OFDT’s Statistician formulates projections on such detention-related topics as population trends, bed space availability, and costs of state and local government versus private facilities and long-term utilization of private jails. The Statistician also produces statistical analyses and data to explain and predict long-range changes in such detention program areas as population, health care and expenditures. Frequently requested detention statistics are provided below.

• Between 1994 and 2008 the number of prisoners under the custodial jurisdiction of the U.S. Marshals Service increased from 18,282 to 56,753. About half of this population increase occurred in the districts that comprise the Southwest border of the United States (Arizona, California-Central, California-Southern, New Mexico, Texas-Northern, Texas-Southern, Texas-Eastern, and Texas-Western).



• Arrests for drug offenses (13,274) comprised the greatest proportion (33%) of the total increase in the USMS detention population between 1994 and 2008. Immigration offenses comprised 30% of the increase; weapons offenses (11%), and supervision violations (10%).



• During fiscal year 2008, 83% of persons booked by the USMS were detained for more than 4 days.



• Persons ordered detained by the courts were held in detention for approximately 3.5 months, on average. Time-in-detention was the longest for persons booked for drug, weapons, and violent offenses (about 6 months, on average). By contrast, time-in-detention was the shortest for persons booked for immigration offenses (72 days), supervision violations (85 days) and as material witnesses (25 days).



• During fiscal year 2008, the USMS housed prisoners in 833 different facilities located throughout the United States. Most (54%) USMS prisoners were housed in facilities owned and operated by state and local governments. Additionally, 12% were housed in privately-operated facilities under direct contract with the USMS; 13% in privately-operated facilities under contract with a state or local government; 20% in facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons; and about 1% in local hospitals.



• The cost to house USMS prisoners in a non-federal detention facility during fiscal year 2008 was $67.85. This average per diem rate represents a 2.8% increase over the average per diem rate paid during fiscal year 2007.

Last Updated:
April 9, 2009