U.S. Department of Justice 
Office of Justice Programs 
Prisoners in 2002 
Bureau of Justice Statistics 
Bulletin 
By Paige M. Harrison 
and Allen J. Beck, Ph.D. 
BJS Statisticians 
The total number of prisoners under 
the jurisdiction of Federal or State adult 
correctional authorities was 1,440,655 
at yearend 2002. During the year the 
States added 30,088 prisoners, and the 
Federal prison system added 6,535 
prisoners. Overall, the Nation=s prison 
population grew 2.6%, which was less 
than the average annual growth of 
3.6% since yearend 1995. 
The rate of incarceration in prison at 
yearend 2002 was 476 sentenced 
inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents C 
up from 411 in 1995. About 1 in every 
110 men and 1 in every 1,656 women 
were sentenced prisoners under the 
jurisdiction of State or Federal 
authorities. 
Overall, the United States incarcerated 
2,166,260 persons at yearend 2002. 
This total represents persons held in C 
C Federal and State prisons 
(1,361,258, which excludes State 
and Federal prisoners in local jails) 
C territorial prisons (16,206) 
C local jails (665,475) 
C facilities operated by or exclusively 
for the Bureau of Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement, formerly the 
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization 
Service (8,748) 
C military facilities (2,377) 
C jails in Indian country (1,912 as of 
midyear 2001) 
C juvenile facilities (110,284 as of 
October 2000). 
1,112 
1,737 
1,863 
1,900 
2,451 
Highlights 
Nation’s prison population up 2.6%, the largest increase in 3 years 
Number 
of inmates 
Prison 
population 
5 highest: 
Federal 
California 
Texas 
Florida 
163,528 
162,317 
162,003 
75,210 
New York 67,065 
5 lowest: 
North Dakota 
Wyoming 
Vermont 
Maine 
New Hampshire 
*Prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year per 100,000 in the resident population. 
• During 2002, 9 States experienced 
prison population decreases, led by 
Alaska (down 3.8%), Illinois (down 
3.7%), Delaware (down 3.2%), and 
Massachusetts (down 2.4%). Seventeen 
States had increases of at least 
5%, led by Maine (up 11.5%), Rhode 
Island (8.6%), and Connecticut, 
Colorado, and Minnesota (all 7.9%). 
• Between July 1, 2002, and December 
31, 2002, the number of inmates 
under State jurisdiction increased by 
15,713 inmates (1.2%). 
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons 
continued to grow, up 1,847 inmates 
since midyear 2002. At yearend 2002, 
the Federal system was the largest 
prison system. 
• At yearend 2002, privately operated 
facilities housed 93,771 inmates 
(5.8% of State and 12.4% of Federal 
inmates); local jails housed 71,256 
State and Federal inmates (4.9% of all 
prisoners). 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
Incarceration 
rate, 12/31/02 
Louisiana 
Mississippi 
Texas 
Oklahoma 
Alabama 
Maine 
Minnesota 
North Dakota 
Rhode Island 
New Hampshire 
July 2003, NCJ 200248 
change 
Inmates per 
100,000 residents* 
Growth, 12/31/01 Percent 
to 12/31/02 
11.5% 
8.6 
7.9 
7.9 
794 
743 
692 
667 
Maine 
Rhode Island 
Connecticut 
Colorado 
7.9 612 Minnesota 
-3.8% 
-3.7 
-3.2 
-2.4 
141 
141 
161 
191 
Alaska 
Illinois 
Delaware 
Massachusetts 
-1.1 192 Montana 
• On December 31, 2002, State 
prisons were operating between 1% 
and 17% above capacity, while Federal 
prisons were operating at 33% above 
capacity. 
• At yearend 2002, 97,491 women 
were in State or Federal prisons — 
6.8% of all prison inmates. 
• An increase in violent offenders 
accounted for 49% of female State 
prisoner growth between 1995 and 
2001 and 64% of male growth. 
• At yearend 2001, 49% of State 
prisoners were serving time for violent 
offenses, up from 47% in 1995. 
• Among the more than 1.38 million 
sentenced inmates at yearend 2002, 
an estimated 442,300 were black 
males between the ages 20 and 39. 
At yearend 2002, 10.4% of black males 
age 25 to 29 were in prison, compared 
to 2.4% of Hispanic males and 1.2% of 
white males in the same age group.
Table 1. Number of persons held in State or Federal prisons 
or in local jails, 1995-2002 
Total inmates 
in custody 
1,585,586 
1,646,020 
1995 
1996 
1997 
1998 
1,743,643 
1,816,931 
1,893,115 
1,937,482 
1999b 
2000c 
2001c 
2002c 
1,961,247 
2,033,331 
Percent change, 
2001-2002 3.7% 
3.6% 
Average annual increase, 
1995-2002 
Note: Counts include all inmates held in public and private adult correctional facilities. 
aNumber of prison and jail inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents at yearend. 
bIn 1999, 15 States expanded their reporting criteria to include inmates held in privately 
c
operated correctional facilities. For comparisons with previous years, the State count 
1,137,544 and the total count 1,869,169 should be used. 
Total counts include Federal inmates in nonsecure, privately operated facilities 
(6,598 in 2002, 6,515 in 2001 and 6,143 in 2000). 
Percent change during 6-month periods in the number of prisoners 
under the jurisdiction of State correctional authorities, 1995-2002 
Percent change 
5% 
4% 
3% 
2% 
1% 
0% 
-1% 
1996 1995 
Figure 1 
Percent change during 6-month periods in the number of prisoners 
under the jurisdiction of the Federal system, 1995-2002 
Percent change 
6% 
5% 
4% 
3% 
2% 
1% 
0% 
1996 1995 
Figure 2 
2 Prisoners in 2002 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
1 in every 143 U.S. residents 
in prison or jail at yearend 2002 
Prisoners in custody on 
December 31 
Federal 
89,538 
95,088 
State 
989,004 
1,032,440 
Inmates in jail 
on June 30 
507,044 
518,492 
Incarceration 
ratea 
601 
618 
648 
669 
691 
684 
101,755 
110,793 
125,682 
133,921 
1,074,809 
1,113,676 
1,161,490 
1,176,269 
567,079 
592,462 
605,943 
621,149 
143,337 
151,618 
1,180,155 
1,209,640 
631,240 
665,475 
685 
701 
5.4% 5.8% 2.5% 
4.0% 7.8% 2.9% 
On December 31, 2002, 1,361,258 
inmates were in the custody of State 
and Federal prison authorities, and 
665,475 were in the custody of local 
jail authorities (table 1). Since yearend 
2001 the total incarcerated population 
has increased 72,084, or 3.7% C just 
over the average annual increase 
since 1995 (3.6%). Including inmates in 
public and privately operated facilities, 
the number of inmates in State prisons 
increased 2.5% during 2002; the 
number in Federal prisons, 5.8%; and 
in local jails, 5.4%. 
The rate of incarceration in prison and 
jail was 701 inmates per 100,000 
residents in 2002, up from 601 in 1995. 
At yearend 2002, 1 in every 143 U.S. 
residents were incarcerated in State or 
Federal prison or a local jail. 
U.S. prison population rose 2.6% 
during 2002 — the largest annual 
growth rate since 1999 
J c De 
J
une 
an.- July- 
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 
In 2002 the growth in the number of 
inmates under State or Federal jurisdiction 
(2.6%) was more than twice the 
percentage increase recorded during 
2001 (1.1%) . (table 2). The population 
under the jurisdiction of State and 
Federal authorities increased by 36,623 
inmates during 2002, higher than the 
increase in 2001 (up 15,521). 
The prison population has grown an 
average of 45,000 inmates per year 
(3.6%) since yearend 1995. However, 
the overall growth of the Nation’s 
prison population has dropped from 
6.7% in 1995 to 2.6% in 2002, with a 
low of 1.1% growth in 2001. 
Jan.- 
June
July- 
Dec. 
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 
Since January 1, 1995, 6-month growth 
rates for State prisoners have declined 
(figure 1). Growth rates in the first half 
of each year have been substantially 
larger than rates in the second half, 
except for 2002 when the rate was 
1.2% for both 6-month periods. At the 
same time, Federal growth rates rose, 
reaching a peak of 6.0% in the first 6 
months of 1999 (figure 2). Since then, 
growth in the first half of each year 
slowed (to 5.1% in 2001 and 3.0% in 
2002). 17 States reported increases of 
at least 5% during 2002; 9 States 
Jurisdiction 
71,172 
57,494 
58,785 
Percent 
change* 
6.7% 
5.1 
5.0 
4.7 
3.4 
1.3 
1.1 
2.6 
58,420 
43,796 
18,191 
15,521 
36,623 
3.6% 45,000 
had decreases 
Between January 1 and December 31, 
Maine experienced the largest increase 
(up 11.5%), followed by Rhode Island 
(8.6%), and Connecticut, Colorado, 
and Minnesota (all up 7.9%) (table 3). 
Nine States experienced a decline in 
prison populations. Alaska had the 
largest decline (down 3.8%), followed 
by Illinois (down 3.7%), Delaware 
(down 3.2%), and Massachusetts 
(down 2.4%). 
In absolute numbers of inmates, 5 
jurisdictions grew by at least 2,000 
inmates during 2002. The Federal 
system (up 6,535), experienced the 
largest growth, followed by California 
(up 2,873), Florida (up 2,806), Pennsylvania 
(up 2,106), and Virginia (up 
2,067). 
Overall, inmates under jurisdiction in 
the West grew by 3.0%, followed by 
those in the South (2.5%) and in the 
Northeast and Midwest (both 1.9%). 
In the same period, the Federal system 
grew 4.2%. 
Table 2. Change in the State and 
Federal prison populations, 
1995-2002
Annual increase in the 
number of prisoners 
Custody 
1995 
1996 
1997 
1998 
1999 
2000 
88,395 
49,222 
48,800 
47,905 
36,957 
25,182 
2001 14,647 
2002 37,849 
Average annual 
increase, 
1995-2002 43,620 
Note: In years in which States changed their 
reporting methods, counts based on comparable 
methods were used to calculate the 
annual increase and percent change. See 
Methodology for changes by State. 
*Change in the number of prisoners under 
State and Federal jurisdiction. 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
Table 3. Prisoners under the jurisdiction of State or Federal correctional 
authorities, by region and jurisdiction, yearend 2001 to 2002 
Region and 
jurisdiction 
U.S. total 
Federal 
State 
Northeast 
Connecticuta 
Maine 
Massachusetts 
New Hampshire 
New Jersey 
New York 
Pennsylvania 
Rhode Islanda 
Vermonta 
Midwest 
Illinois 
Indiana 
Iowab 
Kansas 
Michigan 
Minnesota 
Missouri 
Nebraska 
North Dakota 
Ohio 
South Dakota 
Wisconsin 
South 
Alabama 
Arkansas 
Delawarea 
Floridab 
Georgiab 
Kentucky 
Louisiana 
Maryland 
Mississippi 
North Carolina 
Oklahoma 
South Carolina 
Tennessee 
Texas 
Virginia 
West Virginia 
West 
Alaskaa 
Arizonab 
California 
Colorado 
Hawaiia 
Idaho 
Montana 
Nevada 
New Mexico 
Oregon 
Utah 
Washington 
Wyoming 
Note: As of December 31, 2001, the transfer of responsibility for sentenced felons from the 
District of Columbia to the Federal Bureau of Prisons was completed. The District of Columbia 
no longer operates a prison system and has been excluded from NPS. 
aPrisons and jails form one integrated system. Data include total jail and prison population. 
bPopulation figures are based on custody counts. (See Jurisdiction notes.) 
Total 
12/31/02 06/30/02 
1,440,655 1,423,095 
163,528 
1,277,127 
161,681 
1,261,414 
175,907 
20,720 
1,900 
10,329 
2,451 
27,891 
175,118 
20,243 
1,841 
10,620 
2,476 
28,054 
67,065 
40,168 
3,520 
67,131 
39,275 
3,694 
1,863 1,784 
245,303 
42,693 
21,611 
8,398 
8,935 
50,591 
243,876 
43,142 
21,425 
8,172 
8,758 
49,961 
7,129 
30,099 
4,058 
1,112 
45,646 
2,898 
6,958 
30,034 
4,031 
1,168 
45,349 
2,900 
22,133 21,978 
574,174 
27,947 
13,090 
6,778 
75,210 
47,445 
564,592 
27,495 
12,655 
6,957 
73,553 
46,417 
15,933 
35,736 
24,162 
22,705 
32,803 
23,385 
16,172 
36,171 
24,329 
22,001 
32,755 
23,435 
23,715 
24,989 
162,003 
33,729 
4,544 
23,017 
24,277 
158,131 
32,739 
4,488 
281,743 
4,398 
29,359 
162,317 
18,833 
5,423 
277,828 
4,205 
29,103 
160,315 
18,320 
5,541 
6,204 
3,290 
10,478 
5,989 
12,086 
5,567 
5,802 
3,515 
10,426 
5,875 
11,812 
5,353 
16,062 
1,737 
15,829 
1,732 
12/31/01 
1,404,032 
156,993 
1,247,039 
172,599 
19,196 
1,704 
10,588 
2,392 
28,142 
67,533 
38,062 
3,241 
1,741 
240,679 
44,348 
20,966 
7,962 
8,577 
48,849 
6,606 
28,757 
3,937 
1,111 
45,281 
2,790 
21,495 
560,352 
26,741 
12,594 
7,003 
72,404 
45,937 
15,424 
35,810 
23,752 
21,460 
32,253 
22,780 
22,576 
23,671 
162,070 
31,662 
4,215 
273,409 
4,571 
27,710 
159,444 
17,448 
5,431 
5,984 
3,328 
10,233 
5,668 
11,410 
5,339 
15,159 
1,684 
Percent change 
12/31/01- 6/30/02- 
12/31/02 12/31/02 
1.2% 2.6% 
1.1 
1.2 
4.2 
2.4 
0.5% 
2.4 
3.2 
-2.7 
-1.0 
-0.6 
1.9% 
7.9 
11.5 
-2.4 
2.5 
-0.9 
-0.1 
2.3 
-4.7 
-0.7 
5.5 
8.6 
4.4 7.0 
0.6% 
-1.0 
0.9 
2.8 
2.0 
1.3 
1.9% 
-3.7 
3.1 
5.5 
4.2 
3.6 
2.5 
0.2 
0.7 
-4.8 
0.7 
-0.1 
7.9 
4.7 
3.1 
0.1 
0.8 
3.9 
0.7 3.0 
1.7% 
1.6 
3.4 
-2.6 
2.3 
2.2 
2.5% 
4.5 
3.9 
-3.2 
3.9 
3.3 
-1.5 
-1.2 
-0.7 
3.2 
0.1 
-0.2 
3.3 
-0.2 
1.7 
5.8 
1.7 
2.7 
3.0 
2.9 
2.4 
3.0 
1.2 
5.0 
5.6 
0.0 
6.5 
7.8 
1.4% 
4.6 
0.9 
1.2 
2.8 
-2.1 
3.0% 
-3.8 
6.0 
1.8 
7.9 
-0.1 
6.9 
-6.4 
0.5 
1.9 
2.3 
4.0 
3.7 
-1.1 
2.4 
5.7 
5.9 
4.3 
1.5 
0.3 
6.0 
3.1 
Prisoners in 2002 3
Table 4.  Sentenced prisoners under the jurisdiction of State or Federal  
correctional authorities, yearend 1995,  2001, and 2002 
Region and 
jurisdiction 
    U.S. total  
Federal 
State 
Northeast 
Connecticut  
Maine 
Massachusettsb 
New Hampshire 
New Jerseyc 
New York 
Pennsylvania 
Rhode Island 
Vermont 
Midwest 
Illinoisc 
Indiana 
Iowac 
Kansasc  
Michigan 
Minnesota 
Missouri 
Nebraska 
North Dakota 
Ohioc 
South Dakota 
Wisconsin 
South 
Alabama 
Arkansas 
Delaware 
Florida 
Georgia 
Kentucky 
Louisiana 
Maryland 
Mississippi 
North Carolina 
Oklahomac 
South Carolina 
Tennesseec 
Texasc 
Virginia 
West Virginia 
West 
Alaska 
Arizona 
California 
Colorado 
Hawaii 
Idaho 
Montana 
Nevada 
New Mexico 
Oregon 
Utah 
Washington 
Wyoming 
--Not calculated.  
aPrisoners with sentences of more than 1 year per 100,000 residents.  
bThe incarceration rate includes an estimated 6,200 inmates sentenced  
to more than 1 year but held in local jails or houses of corrections.  
cIncludes some inmates sentenced to 1 year or less.  
4    Prisoners in 2002
2002 1995 
Sentenced prisoners 
2001 
1,345,217 1,380,370 1,085,022 
143,040 
1,237,330 
136,509 
1,208,708 
83,663 
1,001,359 
165,783 
14,082 
1,817 
8,947 
2,451 
27,891 
163,635 
13,276 
1,641 
9,355 
2,392 
28,142 
155,030 
10,419 
1,326 
10,427 
2,015 
27,066 
67,065 
40,164 
2,045 
1,321 
67,533 
38,057 
1,926 
1,313 
68,486 
32,410 
1,833 
1,048 
244,226 
42,693 
21,542 
8,398 
8,935 
50,591 
239,948 
44,348 
20,883 
7,962 
8,577 
48,849 
192,177 
37,658 
16,046 
5,906 
7,054 
41,112 
7,129 
30,080 
3,972 
1,025 
45,646 
2,891 
6,606 
28,736 
3,865 
1,027 
45,281 
2,781 
4,846 
19,134 
3,006 
544 
44,663 
1,871 
21,324 21,033 10,337 
552,795 
27,532 
12,999 
3,659 
75,204 
47,424 
539,774 
26,138 
12,496 
4,033 
72,404 
45,904 
446,491 
20,130 
8,520 
3,014 
63,866 
34,168 
15,572 
35,736 
23,274 
21,397 
28,772 
23,385 
15,104 
35,810 
22,842 
20,476 
27,628 
22,780 
12,060 
25,195 
20,450 
12,251 
27,914 
18,151 
22,837 
24,989 
151,782 
33,729 
4,504 
21,606 
23,671 
153,056 
31,662 
4,164 
19,015 
15,206 
127,766 
27,260 
2,483 
274,526 
2,577 
28,008 
160,329 
18,833 
3,840 
207,661 
2,042 
20,291 
131,745 
11,063 
2,590 
265,351 
2,196 
26,463 
157,295 
17,448 
3,670 
6,204 
3,290 
10,478 
5,772 
12,075 
5,461 
5,984 
3,328 
10,233 
5,408 
11,368 
5,254 
3,328 
1,999 
7,713 
3,925 
6,515 
3,447 
15,922 
1,737 
15,020 
1,684 
11,608 
1,395 
Revised,3/29/04 th 
Incarcer- 
ation rate, 
2002a 
Percent 
change, 
1995-02 
27.2% 
Percent 
change, 
2001-02 
2.6% 476 
49 
427 
71.0 
23.6 
4.8 
2.4 
6.9% 
35.2 
37.0 
-14.2 
21.6 
3.0 
1.3% 
6.1 
10.7 
-4.4 
2.5 
-0.9 
304 
405 
141 
234 
192 
322 
346 
325 
191 
214 
-2.1 
23.9 
11.6 
26.0 
-0.7 
5.5 
6.2 
0.6 
373 
336 
348 
284 
327 
501 
27.1% 
13.4 
34.3 
42.2 
26.7 
23.1 
1.8% 
-3.7 
3.2 
5.5 
4.2 
3.6 
141 
529 
228 
161 
398 
378 
47.1 
57.2 
32.1 
88.4 
2.2 
54.5 
7.9 
4.7 
2.8 
-0.2 
0.8 
4.0 
391  --   1.4 
536 
612 
479 
453 
450 
552 
23.8% 
36.8 
52.6 
21.4 
17.8 
38.8 
2.4% 
5.3 
4.0 
-9.3 
3.9 
3.3 
380 
794 
425 
743 
345 
667 
29.1 
41.8 
13.8 
74.7 
3.1 
28.8 
3.1 
-0.2 
1.9 
4.5 
4.1 
2.7 
20.1 
64.3 
18.8 
23.7 
81.4 
5.7 
5.6 
-0.8 
6.5 
8.2 
555 
430 
692 
460 
250 
415 
396 
513 
452 
415 
308 
32.2% 
26.2 
38.0 
21.7 
70.2 
48.3 
3.5% 
17.3 
5.8 
1.9 
7.9 
4.6 
461 
361 
483 
309 
342 
233 
86.4 
64.6 
35.8 
47.1 
85.3 
58.4 
3.7 
-1.1 
2.4 
6.7 
6.2 
3.9 
37.2 
24.5 
6.0 
3.1 
261 
348 
In the last 6 months of 2002, the 
State prison population rose  
by over 15,000 inmates  
Between July 1 and December 31, 
2002, the number of inmates under 
State jurisdiction increased 1.2% (from 
1,261,414 inmates to 1,277,127, 
compared to a -0.5% decrease in the 
last 6 months of 2001. The Federal 
population grew at a slower rate, up 
1.1% since midyear 2002. In the last 6 
months of 2002, the Federal population 
rose 1,847, compared to an increase  
of 4,688 inmates in the first 6 months. 
Since 1995 the sentenced inmate 
population in State prisons has grown 
24% (table 4). During this period 12 
States increased their populations at 
least 50%, led by North Dakota (up 
88%), Idaho (up 86%), and Oregon (up 
85%).  Between 1995 and 2002 the 
Federal system reported an additional 
59,377 inmates sentenced to more 
than a year, an increase of 71%.  
The number of female prisoners 
increased 4.9% C double that  
of men, 2.4% C during 2002 
During 2002 the number of women 
under the jurisdiction of State or 
Federal prison authorities increased 
4.9%, compared to a 0.2% drop in 
2001 (table 5). The number of men in   
prison rose 2.4%, up from 1.2% the 
previous year. At yearend 2002 there 
were 97,491 women and 1,343,164 
men in State or Federal prisons. 
From 1995 to 2002 the average annual 
rate of growth of the female inmate 
population was 5.2%, higher than the 
average 3.5% increase in the male 
inmate population. Since 1995 the total 
number of male prisoners has grown 
27%; the number of female prisoners 
42%. By yearend 2002 women 
accounted for 6.8% of all prisoners,  
up from 6.1% in 1995.  
Relative to their number in the U.S. 
resident population, men were about 
15 times more likely than women to be 
in a State or Federal prison. At 
yearend 2002 there were 60 
sentenced female inmates per 100,000 
women, compared to 906 sentenced 
male inmates per 100,000 men.
Over a third of female prisoners held 
in the 3 largest jurisdictions 
Texas (13,051), the Federal system 
(11,234), and California (10,050) held 
more than a third of all female inmates 
(Table 6). Oklahoma (with 131 
sentenced female inmates per 100,000 
female residents), Mississippi (126), 
Louisiana (96), and Texas (96) had the 
highest female incarceration rates. 
States with the lowest female incarceration 
rates were concentrated in the 
Northeast C Rhode Island and Massachusetts 
(each with 11 sentenced 
female prisoners per 100,000 female 
residents) and Maine (12). 
Since 1995 the number of female 
prisoners under Federal jurisdiction has 
increased 52%, from 7,398 to 11,234 
while the number under State jurisdiction 
has increased 41%, from 61,070 
to 86,257. 
At yearend 2002, 1 in every 1,656 
women and 1 in every 110 men were 
incarcerated in a State or Federal 
prison. 
Table 5. Prisoners under the 
jurisdiction of State or Federal 
correctional authorities, by gender, 
yearend 1995, 2001, and 2002 
All inmates 
2002 
2001 
1995 
Percent change, 
2001-2002 
Average annual 
1995-2002 
Sentenced to more 
than 1 year 
2002 
2001 
Percent change, 
2001-2002 
Incarceration rate* 
2002 
1995 
*The number of prisoners with sentences 
of more than 1 year per 100,000 residents 
on December 31. 
Women Men 
97,491 
92,979 
68,468 
1,343,164 
1,313,053 
1,057,406 
4.9% 2.4% 
5.2 3.5 
1,291,326 
1,260,033 
89,044 
85,184 
4.5% 2.5% 
906 
789 
60 
47 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
Table 6. Women under the jurisdiction of State or Federal 
correctional authorities, yearend 1995, 2001, and 2002 
Region and 
jurisdiction 
U.S. total 
Federal 
State 
Northeast 
Connecticut 
Maine 
Massachusettsc 
New Hampshire 
New Jersey 
New York 
Pennsylvania 
Rhode Island 
Vermont 
Midwest 
Illinois 
Indianac 
Iowa 
Kansas 
Michiganc 
Minnesota 
Missouri 
Nebraska 
North Dakota 
Ohio 
South Dakota 
Wisconsin 
South 
Alabama 
Arkansas 
Delaware 
Florida 
Georgia 
Kentucky 
Louisiana 
Maryland 
Mississippi 
North Carolinac 
Oklahoma 
South Carolina 
Tennesseec 
Texas 
Virginia 
West Virginia 
West 
Alaska 
Arizona 
Californiac 
Colorado 
Hawaii 
Idaho 
Montana 
Nevada 
New Mexico 
Oregon 
Utah 
Washington 
Wyomingc 
1,254 
167 
aThe average annual percentage increase from 1995 to 2002. 
bThe number of female prisoners with sentences of more than 1 year 
per 100,000 female U.S. residents. 
cGrowth from 1995 to 2002 may be slightly overestimated due to a 
change in reporting from custody to jurisdiction counts. 
2002 2001 
Number of female inmates 
1995 
97,491 92,979 68,468 
11,234 
86,257 
10,973 
82,066 
7,398 
61,070 
9,381 
1,694 
90 
704 
144 
1,586 
9,108 
1,447 
59 
713 
129 
1,628 
8,401 
975 
36 
656 
109 
1,307 
2,996 
1,821 
214 
3,133 
1,711 
193 
3,615 
1,502 
157 
132 95 44 
15,302 
2,520 
1,583 
703 
537 
2,267 
14,872 
2,747 
1,542 
635 
497 
2,149 
10,864 
2,196 
892 
425 
449 
1,842 
455 
2,274 
352 
103 
2,929 
225 
383 
2,124 
342 
101 
2,829 
220 
217 
1,174 
211 
29 
2,793 
134 
1,354 1,303 502 
41,559 
1,697 
854 
542 
4,595 
3,129 
39,135 
1,783 
851 
591 
4,282 
2,834 
27,366 
1,295 
523 
358 
3,660 
2,036 
1,282 
2,238 
1,264 
2,082 
2,175 
2,336 
1,138 
2,362 
1,207 
1,823 
2,042 
2,290 
734 
1,424 
1,079 
791 
1,752 
1,815 
1,671 
1,735 
13,051 
2,546 
362 
1,509 
1,468 
12,369 
2,240 
346 
1,045 
637 
7,935 
1,659 
129 
20,015 
349 
2,428 
10,050 
1,566 
669 
18,891 
359 
2,168 
9,921 
1,375 
616 
14,439 
243 
1,432 
9,082 
713 
312 
631 
345 
851 
516 
812 
377 
541 
363 
841 
517 
661 
315 
212 
112 
530 
278 
465 
161 
1,079 
135 
793 
106 
Percent change 
Average, 
1995 to 2002a 
Incarceration 
rate, 2002 b 
2001 to 
2002 
60 4.9% 5.2% 
6 
54 
2.4 
5.2 
6.1 
5.1 
% 29 
52 
12 
11 
22 
36 
3.0 
17.1 
52.5 
-1.3 
11.6 
-2.6 
1.6% 
8.2 
14.0 
1.0 
4.1 
2.8 
30 
29 
11 
-4.4 
6.4 
10.9 
-2.6 
2.8 
4.5 
26 38.9 17.0 
% 46 
39 
50 
47 
39 
44 
2.9 
-8.3 
2.7 
10.7 
8.0 
5.5 
5.0% 
2.0 
8.5 
7.5 
2.6 
3.0 
18 
78 
38 
31 
50 
58 
18.8 
7.1 
2.9 
2.0 
3.5 
2.3 
11.2 
9.9 
7.6 
19.8 
0.7 
7.7 
48 3.9 15.2 
% 71 
71 
61 
54 
54 
72 
6.2 
-4.8 
0.4 
-8.3 
7.3 
10.4 
6.2% 
3.9 
7.3 
6.1 
3.3 
6.3 
59 
96 
40 
126 
37 
131 
12.7 
-5.2 
4.7 
14.2 
6.5 
2.0 
8.3 
6.7 
2.3 
14.8 
3.1 
3.7 
71 
58 
96 
68 
37 
10.7 
18.2 
5.5 
13.7 
4.6 
6.9 
15.4 
7.4 
6.3 
15.9 
% 57 
47 
81 
54 
70 
69 
5.9 
-2.8 
12.0 
1.3 
13.9 
8.6 
4.8% 
5.3 
7.8 
1.5 
11.9 
11.5 
94 
75 
80 
52 
46 
31 
16.6 
-5.0 
1.2 
-0.2 
22.8 
19.7 
16.9 
17.4 
7.0 
9.2 
8.3 
12.9 
40 
67 
16.2 
23.7 
6.8 
6.7 
Prisoners in 2002 5
Privately operated prisons held 
6.5% of State and Federal inmates 
in 2002 
At yearend 2002, 31 States and the 
Federal system reported a total of 
93,771 prisoners held in privately 
operated facilities (table 7). Private 
facilities held 5.8% of all State prisoners 
and 12.4% of Federal prisoners. 
Among States, Texas (with 16,773 
State inmates housed in private facilities) 
and Oklahoma (with 6,470) 
reported the largest number in 2002. 
Five States C New Mexico (43%), 
Alaska (31%), Wyoming (30%), 
Montana (29%), and Oklahoma (28%) 
C had at least 25% of their prison 
population housed in private facilities. 
Except for Wisconsin (with 16% of its 
State inmates in private facilities) and 
New Jersey (9%), the use of private 
facilities was concentrated among 
Southern and Western States. Overall, 
8.0% of State inmates in the South and 
6.2% of inmates in the West were in 
privately operated facilities at the end 
of 2002, compared to 1.8% in the 
Northeast and 2.7% in the Midwest. 
In 2002 local jails held about 5% 
of State and Federal prisoners 
At the end of 2002, 32 States and the 
Federal system reported a total of 
71,256 State and Federal prisoners 
held in local jails or other facilities 
operated by county or local authorities. 
These inmates held in local jails represented 
4.9% of all prisoners in 2002. 
Louisiana had the largest percentage 
of its State inmate population housed in 
local jails (45%). Due to a partnership 
with the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association 
and local authorities, 16,048 State 
inmates in Louisiana were housed in 
local jails at yearend 2002. Five other 
States C led by Tennessee (27%) and 
Kentucky (23%) C had at least a fifth of 
their population housed in local jails. 
The region which utilized local jails to 
hold prisoners most often was the 
South (with 10.2% of prisoners in local 
jails), followed by the West (1.8%), the 
Northeast (1.3%), and the Midwest 
(0.7%). 
6 Prisoners in 2002 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
Table 7. State and Federal prisoners held in private facilities and local jails, 
by jurisdiction, yearend 2001 and 2002 
Region and 
jurisdiction 
U.S. total 
Federalb 
State 
Northeast 
Connecticut 
Maine 
Massachusetts 
New Hampshire 
New Jerseyc 
New York 
Pennsylvania 
Rhode Islandc 
Vermontc 
Midwest 
Illinois 
Indiana 
Iowa 
Kansas 
Michigan 
Minnesota 
Missouri 
Nebraska 
North Dakota 
Ohio 
South Dakota 
Wisconsin 
South 
Alabama 
Arkansas 
Delaware 
Florida 
Georgia 
Kentucky 
Louisiana 
Maryland 
Mississippi 
North Carolina 
Oklahoma 
South Carolina 
Tennessee 
Texas 
Virginia 
West Virginia 
West 
Alaska 
Arizona 
California 
Colorado 
Hawaii 
Idaho 
Montana 
Nevada 
New Mexico 
Oregon 
Utah 
Washingtonc 
Wyoming 
--Not applicable. Prison and jails form an integrated system. 
aBased on the total number of inmates under State or Federal jurisdiction. 
bIncludes Federal inmates in nonsecure, privately operated facilities 
(6,598 in 2002 and 6,515 in 2001). 
cInmates held in other State facilities include interstate compact cases. 
Private facilities 
2002 2001 
Percent of all 
Inmates, 2002a 
93,771 90,912 6.5% 
20,274 
73,497 
19,251 
71,661 
12.4 
5.8
% 3,146
0
8
0
0 
3,131
0 
11
0
0 
2,620 
1.8 
0.0 
0.4 
0.0 
0.0 
9.3 
0 
500
0 
0.0 
1.3 
0.0 
2,601
0 
537
0
0 0 0.0
% 6,741
0 
843
00
460 
6,894
0 
915
0 
98 
449 
2.7 
0.0 
3.9 
0.0 
0.0 
0.9 
0
00
44 
1,924 
35 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
2.1 
4.2 
1.1 
0
00
23 
1,927 
32 
3,456 3,429 15.6
% 46,071
0
0
0 
4,173 
4,573 
44,704
0
0
0 
3,995 
4,561 
8.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
5.5 
9.6 
1,635 
2,929 
127 
3,435 
166 
6,470 
1,028 
2,928 
128 
3,634 
191 
6,658 
10.3 
8.2 
0.5 
15.1 
0.5 
27.7 
21 
4,200 
16,773 
1,569
0 
6 
3,678 
16,331 
1,566
0 
0.1 
16.8 
10.4 
4.7 
0.0
% 17,539 
1,360 
1,965 
4,649 
2,452 
1,347 
16,932 
1,537 
1,429 
4,452 
2,390 
1,251 
6.2 
30.9 
6.7 
2.9 
13.0 
24.8 
1,266 
963 
434 
2,576
00 
1,348 
1,087 
478 
2,484
00 
20.4 
29.3 
4.1 
43.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0 
527 
0 
476 
0.0 
30.3 
Local jails 
2001 2002 
Percent of all 
Inmates, 2002a 
4.9% 71,256 70,681 
2.1 
5.3 
3,377 
67,879 
2,921 
67,760 
1.3% 2,234 
-- 
0 
375 
11 
1,528 
2,593 
-- 
3 
420 
12 
2,019 
-- 
0.0 
3.6 
0.4 
5.5 
0.5 320
0 
-- 
139
0 
-- 
0.0 
-- 
-- -- -- 
0.7% 
0.0 
5.8 
0.0 
0.0 
0.1 
1,814
0 
1,262
00
30 
2,192
0 
1,320
00
237 
3.1 
0.0 
0.0 
0.8 
0.0 
0.4 
221
00
9
0 
12 
184
00
21
0 
16 
1.3 280 414 
10.2% 
8.8 
10.3 
-- 
0.1 
10.5 
58,727 
2,449 
1,350 
-- 
47 
4,975 
57,782 
601 
951 
-- 
0 
4,682 
23.0 
44.9 
0.7 
20.0 
0.0 
5.1 
3,657 
16,048 
168 
4,550
0 
1,183 
4,706 
16,050 
140 
3,736
0 
903 
1.7 
26.9 
7.6 
11.3 
21.3 
415 
6,717 
12,375 
3,825 
968 
446 
6,230 
15,158 
3,440 
739 
1.8% 5,104 
-- 
232 
2,591 
160 
-- 
5,193 
-- 
349 
2,727 
129 
-- 
-- 
0.8 
1.6 
0.8 
-- 
4.8 295 
419 
177
0
0 
1,172 
249 
496 
188
0
8 
1,020 
12.7 
1.7 
0.0 
0.0 
21.1 
0.0 
3.3 
0 
58 
0 
27
25 States and Federal system 
operating at or above highest 
capacity 
To estimate the capacity of their 
prisons, jurisdictions were asked to 
Table 8. Reported Federal and State prison capacities, yearend 2002 
Region 
and jurisdiction 
Federal 
Northeast 
Connecticutb 
Maine 
Massachusetts 
New Hampshire 
New Jersey 
New York 
Pennsylvania 
Rhode Island 
Vermont 
Midwest 
Illinois 
Indiana 
Iowa 
Kansas 
Michigan 
Minnesota 
Missouri 
Nebraska 
North Dakota 
Ohio 
South Dakota 
Wisconsin 
South 
Alabama 
Arkansasc 
Delaware 
Florida 
Georgia 
Kentucky 
Louisiana 
Maryland 
Mississippic 
North Carolina 
Oklahomac 
South Carolina 
Tennesseec 
Texasc,d 
Virginia 
West Virginia 
West 
Alaska 
Arizona 
California 
Colorado 
Hawaii 
Idaho 
Montana 
Nevadac 
New Mexicoc 
Oregon 
Utah 
Washington 
Wyoming 
...Data not available. 
aPopulation counts are based on the number of inmates held in facilities operated by the jurisdicb
c
tion. Excludes inmates held in local jails, in other States, or in private facilities. 
Connecticut no longer reports capacity because of a law passed in 1995. 
Includes capacity of private and contract facilities and inmates housed in them. 
dExcludes capacity of county facilities and inmates housed in them. 
Type of capacity measure 
Rated Operational 
103,897 
... 
1,779 
... 
2,419 
... 
61,265 
34,583 
3,907 
1,286 
31,351 
15,859 
6,772 
9,114 
... 
7,064 
... 
... 
1,005 
36,270 
... 
... 
... 
11,972 
... 
... 
... 
... 
19,688 
... 
... 
... 
... 
... 
19,138 
159,667 
30,925 
18,691 
154,999 
... 
... 
3,098 
26,228 
... 
... 
... 
5,871 
3,206 
29,406 
155,087 
13,925 
3,487 
5,544 
... 
10,532 
6,245 
... 
... 
9,898 
1,111 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
supply three measures for capacity at 
yearend 2002: rated, operational, and 
design capacities. These measures 
were defined as follows: 
Design 
... ... 
... 
1,779 
... 
2,238 
... 
63,531 
... 
1,779 
7,721 
2,213 
17,122 
54,210 
34,583 
3,907 
1,286 
27,113 
4,061 
1,226 
31,351 
21,039 
6,772 
... 
51,429 
7,064 
27,256 
... 
6,772 
... 
... 
7,064 
30,580 
3,924 
952 
... 
2,827 
15,559 
... 
3,139 
1,005 
... 
... 
... 
... 
12,189 
4,206 
78,805 
47,706 
12,162 
12,459 
11,299 
3,192 
58,396 
... 
... 
20,010 
24,263 
21,011 
28,284 
23,566 
22,600 
... 
... 
... 
... 
... 
22,955 
... 
159,667 
... 
3,539 3,189 
... 
25,346 
80,587 
12,593 
2,451 
4,564 
2,460 
... 
6,239 
11,556 
4,196 
12,793 
... 
8,315 
5,985 
11,556 
4,419 
12,793 
1,051 1,141 
Highest capacitya 
Custody population as a percent of C 
Lowest capacitya 
% 133 % 133 
% % 
... 
104 
128 
112 
138 
123 
... 
104 
128 
102 
138 
105 
145 
89 
111 
113 
86 
106 
% % 157 
123 
124 
98 
97 
97 
136 
93 
124 
98 
97 
97 
97 
103 
109 
120 
102 
117 
97 
129 
115 
120 
102 
117 
% % 201 
95 
164 
95 
99 
87 
201 
103 
216 
129 
99 
87 
100 
99 
73 
117 
93 
101 
98 
99 
73 
117 
93 
100 
98 
88 
95 
96 
85 
95 
112 101 
% % 93 
100 
103 
116 
107 
71 
97 
116 
198 
129 
152 
92 
78 
121 
98 
101 
102 
164 
78 
96 
94 
101 
97 
127 
106 98 
Rated capacity is the number of beds 
or inmates assigned by a rating official 
to institutions within the jurisdiction. 
Operational capacity is the number of 
inmates that can be accommodated, 
based on a facility’s staff, existing 
programs, and services. 
Design capacity is the number of 
inmates that planners or architects 
intended for the facility. 
Twenty-two jurisdictions provided only 
1 measure or the same figure for each 
measure (table 8). For the 28 jurisdictions 
with more than 1 reported type of 
capacity, estimates of population as a 
percent of capacity are based on the 
highest and lowest figures provided. 
At yearend 2002, 24 States reported 
that they were operating below 100% 
of their highest capacity, and 25 States 
and the Federal prison system reported 
operating at 100% or more of their 
highest capacity. Idaho, which was 
operating at 71% of its highest 
capacity, reported the lowest percent 
of capacity occupied. Delaware, 116% 
over lowest reported capacity, and 
Alabama, 101% over, had the highest 
percent of capacity occupied. 
At yearend 2002 the Federal prison 
system was operating at 33% over 
capacity. Overall, State prisons were 
operating at between 1% over their 
highest capacity and 17% above their 
lowest capacity (table 9). 
Table 9. State prison population 
as a percent of capacity, 1995-2002 
State 
prisons 
1,161,262 
1,005,466 
Highest capacity 
Lowest capacity 
Population as a 
percent of capacity* 
114 
100 
101 
Highest 
1995 
2000 
2001 
2002 101 
Lowest 
1995 
2000 
2001 
2002 
125 
115 
116 
117 
*Excludes inmates sentenced to prison 
but held in local jails and inmates in private 
facilities (unless included in the reported 
capacity). See Jurisdiction notes. 
Prisoners in 2002 7
Immigration and Customs detainees 
rose during 2002 
The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement (BICE), 
formerly the U.S. Immigration and 
Naturalization Service (INS), reported 
21,065 detainees on December 31, 
2002, up from 19,137 at yearend 
2001 (table 10). Over half of these 
detainees (11,317) were held in 
Federal and State prisons and local 
jails, and about a third were held in 
BICE-operated facilities (5,087) and 
private facilities under exclusive 
contract to the BICE (1,936). 
Among the 21,065 BICE detainees 
for immigration violations at yearend 
2002, 10,763 had been convicted of 
criminal offenses, and 1,725 had 
pending criminal cases (not shown in 
table). Detainees convicted of violent 
offenses (31.6%) and drug offenses 
(31.4%) constituted the largest 
groups under BICE jurisdiction, 
followed by property offenses 
(14.7%), and public-order offenses 
(12.6%). 
Prisoners held by military 
authorities dropped 2.4% 
There were 2,377 prisoners under 
military jurisdiction at yearend 2002. 
Fifty-seven percent of the prisoners 
held by the Army, Air Force, Navy, 
Marine Corps and Coast Guard had 
sentences of 1 year or more. At 
yearend 2002 the Army’s Disciplinary 
Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 
and five other local or regional Army 
facilities held the largest share of all 
inmates under military jurisdiction 
(41%). The 11 Navy facilities held 
nearly 34% of all inmates; the 6 Marine 
Corps facilities held 20% of all inmates; 
and the 36 Air Force facilities held 5% 
of all inmates. 
The total operational capacity of the 
59 military confinement facilities was 
3,249 (not shown in a table). At 
yearend 2002 these facilities were 
operating at 73% of their operational 
capacity. About 86% of prisoners held 
by the Army, Air Force, Navy, and 
Marine Corps were convicted inmates; 
14% were unconvicted persons whose 
cases had not been tried. 
8 Prisoners in 2002 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
Table 10. Number of detainees under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE), by type of facility, 
yearend 1995, 2001, and 2002 
Percent of 
all detainees 
1995 Facility type 1995 
Percent 
change, 
2001-02 2002 
Number of detainees 
2002 2001 
100% 
46.2 
21,065 
5,087 
19,137 
4,550 
8,177 
3,776 
10.1% 
11.8 
100% 
24.1 
Total* 
BICE-operated facilities 
Private facilities under 
exclusive contract to BICE 
Federal Bureau of Prisons 
Other Federal facilities 
8.0 
15.7 
2.2 
28.0 
1,936 
1,100 
130 
12,812 
1,947 
1,276 
162 
11,201 
652 
1,282 
181 
2,286 
-0.6 
-13.8 
-19.8 
14.4 
9.2 
5.2 
0.6 
60.8 Intergovernmental agreements 
State prisons 
Local jails 
Other facilities 
0.1 
24.3 
3.6 
453 
9,764 
2,595 
419 
8,681 
2,101 
8 
1,984 
294 
8.1 
12.5 
23.5 
2.2 
46.4 
12.3 
*Detail does not sum to total due to unknown facility type 
for 1 detainee in 2001. 
Table 11. Prisoners under military jurisdiction, by branch 
of service, yearend 1995, 2001, and 2002 
Percent 
change, 
2001-02 Branch of service 2002 
Total 
2001 1995 
Percent 
change, 
2001-02 1995 
Sentenced to 
more than 1 year 
2002 2001 
To which 
prisoners belonged 
2.2% 
-1.1 
1.7 
12.3 
-3.1 
0.0 
Total 
Air Force 
Army 
Marine Corps 
Navy 
Coast Guard 
2,377 
450 
860 
565 
489 
13 
2,436 
480 
804 
628 
516
8 
2,838 
486 
1,207 
612 
520 
13 
-2.4% 
-6.3 
7.0 
-10.0 
-5.2 
62.5 
1,361 
264 
610 
265 
219
3 
1,332 
267 
600 
236 
226
3 
1845 
382 
995 
249 
213
6 
Holding prisoners 
2.2% 
0.0 
-6.7 
122.1 
-2.4 
2,377 
128 
966 
478 
805 
2,436 
126 
981 
428 
901 
2,838 
-- 
1,582 
591 
665 
-2.4% 
1.6 
-1.5 
11.7 
-10.7 
1,361 
14 
767 
171 
409 
1,332 
14 
822 
77 
419 
1845
-- 
1403 
188 
254 
Total 
Air Force 
Army 
Marine Corps 
Navy 
-- Not reported. 
Table 12. Prisoners in custody of correctional authorities 
in the U.S. Territories, yearend 2001 and 2002 
Total Sentenced to more than 1 year 
Incarceration 
rate, 2002* 2002 2001 
Percent 
change, 
2001-02 2002 2001 
Percent 
change, 
2001-02 
U.S. 
Territory 
286 Total 16,206 15,871 2.1% 12,296 11,933 3.0% 
208 
162 
169 
542 
155 
585 
9.0 
-7.4 
143 
261 
125 
297 
14.4 
12.1 
American Samoa 
Guam 
Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana 
98 123 102 20.6 76 72 5.6 Islands 
Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico 
U.S. Virgin Islands 
294 
360 
14,725 
647 
14,539 
494 
1.3 
32.0 
11,371 
445 
11,020 
419 
3.2 
6.2 
*The number of prisoners with a sentence of more than 1 year 
per 100,000 persons in the resident population. Midyear population 
estimates were provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, 
International Data Base.
At yearend 2002, 16,206 inmates 
held in U.S. Territories, up 2.1% 
The U.S. Territories and Commonwealths 
C American Samoa, Guam, 
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, 
and Virgin Islands C reported 16,206 
inmates in custody of their prison 
systems at yearend 2002, an increase 
of 2.1% since 2001 (table 12). 
Three-quarters of the total territorial 
prison population (or 12,296) had a 
sentence of more than 1 year. Since 
1995 the number of sentenced prisoners 
held in U.S. Territories has grown 
31%, compared to the 24% increase 
in the number of sentenced State 
prisoners. 
Relative to the resident populations in 
the Territories, the rate of incarceration 
was 286 prisoners per 100,000 
residents C less than two-thirds of the 
combined rate of the 50 States. Of the 
5 Territories, the U.S. Virgin Islands 
had the highest prison incarceration 
rate (360 inmates per 100,000 
residents), followed by Puerto Rico 
(with 294). Puerto Rico, the largest of 
the Territories, had the most sentenced 
prisoners (11,371 at yearend 2002), up 
from 11,020 in 2001. 
More black males than white males 
among State and Federal inmates 
at yearend 2002 
At yearend 2002, black males 
(586,700) outnumbered white males 
(436,800) and Hispanic males 
(235,000) among inmates with 
sentences of more than 1 year (table 
13). Black inmates represented an 
estimated 45% of all inmates with 
sentences of more than 1 year, while 
white inmates accounted for 34% and 
Hispanic inmates, 18%. 
Although the total number of sentenced 
inmates rose sharply (up 27% between 
1995 and 2002), there were only small 
changes in the racial and Hispanic 
composition of the inmate population. 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
Percent of prisoners under 
State or Federal jurisdiction* 
2002 
100.0% 
34.2 
45.1 
1995 
100.0% 
33.5 
45.7 
17.6 
incarceration rates drop with age, the 
percentage of black males age 45 to 
54 in prison in 2002 was nearly 2.3% C 
only slightly lower than the highest rate 
(2.4%) among Hispanic males (age 30 
to 34) and more than twice the highest 
rate (1.3%) among white males (age 
30 to 34). 
Total 
White 
Black 
Hispanic 18.1 
Other 3.2 2.6 
*Based on inmates with sentences 
of more than 1 year. 
An estimated 10% of black males, 
age 25-29, in prison in 2002 
When incarceration rates are 
estimated separately by age group, 
black males in their twenties and 
thirties are found to have high rates 
relative to other groups (table 14). 
Expressed in percentages, 10.4% of 
black males age 25 to 29 were in 
prison on December 31, 2002, 
compared to 2.4% of Hispanic males 
Female incarceration rates, though 
substantially lower than male incarceration 
rates at every age, reveal 
similar racial and ethnic disparities. 
Black females (with an incarceration 
rate of 191 per 100,000) were more 
than twice as likely as Hispanic 
females (80 per 100,000) and 5 times 
more likely than white females (35 per 
100,000) to be in prison on December 
31, 2002. These differences among 
white, black, and Hispanic females 
were consistent across all age groups. and about 1.2% of white males in the 
same age group. Although 
Table 13. Number of sentenced prisoners under State or Federal jurisdiction, 
by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and age, 2002 
Number of sentenced prisoners 
Totala Whiteb 
Males
Blackb Hispanic Totala Blackb 
Females 
Whiteb Hispanic 
15,000 
200 
2,100 
3,000 
Total 
18-19 
20-24 
25-29 
1,291,326 
36,400 
218,300 
248,400 
436,800 
8,800 
59,400 
70,700 
586,700 
17,300 
105,400 
123,000 
235,000 
8,400 
47,400 
49,300 
89,044 
1,300 
8,900 
15,900 
35,400 
700 
3,700 
5,500 
36,000 
500 
3,100 
6,500 
3,600 
2,900 
1,400 
1,400 
200 
30-34 
35-39 
40-44 
45-54 
55 or older 
245,700 
220,600 
150,200 
127,300 
38,900 
83,900 
79,400 
56,300 
55,800 
21,500 
111,400 
102,500 
64,600 
48,500 
10,800 
46,200 
34,200 
25,300 
18,800 
4,800 
22,100 
19,400 
10,700 
8,400 
1,900 
8,500 
7,800 
4,100 
3,700 
1,200 
9,200 
8,300 
4,700 
3,000 
500 
a
b
were rounded to the nearest 100. 
Includes American Indians, Alaska 
Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians, 
and other Pacific Islanders. 
Excludes Hispanics. 
Note: Based on custody counts from National Prisoners 
Statistics (NPS-1A) and updated from jurisdiction 
counts by gender at yearend. Estimates by age 
derived from the Surveys of Inmates in State and 
Federal Correctional facilities, 1997. Estimates 
Table 14. Number of sentenced prisoners under State or Federal jurisdiction 
per 100,000 residents, by gender, race, Hispanic origin, and age, 2002 
Number of sentenced prisoners per 100,000 residents of each group 
Age Totala Whiteb 
Males 
Blackb Hispanic Totala Blackb 
Females 
Whiteb Hispanic 
80 
35 
130 
179 
216 
193 
Total 
18-19 
20-24 
25-29 
30-34 
35-39 
912 
869 
2,109 
2,577 
2,326 
2,014 
450 
331 
934 
1,229 
1,251 
1,080 
3,437 
2,865 
7,490 
10,376 
8,885 
7,893 
1,176 
1,224 
2,382 
2,394 
2,409 
2,060 
61 
34 
90 
170 
213 
177 
35 
26 
59 
97 
129 
106 
191 
87 
217 
498 
662 
566 
111 
76
8 
40-44 
45-54 
55 or older 
1,316 
647 
141 
691 
376 
96 
4,939 
2,344 
479 
1,850 
1,030 
272 
92 
41
5 
51 
25
4 
315 
123 
17 
Asians, Native Hawaiians, and 
other Pacific Islanders. 
b a Excludes Hispanics. 
Note: Based on estimates of the U.S. resident 
population on July 1, 2002. 
Includes American Indians, Alaska Natives, 
Prisoners in 2002 9
Revised 8/27/03, th 
2001 
Total 100% 
Violent 46.5 49.3 
Property 22.9 19.3 
Drug 21.5 20.4 
Public-order 8.7 10.8 
Other 0.2 
The percentage of State prisoners 
serving time for property and drug 
Female 
76,200 
White 
424,200 
24,400 
8,500 
1,900 
300 
1,000 
5,200 
208,100 
51,500 
6,300 
15,100 
50,700 
34,100 
5,600 
1,900 
20,000 
3,400 
5,800 
700 
8,300 
1,600 
101,800 
45,700 
17,400 
6,900 
17,100 
14,700 
23,200 
8,300 
a
b 
400 900 1,700 
Includes nonnegligent manslaughter. 
Includes weapons, drunk driving, court 
cIncludes juvenile offenses and unspecified 
Percent 
of total 
189,300 
121,300 
-200 
28,900 
39,500 
100% 
63.9
-- 
15.2 
20.8 
Black prisoners 
Increase, Percent 
of total 1995-2001 
83,200 
47,400
0 
Growth linked to increasing 
number of inmates in State prison 
All 
1,208,700 
Male 
1,132,500 
596,100 
159,200 
16,900 
30,900 
87,600 
155,300 
571,700 
150,700 
15,000 
30,600 
86,600 
150,100 
118,800 
27,400 
113,100 
25,500 
233,000 
104,700 
45,500 
18,000 
33,700 
31,100 
213,100 
101,300 
39,600 
17,300 
25,400 
29,500 
246,100 222,900 
129,900 121,600 
Male prisoners 
Increase, Percent 
of total 1995-2001 
100% 
63.1 
1.7 
14.8 
20.4 
Percent 
of total 
100% 
58.7 
3.3 
17.9 
20 
for violent offenses 
Between 1995 and 2001 the distribution 
of the four major offense categories 
C violent, property, drug, and 
public-order offenses C changed 
slightly among State prisoners. 
Table 15. Estimated number of sentenced prisoners under State jurisdiction, 
by offense, gender, race, and Hispanic origin, 2001 
Offense 
Total 
Violent offenses 
Murdera 
Manslaughter 
Rape 
Other sexual assault 
Robbery 
Assault 
Other violent 
Property offenses 
Burglary 
Larceny 
Motor vehicle theft 
Fraud 
Other property 
Drug offenses 
Public-order offensesb 
Other/unspecifiedc 3,600 3,200 800 
Note: Data are for inmates with a sentence of 
more than 1 year under the jurisdiction of State 
correctional authorities. The number of inmates offenses, commercialized vice, morals and 
by offense were estimated using the 1997 Survey decency charges, liquor law violations, and 
of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities and other public-order offenses. 
rounded to the nearest 100. 
felonies. 
Table 16. Partitioning by gender and offense, the growth of the sentenced 
prison population under State jurisdiction, 1995-2001 
All prisoners 
Increase, 
Offense 1995-2001 
Total 
Violent 
Property 
Drug 
Public-order 
207,300 
130,800 
3,600 
30,600 
42,400 
Table 17. Partitioning by race, Hispanic origin, and offense, the growth 
of the sentenced prison population under State jurisdiction, 1995-2001 
White prisoners 
Increase, 
Offense 
Total 
Violent 
Property 
1995-2001 
90,700 
53,100 
3,000 
Drug 
Public-order 
16,200 
18,000 
100% 
56.9
-- 
22.9 
20.2 
19,100 
16,800 
10 Prisoners in 2002 
offenses dropped while the percentage 
held for violent and public-order 
offenses rose. 
Percent of sentenced 
State inmates 
1995 
100% 
0.4 
Black 
548,800 
Hispanic 
205,300 
102,600 
27,800 
3,500 
2,700 
12,600 
26,200 
267,800 
77,100 
6,300 
11,700 
21,300 
91,100 
38,700 
11,700 
50,300 
10,000 
25,300 
4,700 
32,500 
14,700 
6,100 
4,200 
3,100 
4,500 
92,300 
41,200 
20,300 
6,700 
13,000 
11,100 
In absolute numbers, an estimated 
596,100 inmates in State prison at 
yearend 2001 were held for violent 
offenses, 159,200 for murder, 
155,300 for robbery, 118,800 for 
assault, and 118,500 for rape or 
other sexual assaults (table 15). 
In addition, 233,000 inmates were 
held for property offenses, 246,100 
for drug offenses, and 129,900 for 
public-order offenses. Overall, the 
largest growth in State inmates 
between 1995 and 2001 was 
among violent offenders. From 
1995 to 2001 the number of violent 
offenders grew 130,800, while the 
number of drug offenders grew 
30,600 (table 16). As a percentage 
of the total growth, violent offenders 
accounted for 63% of the growth; 
drug offenders 15%; property 
offenders 2%; and public-order 
offenders 20%. 
57,300 139,700 47,000 
56,000 47,300 22,300 
Sources of growth differ among 
men and women and among 
white, black, and Hispanic 
inmates 
The increasing number of violent 
offenders accounted for 64% of the 
total growth among male inmates and 
49% among female inmates. Publicorder 
offenders accounted for another 
21% of the total growth among male 
inmates and 16% of the growth among 
female inmates. 
Female prisoners 
Increase, Percent 
of total 1995-2001 
18,100 
8,700 
4,000 
2,300 
2,900 
100% 
48.6 
22.3 
12.8 
16.2 
The growth attributed to drug offenders 
has decreased from that of previous 
years (Prisoners in 2001, <www.ojp. 
usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/p01.htm>). 
From 1995 to 2001 drug offenders 
accounted for 13% of total growth 
among female inmates and 15% of 
growth among male inmates. 
Hispanic prisoners 
Increase, Percent 
of total 1995-2001 
35,300 
29,900 
-100 
100% 
81.5
-- 
-- 
18.5 
-1,400 
6,800 
Property offenders accounted for 22% 
of female population growth from 1995 
to 2001, but dropped by an estimated 
200 offenders among males. 
The sources of population growth also 
differed among white, black, and 
Hispanic prisoners. Overall, violent 
offenders accounted for the largest 
source of growth for all groups C 
among white State inmates (59%),
black inmates (57%), and Hispanic 
inmates (82%). The increasing number 
of drug offenses accounted for 23% of 
the total growth among black inmates 
and 18% of the growth among white 
inmates (table 17). 
Changing Federal prison population 
related to drug and immigration 
offenses 
Prisoners sentenced for drug offenses 
constituted the largest group of Federal 
inmates (55%) in 2001, down from 
60% in 1995 (table 18). On September 
30, 2001, the date of the latest available 
data in the Federal Justice Statistics 
Program, Federal prisons held 
78,501 sentenced drug offenders, 
compared to 52,782 in 1995. 
Between 1995 and 2001, the number 
of Federal inmates held for public-order 
offenses increased 133%, most of 
which was accounted for by the 
increase in immigration offenses (up 
339%). The number of immigration 
offenders rose from 3,420 in 1995 to 
15,012 in 2001. By September 30, 
2001, immigration violators represented 
over 10% of Federal inmates. 
In addition Federal inmates held for a 
weapons offense increased 68.4% 
from 1995 to 2001, from 7,446 to 
12,539. Weapons offenders accounted 
for over 9% of the overall growth in this 
period. 
Violent offenders under Federal jurisdiction 
increased 41% from 1995 to 
2001, and accounted for almost 9% of 
the total growth during the period. 
Homicide offenders increased 121%, 
from 1,068 in 1995 to 2,364 in 2001. 
While the number of offenders in each 
major offense category increased, the 
number incarcerated for a drug offense 
accounted for the largest percentage of 
the total growth (48%), followed by 
public-order offenders (38%). 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
Table 18. Number of sentenced inmates in Federal prisons, 
by most serious offense, 1995, 2000, and 2001 
Offense 
Total 
Violent offenses 
Homicidea 
Robbery 
Other violent 
Property offenses 
Burglary 
Fraud 
Other property 
Drug offenses 
Public-order offenses 
Immigration 
Weapons 
Other public-order 
Other/unknownb 
Note: All data are from the BJS Federal justice 
database. Data are for September 30 and based on 
sentenced inmates, regardless of sentence length. 
Methodology 
National Prisoner Statistics 
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), 
with the U.S. Census Bureau as its 
collection agent, obtains yearend and 
midyear counts of prisoners from 
departments of correction in each of 
the 50 States and the Federal Bureau 
of Prisons. 
In an effort to collect comparable data 
from all jurisdictions, National Prisoner 
Statistics (NPS) distinguishes prisoners 
in custody from those under jurisdiction. 
To have custody of a prisoner, a 
State must hold that person in one of 
its facilities. To have jurisdiction means 
that a State has legal authority over the 
prisoner. Prisoners under a State=s 
jurisdiction may be in the custody of a 
local jail, another State=s prison, or 
other correctional facility. Some States 
are unable to provide both custody and 
jurisdiction counts. (See National 
Prisoner Statistics jurisdiction notes, 
12/31/02, <www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ 
bjs/abstract/p02.htm>.) 
Excluded from NPS counts are 
persons confined in locally administered 
confinement facilities who are 
under the jurisdiction of local authorities. 
NPS counts include all inmates in 
State-operated facilities in Alaska, 
Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode 
2000 2001 
Number of sentenced inmates 
in Federal prisons 
1995 
88,658 131,739 142,766 
11,409 
1,068 
8,377 
13,740 
1,363 
9,712 
16,117 
2,364 
10,218 
1,964 2,665 3,535 
7,842 
177 
5,823 
10,135 
462 
7,506 
10,664 
642 
7,617 
1,842 2,167 2,405 
52,782 74,276 78,501 
15,655 
3,420 
7,446 
4,789 
32,325 
13,676 
10,822 
7,827 
36,443 
15,012 
12,539 
8,892 
970 1,263 1,041 
Island, and Vermont, which have 
combined jail-prison systems. At 
yearend 2001, the Federal Bureau of 
Prisons assumed responsibility for 
housing all sentenced felons in the 
District of Columbia. As a result, 
inmates in the District of Columbia, 
previously included in the NPS counts 
as prisoners in combined prison-jail 
systems, were reclassified as jail 
inmates and included in BJS jail statistics. 
(See Prison and Jail Inmates at 
Midyear 2002,<www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ 
bjs/abstract/pjim02.htm>.) 
Military corrections statistics 
BJS obtains yearend counts of prisoners 
in the custody of U.S. military 
authorities from the Department of 
Defense Corrections Council. The 
council, comprised of representatives 
from each branch of military service, 
adopted in 1994 a standardized report 
(DD Form 2720) with a common set 
of items and definitions. This report 
provides information on persons held 
in U.S. military confinement facilities 
inside and outside the continental 
United States, by branch of service, 
sex, race, Hispanic origin, conviction 
status, sentence length, and offense. 
It also includes data on the number of 
facilities, and their design and rated 
capacities. 
Percent 
change, 
1995-2001 
Percent of 
total growth, 
1995-2001 
100.0% 61.0% 
8.7% 
2.4 
3.4 
41.3% 
121.3 
22.0 
2.9 80.0 
5.2% 
0.9 
3.3 
36.0% 
262.7 
30.8 
1.0 30.6 
47.5% 48.7% 
38.4% 
21.4 
9.4 
7.6 
132.8% 
338.9 
68.4 
85.7 
7.3% 0.1% 
aIncludes murder, nonnegligent manslaughter, 
and negligent manslaughter. 
bIncludes offenses not classifiable. 
Prisoners in 2002 11
Other inmate counts These counts are collected by gender, 
race, Hispanic origin, and sentence 
BJS obtains yearend counts of persons length. In addition, BJS obtains reports 
detained by the Bureau of Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement (BICE), an 
agency within the Department of 
Homeland Security. BICE, formerly the 
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization 
Service, holds persons for immigration 
violations in Federal, State, and locally 
operated prisons and jails, as well as in 
private facilities under exclusive 
contract and in BICE-operated BJS Bulletins present the first release 
facilities. 
collection programs such as the 
National Prisoner Statistics. In 1995 BJS began collecting yearend 
counts of prisoners from the departments 
of correction in the three U.S. 
Territories (American Samoa, Guam, 
and U.S. Virgin Islands) and two U.S. 
Commonwealths (Northern Mariana 
Islands and Puerto Rico). These 
counts include all sentenced and 
unsentenced inmates for whom the 
Territory or Commonwealth government 
had legal authority (inmates 
under jurisdiction) and all inmates who 
were physically located in prison or jail 
facilities (inmates in custody). 
12 Prisoners in 2002 
Revised 8/27/03, th 
of the total design, rated, and operational 
capacity of correctional facilities. 
The Bureau of Justice Statistics 
is the statistical agency of the 
U.S. Department of Justice. 
Lawrence A. Greenfeld is the director. sion of Marilyn M. Monahan, 
of findings from permanent data 
Paige M. Harrison and Allen J. Beck 
wrote this report. Jennifer C. Karberg 
provided statistical assistance and 
verification. Tom Hester edited the 
report. Jayne Robinson administered 
final production. 
This report in portable document 
format and in ASCII, its tables, 
and related statistical data are 
available at the BJS World Wide 
Web Internet site: 
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/ 
Data collection and processing for 
the NPS program were carried out 
by Nicole J. Gist under the supervi- 
Demographic Surveys Division, U.S. 
Census Bureau. 
Christopher J. Mumola and Lauren E. 
Glaze collected and processed data 
on prisoners in the U.S. Territories, in 
U.S. military facilities, and in facilities 
operated by or for the Bureau of 
Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement. 
July 2003, NCJ 200248
NPS jurisdiction notes 
Alaska C Prisons and jails form one 
integrated system. All NPS data 
include jail and prison populations. 
Counts exclude individuals in electronic 
and special monitoring programs. 
Arizona C Population counts are 
based on custody data. Counts 
exclude 213 sentenced males and 19 
sentenced females housed in local jails 
who were awaiting transfer to the DOC. 
The definition of operational capacity 
has changed to include temporary beds 
and double bunks used in situations of 
crowding. 
California C Population counts include 
felons and civil addicts who are temporarily 
absent, such as in court, jail or 
hospital. 
Colorado C Population counts include 
247 male and 8 female inmates in the 
Youthful Offender System. 
Capacity figures exclude 4 privately run 
facilities under contract with the 
Department of Corrections. 
Connecticut C Prisons and jails form 
one integrated system. All NPS data 
include jail and prison populations. 
Legislation in 1995 abolished the 
capacity law so that prisons no longer 
have a rated or operational capacity. 
Design capacity is recorded separately 
in each facility. 
Delaware C Prisons and jails form one 
integrated system. All NPS data 
include jail and prison populations. 
Capacity counts include Department of 
Correction halfway houses. 
District of Columbia C The District of 
Columbia is no longer counted as a 
prison system due to the 1997 Revitalization 
Act, which transferred responsibility 
for housing sentenced felons to 
the Federal Bureau of Prisons. 
For comparisons with previous years 
jurisdiction and custody counts in the 
District of Columbia were 2,692 on 
12/31/01, 3,023 on 6/30/02, and 3,241 
on 12/31/02. 
Federal C Custody counts include 
inmates housed in privately operated 
secure facilities under contract with 
BOP or with State or local government 
that has an intergovernmental agreement. 
Also includes inmates held in 
privately operated community correctional 
centers. 
Rated capacity excludes contract beds. 
Florida C Population counts are based 
on custody data, including inmates in 
privately operated facilities. 
Georgia C Population counts are 
based on custody data, including 
inmates in privately operated facilities. 
Facilities in Georgia are not given rated 
or design capacities. 
Hawaii C Prisons and jails form one 
integrated system. All NPS data 
include jail and prison populations. 
Idaho C Rated capacity is defined as 
100% of the maximum capacity; 
operational capacity as 95% of the 
maximum (except in one facility which 
is 100%). 
Illinois C Population counts are based 
on jurisdiction data. Counts of inmates 
with a sentence of more than 1 year 
include an undetermined number with a 
sentence of 1 year. 
Iowa C Population counts are based 
on custody data. Counts of inmates 
with a sentence of more than 1 year 
include an undetermined number with a 
sentence of 1 year or less. 
Kansas C Population counts of 
inmates with a sentence of more than 1 
year include an undetermined number 
with a sentence of 1 year or less. 
Louisiana C Counts are as of December 
26, 2002. Population counts 
include 14,844 males and 1,204 
females housed in local jails as a result 
of a partnership with the Louisiana 
Sheriffs’ Association and local 
authorities. 
Maryland C Design capacity is no 
longer reported because of renovations 
and other changes. Operational capacity 
was estimated by applying a 
percentage to the population count on 
December 31, 2002. 
Massachusetts C By law, offenders 
may be sentenced to terms of up to 2½ 
years in locally operated jails. Such 
offenders are included in counts and 
rates for local jails. About 6,200 
inmates with sentences of more than 1 
year were held in local jails in 2002. 
Michigan C Jurisdiction counts 
exclude 30 inmates held in local jails. 
Operational capacity includes institution 
and camp net capacities and populations 
in community programs. 
Mississippi C Operation and design 
capacities include private prison 
capacities. 
Missouri C Design capacities are not 
available for older prisons. Operational 
capacity is defined as the number of 
available beds including those temporarily 
off-line. 
Montana C Counts include 264 
inmates under intensive supervision in 
the community. Capacity figures 
include 2 county operated regional 
prisons (an estimated 300 beds), 1 
private prison (500 beds), and a State 
operated boot camp (60 beds). 
Nebraska C Operational capacity is 
defined as stress capacity (or 125% of 
design capacity), which is ordered by 
the governor and set by the Department 
of Corrections. 
Nevada C Rated capacity is defined as 
emergency capacity. Design capacity is 
defined as one bed per cell. Capacity 
figures include 500 beds in a private 
facility. 
New Jersey C Population counts of 
inmates with a sentence of more than 1 
year include an undetermined number 
with a sentence of 1 year. 
Rated and operational capacity figures 
are not maintained. 
New Mexico C Operational capacity 
includes the maximum number of 
contracted beds in private facilities. 
North Carolina C Capacity figures 
refer to standard operating capacity as 
of June 28, 2002, based on single 
occupancy per cell and 50 square feet 
per inmate in multiple occupancy units. 
North Dakota C Capacity figures 
account for double bunking in the State 
Penitentiary. 
Ohio C Population counts of inmates 
with a sentence of more than 1 year 
include an undetermined number with a 
sentence of 1 year or less. 
Oklahoma C Population counts of 
inmates with a sentence of more than 1 
year include an undetermined number 
with a sentence of 1 year. 
Capacity figures include private prisons 
and contract jails. 
Oregon C Inmates with under a 1 year 
maximum sentence remain under the 
control of local counties. 
Rated capacity is not recognized. 
Rhode Island C Prisons and jails form 
one integrated system. All NPS data 
include jail and prison populations. 
Prisoners in 2002 13
South Carolina C Population counts 
include unsentenced inmates on 
Youthful Offender Act observation 
status, of which there were 35 on 
December 31, 2002. 
South Dakota C Operational capacity 
is planned capacity. Rated and design 
capacities are not recognized. 
Tennessee C Population counts of 
inmates with a sentence of more than 1 
year include an undetermined number 
with a sentence of 1 year. 
Texas C Jurisdiction counts include 
inmates serving time in a pre-parole 
transfer (PPT) or intermediary 
sanctions facility (ISF), substance 
abuse felony punishment facility 
(SAFPF), temporary releases to 
counties, and paper ready inmates in 
local jails. 
Capacity figures include public, 
privately operated and county 
contracted facilities that are state 
funded. Non-contracted county jail 
beds are excluded. 
Vermont C Prisons and jails form 
one integrated system. All NPS data 
include jail and prison populations. 
Virginia C Rated capacity is the DOC 
count of beds, which takes into account 
the number of inmates that can be 
accommodated based on staff, 
programming, services and design. 
Washington C A recently revised law 
allows increasing numbers of inmates 
with sentences of less than 1 year to 
be housed in prison. 
Wisconsin C Operational capacity 
excludes contracted local jails, Federal, 
other State, and private facilities. 
14 Prisoners in 2002