What is the difference between jails and prisons?
Jails are locally-operated short term facilities that hold both inmates awaiting trial or sentencing...  Read More

Why are data so difficult to compare over years?
Caution must be used when using trend data, as definitions and reporting capabilities change over ti...  Read More

Why do data take so long to collect and publish?
Data collections vary in scope, burden, and frequency of collection - see individual data colle...  Read More

Where can I find the data collections that are archived for public use?
Not all datasets are available for public use. We are actively working on mechanisms to ma...  Read More

What is the difference between jurisdiction and custody counts?
To have jurisdiction means that an entity has legal authority over a prisoner. To have custody of a ...  Read More

Does the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) collect data on deaths in custody?
BJS' Deaths in Custody Reporting Program (DCRP) collects quarterly inmate death records from each of...  Read More