66,745
prisoners.
     The annual increase in the number of state
and federal prisoners from each July 1 through
June 30 was as follows:

          1990-1991 . . . . . . .  49,446
          1991-1992 . . . . . . .  51,020
          1992-1993 . . . . . . .  69,525
          1993-1994 . . . . . . .  72,854
          1994-1995 . . . . . . .  90,881
          1995-1996 . . . . . . .  58,805
                         
     Local jail authorities held or supervised an
estimated 591,469 men and women last June 30, of
whom 12 percent (72,977) were supervised in such
programs as community service, work release,
weekend reporting, electronic monitoring and other
alternatives to incarceration in jail.  Jails
typically hold men and women who are awaiting
trial or are serving sentences of one year or
less.
     On June 28, 1996, the number of persons held
in local jail facilities totaled 518,492 or 2.3
percent more than the 507,044 inmates at mid-year
1995.  This 12-month increase was much lower than
the 4.2 percent annual average since 1990.  
     The annual increase in the number of local
jail inmates from each July 1 through June 30 was
as follows:
                                   Percent 
       Year         Number         Increase
     1990-1991      21,159           5.2
     1991-1992      18,105           4.2
     1992-1993      15,220           3.4
     1993-1994      30,638           6.7
     1994-1995      20,570           4.2
     1995-1996      11,448           2.3

     An estimated 8,100 people less than 18 years
old were held in adult jails at the end of last
June.  Over two-thirds of these young inmates had
been convicted or were being held for trial as 
adults in criminal court.
     In 1996 local jails reported their lowest
occupancy rates in 12 years.  At mid-year, jails
were operating at 8 percent less than their rated
capacity.  Since 1990 the capacity of local jails
has risen by nearly 173,000 beds, while the number
of inmates has increased by approximately 113,200.
     The data are from the bulletin "Prison and
Jail Inmates at Midyear 1996" (NCJ-162843),
written by BJS statisticians Darrell K. Gilliard
and Allen J. Beck.  It is available for news media
members only on the Internet at:

 http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/preview/sneakpk.htm

     It will be available to the general public
beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST, Sunday, January 19, on
BJS's Internet home page by clicking on "What's
new at BJS."  The BJS webpage address is: 

          http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/ 

     Additional BJS materials may be obtained from
the BJS fax-on-demand system (301/251-5550) or by
calling the BJS Clearinghouse on 1-800/732-3277.  

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After hours contact:  Stu Smith at 301/983-9354   

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