Prisoners in 1990

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Special Report

Prisoners in 1990

May 1991

NCJ-129198

Full text with tables available from:

BJS Justice Statistics Clearinghouse

1-800-732-3277

Box 6000

Rockville, MD 10850

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This Bulletin presents counts of the Nation's prisoners at the end of 1990. The 1990 increase of nearly 59,000 prisoners equals a demand for approximately 1,100 new prison beds per week nationwide. Prisons were estimated to be operating from 18% to 29% above their capacities at yearend.

Strong evidence exists that during the 1980's there was an increasing probability that a convicted offender would go to prison. The ratio of prison admissions to reported serious crimes and arrests for serious crimes increased to levels unequalled in almost 30 years of reporting.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics expresses its appreciation to the departments of corrections in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Prison System, that make it possible for us to gather and report data on the Nation's prisoners.

Steven D. Dillingham, Ph.D. Director

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PRISONERS IN 1990

By Robyn L. Cohen

BJS Statistician

The number of prisoners under the jurisdiction of Federal or State correctional authorities at yearend 1990 reached a record high of 771,243. The States and the District of Columbia added 52,331 prisoners; the Federal system, 6,355. The increase for 1990 brings total growth in the prison population since 1980 to 441,422 - an increase of about 134% in the 10-year period.

The 1990 growth rate (8.2%) was less than the percentage increase recorded during 1989 (13.5%), and the number of new prisoners added during 1990 was 26,271 less than the number added during the preceding year (84,957). The 1990 increase translates into a nationwide need for approximately 1,100 prison bedspaces per week, compared to 1,600 prison bedspaces per week needed in 1989.

Prisoners with sentences of more than 1 year (referred to as "sentenced prisoners") accounted for 96% of the total prison population at the end of 1990, growing by 8.6% during the year. The remaining prisoners had sentences of a year or less or were unsentenced (like those, for example, awaiting trial in States with combined prison-jail systems).

The number of sentenced Federal prisoners increased at a faster rate than sentenced prisoners in the States during the year (10.7% versus 8.5%). For States, the rate of increase in the number of sentenced prisoners was lower than in 1989 (13%).

Among the 13,318 Federal prisoners with no sentences or sentences of a year or less were 1,910 under the jurisdiction of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, a decrease of 45 from the number held at the end of 1989 (1,955). The number of Federal prisoners with no sentences or sentences of less than a year increased by 1,315 during 1990 (from 12,003 to 13,318), while the number of sentenced prisoners increased by 5,040.

Total prison populations in Alaska, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Tennessee altogether decreased by 1,675 inmates during 1990. The District of Columbia accounted for more than half of this decline. The percentage of growth was the highest during 1990 in Vermont (15.9%), Washington (15.4%), and New Hampshire (15.1%). Thirteen States reported total prisoner increases of 10% or more since yearend 1989. California's increase of more than 10,000 prisoners during the year was the largest gain in the number of prisoners for any single jurisdiction. At the end of 1990, about 1 in 8 prisoners nationwide were confined in a California institution. California accounted for more than 17% of the increase nationwide during the year.

Rates of Incarceration Increase

On December 31, 1990, the number of sentenced prisoners per 100,000 residents was 293, also setting a new record. Ten of the 16 jurisdictions with rates equal to or greater than the rate for the Nation were located in the South, 4 were in the West, 1 was in the Midwest, and 1 was in the Northeast.

Since 1980 the number of sentenced inmates per 100,000 residents has risen nearly 111%, from 139 to 293. During this period, per capita incarceration rates have grown most rapidly in the Northeast, increasing by 167% (from 87 to 232) and the West, up by nearly 163% (from 105 to 276). The per capita number of sentenced prisoners in the Midwest climbed 119% (from 109 to 239), and the rate rose 68% in the South (from 188 to 315). The number of sentenced Federal prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents has increased 133% (from 9 to 21) over the same period.

Prison Populations in Western States Grow the Fastest

Regionally, during 1990 the percentage increase in the number of sentenced prisoners was highest in the Western States, with a gain of 9.2%. The number of sentenced prisoners grew by 8.8% in the Northeast, 8.8% in the South, and 6.9% in the Midwestern States. The sentenced Federal prison population grew by 10.7%.

In 13 States the percentage change in the number of sentenced prisoners during 1990 was equal to or higher than that of 1989. Among these jurisdictions, four had increases of at least 10%, led by New Hampshire (15.1%), Texas (13.7%), Alabama (13.2%), and Georgia (10.1%).

From the end of 1985 to December 31, 1990, net gains in the number of sentenced prisoners have averaged about 1,000 prisoners per week - a weekly gain of about 922 State prisoners and 75 Federal prisoners per week over the period. The largest net gains have occurred in the South (306 inmates per week) followed by the West (243), the Midwest (194), and the Northeast (179). During 1990 average growth in the number of sentenced State and Federal prisoners was equal to a demand for 1,131 additional bed- spaces per week, about 354 fewer than the average weekly growth in 1989.

The sentenced prisoner population had increased in four States by 90% or more since 1985: California (94%), Colorado (107%), Michigan (93%), and New Hampshire (97%). California's increase of 45,796 sentenced prisoners since 1985 accounts for 72% of the increase for the West and 19% of the increase among all States over the period. In 1985, 10.8% of the Nation's sentenced State prisoners were in California; in 1990, 13.7%.

Male Prisoner Population Growth Outpaces that of Females

The number of male inmates (727,398) increased at a faster rate during 1990 (8.3%) than the number of female inmates (7.9%). This is the first year since 1981 that the number of male inmates has increased at a faster rate than the number of female inmates. The rate of incarceration for sentenced males (566 per 100,000 males in the resident population) was about 18 times higher than for sentenced females (31 per 100,000 females in the resident population). At the end of 1990, women accounted for 5.7% of prisoners nationwide.

The 1990 growth rate (7.9%) for female inmates was less than the percentage increase recorded during 1989 (24.4%). As shown below, the percentage change was lower in 1990 across all the regions and at the Federal level.

Percent Increase in Female Inmate Population

1989-90 1988-89

Total 7.9% 24.4%

Federal 13.0 36.8

State 7.2 23.1 Northeast 9.2 29.8

Midwest 7.1 19.5

South 7.2 23.6

West 6.3 22.3

In 1990, 22 States, the District of Columbia, and the Federal system had more than 500 female inmates. Among these jurisdictions, 10 had increases of at least 10%, led by New Jersey's increase of 17.5% (from 886 in 1989 to 1,041 in 1990). California's increase during 1990, 502 inmates, accounted for 15.7% of the nationwide increase of 3,199.

Local Jails Held More than 18,000 Because of State Prison Crowding

At the end of 1990, 21 jurisdictions reported a total of 18,380 State prisoners held in local jails or other facilities because of crowding in State facilities. The number of State prisoners held locally decreased by 3.6% over that of yearend 1989. Three States - Louisiana, New Jersey, and Virginia - accounted for more than half of the prisoners sentenced to prison but incarcerated locally. Five States - Arkansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia - held more than 10% of their State- sentenced prisoners in local jails because of State facility crowding. Overall, 2.4% of the State prison population was confined in local jails on December 31, 1990, because of prison crowding.

Prison Capacity Estimates are Difficult to Compare

The extent of crowding in the Nation's prisons is difficult to determine precisely because of the absence of uniform measures for defining capacity. A wide variety of capacity measures is in use among the 52 reporting jurisdictions because capacity may reflect both available space to house inmates and the ability to staff and operate an institution. To estimate the capacity of the Nation's prisons, jurisdictions were asked to supply up to three measures for yearend 1990 - rated, operational, and design capacities. These measures were defined as follows:

- 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.

Of the 52 reporting jurisdictions, 32 supplied rated capacities, 42 provided operational capacities, and 38 submitted design capacities. As a result, estimates of total capacity and measures of the relationship to population are based on the highest and lowest capacity figures provided. (Twenty-six jurisdictions reported 1 capacity measure or gave the same figure for each capacity measure they reported.)

Most Jurisdictions are Operating Above Capacity

Prisons generally require reserve capacity to operate efficiently. Prison dormitories and cells need to be maintained and repaired periodically, special housing is needed for protective custody and disciplinary cases, and space may be needed to cope with emergencies. At the end of 1990, nine States reported they were operating below 95% of their highest capacity.

Forty-two jurisdictions and the Federal prison system reported operating at 100% or more of their lowest capacity; 34 of these held populations that met or exceeded their highest reported capacities.

Overall, at the end of 1990 State prisons were estimated to be operating at 115% of their highest capacities and 127% of their lowest capacities. Prisons in Southern States were found to be operating closest to their reported capacity on each measure.

The Federal system was estimated to be operating at 51% over capacity. Between 1989 and 1990, State and Federal prison capacities were estimated to have increased by approximately 20,000-50,000 beds. At the end of 1990, prisons nationwide were estimated to be from 18% to 29% over their capacities.

Prison Population Growth may Reflect Increasing Certainty of Punishment

There is some evidence that during the period 1980-89 changes in criminal justice policies have increased a criminal's probability of being incarcerated from levels existing in prior years.

Murder, nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and burglary are among the most serious crimes and account for approximately half of prison commitments from courts. In 1960 there were 62 prison commitments for every 1,000 of these crimes reported to law enforcement agencies. During the rest of the decade this ratio steadily declined reaching 23 in 1970 and was relatively stable during the 1970's. Between 1980 and 1989 the ratio increased from 25 commitments per 1,000 reported crimes to 62.

Similarly, between 1960 and 1970 the ratio of prison commitments to adult arrests for the selected crimes declined from 299 per 1,000 to 170. This ratio was relatively stable during the 1970's, but it increased between 1980 and 1989, from 196 commitments per 1,000 adult arrests to 332. (See Methodological note for more detail on these data.)

Prison-admissions-to-crime ratios for individual States provide an alternative measure of prison use to population-based rates. Population-based incarceration rates take into account the number of sentenced prisoners and the size of the resident population in a jurisdiction. The crime-based rate measures entry into prison relative to the number of crimes reported to law enforcement agencies during a year.

Between 1980 and 1989 the ratio of court commitments to prison and reported crimes increased 148%, from 25 commitments per 1,000 crimes to 62. Over the same period the number of prison commitments per 100,000 adult residents went up 115%, from 80 to 172. The Northeast had the largest percentage increase in the number of commitments relative to reported crime and experienced the largest gain in prison commitments relative to population. However, in both 1980 and 1989 the South had the largest number of court commitments to prison relative to reported crime and to population.

Besides the increased use of prison relative to reported crime, arrests, and resident population, prison population has also been affected by changes in the extent of the illegal drug problem.

An estimated two-thirds of those in State prisons for a drug offense were convicted of trafficking or manufacturing illegal drugs. (For additional information on drug offenders in State prisons, see Profile of State Prison Inmates, 1986, BJS Special Report, NCJ-109926, January 1988 and Drug Use and Crime, BJS Special Report, NCJ-111940, July 1988.) Since 1985 the number of adult arrests for drug violations has increased by 74%, and the number of arrests for sales or manufacturing of illegal drugs has grown by 137%.

Methodological Note

This bulletin is based upon an advance count of prisoners conducted for the National Prisoner Statistics (NPS) program immediately after a calendar year ends. A detailed, final count containing any revisions to the jurisdictions' advance count will be published later.

Explanatory Notes

Alabama. Capacity in community programs is not included in the reported capacity figures.

Alaska. In this State, prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include, therefore, both jail and prison populations.

Arizona. Population counts are based on custody data. Population counts exclude inmates housed in local jails because of crowding.

California. Population counts are based on custody data.

Colorado. Population counts for "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" include an undetermined number of "Inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less." Population counts exclude 652 male inmates and 1 female inmate housed in local jails awaiting pickup.

Connecticut. In this State, prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include, therefore, both jail and prison populations.

Delaware. Population counts are based on custody data. In this State, prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include, therefore, both jail and prison populations.

District of Columbia. Population counts are based on custody data. In the District of Columbia, prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include, therefore, both jail and prison populations. Population counts exclude those inmates housed in Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities. Population counts exclude 826 male inmates housed in other States as a result of crowding. Female capacities are included in the male capacities reported.

Federal. Population counts for "Unsentenced inmates" include 1,886 males and 24 females who come under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Capacity figures apply to Bureau of Prisons institutions only and do not include capacity provided by contract facilities. Female capacities are included in the male capacities reported.

Florida. Population counts are based on custody data.

Georgia. Population counts are based on custody data.

Hawaii. In this State, prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include, therefore, both jail and prison populations.

Illinois. Population counts are based on custody data. Population counts for "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" include an undetermined number of inmates with a maximum sentence of 1 year.

Indiana. Population counts are based on custody data and exclude inmates housed in local jails because of crowding.

Iowa. Population counts are based on custody data.

Kansas. Female capacities are included in the male capacities reported.

Maine. Population counts are as of January 1, 1991. Female capacities are in the male capacity figures reported.

Maryland. While population totals are actual manual counts, the breakdowns for sentence length are estimates based on the actual sentence length breakdowns of Maryland's automated data system.

Massachusetts. Starting with December 31, 1990, Massachusetts is reporting "unsentenced Inmates." Population counts are based on custody data. Population counts exclude 418 male and 12 female inmates housed in local jails because of crowding. Population counts for "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" include an undetermined number of "Inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less." Population totals are actual counts; however, the male/female breakdown is an estimate believed to be within 0.1% of the actual counts. By law, offenders in Massachusetts may be sentenced to terms of up to 2 1/2 years in locally operated jails and correctional institutions. Such populations are excluded from the State count but are included in published population counts and rates for local jails and correctional institutions.

Michigan. Population counts are based on custody data. Capacity figures exclude the capacities of the Community Residential Program.

Mississippi. Female capacities are included in the male capacities reported. Montana. Starting with the December 31, 1990, data, Montana now reports "Inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less." Montana is currently operating under emergency capacity; therefore, they are reporting emergency rather than operational capacity.

Nevada. Female capacities include the Nevada Women's Facility and the Reno Correctional Facility but exclude space at Nevada's Restitution Centers. Capacity for women at Nevada's Restitution Centersis included with the male capacity.

New Jersey. Rated, operational, and design capacities include 568 bedspaces in county facilities.

North Carolina. While population totals are actual counts, the breakdowns for sentence length are estimates believed to be accurate within 1% of the actual counts.

Ohio. Population counts for "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" include an undetermined number of "Inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less."

Oklahoma. Population counts for "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" may include a small undetermined number of inmates with a sentence of 1 year.

Rhode Island. In this State, prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include, therefore, both jail and prison populations. Tennessee. Population counts for "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" include an undetermined number of "Inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less." Population counts include 1,854 males and 15 females housed in local jails because of overcrowding of State prison facilities and exclude 2,593 felons sentenced to serve their time in local jails. (The State pays to house these 2,593 felons, but the local court maintains jurisdiction.) Texas. Population counts are based on custody data. The courts have ordered that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division (TDCJ-ID) cannot house more inmates than 95% of capacity. Approximately 2,928 beds are exempt from this rule, and the inmates in these beds do not count toward the calculation of 95% capacity. The population counts include all inmates within TDCJ-ID; however, the capacity figures exclude the 2,928 exempt beds.

Vermont. Population counts are as of December 6, 1990. In this State, prisons and jails form an almost completely integrated system. However, some county and municipal authorities do operate local lockups. NPS data include both jail and prison populations. The counts for jail crowding include 34 male inmates housed in local lockups. The capacity figures exclude the 34 male inmates housed in local lockups.

Washington. Capacity figures exclude space in State work-release facilities that housed 609 male and 69 female inmates on December 31, 1990.

West Virginia. The female population counts are based on custody data. Population counts exclude 87 male and 15 female inmates housed in local jails because of overcrowding.

Wyoming. The operational capacity figure is the absolute total bedspace available to Wyoming's Department of Corrections, and it includes 60 bedspaces in community centers.

-----------------------------------------------------------------Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletins are prepared principally by BJS staff. Robyn L. Cohen, statistician, under the supervision of Lawrence A. Greenfeld, corrections unit chief, wrote this report. Thomas Hester edited it. Darrell Gilliard provided statistical assistance. Marilyn Marbrook, publications unit chief, administered production, assisted by Betty Sherman, Yvonne Boston, and Jayne R. Pugh. Collection and processing of National Prisoner Statistics data were conducted under the general supervision of Lawrence S. McGinn and Gertrude B. Odom, assisted by Carol Spivey, U.S. Bureau of the Census.

May 1991, NCJ-129198

The Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, coordinates the activities of the following program offices and bureaus: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and Office for Victims of Crime