Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1998

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EST            BJS
SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 1999                 202/307-0784   

INCARCERATION RATE MORE THAN DOUBLES IN DOZEN YEARS

     WASHINGTON, D.C.--At midyear 1998, one in
every 150 U.S. residents was incarcerated, with an
estimated 1,802,496 men and women held in the
country's prisons and jails, the Justice
Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
announced today. This was an increase of more than
76,700 inmates during the preceding 12 months, up
4.4 percent.  Overall the incarceration rate has
more than doubled in the past 12 years. 

      There were 668 inmates per 100,000 U.S.
residents in state and federal prisons and local
jails as of June 30, 1998, compared to 313 per
100,000 at the end of 1985.

     In the June 1998 survey, 1,277,866 prisoners
were under state or federal jurisdiction.  The
number of state prisoners increased 4.8 percent
from 1997, which is less than the average annual
increase of 6.9 percent since 1990.   The states
and the District of Columbia saw an increase of
49,342 prisoners, and the federal system gained
8,748 more prisoners.

     Approximately 452 men and women per 100,000
U.S. residents were incarcerated in a federal or
state prison.  The rate for males was 866 per
100,000 male residents, and for females it was 55
per 100,000 female residents.    

     Between July 1, 1997, and June 30, 1998,
prison populations in 9 states grew 10 percent or
more, led by North Dakota (up 19.5 percent),
Montana (up 18.3 percent) and Hawaii (up 13.6
percent).  The only jurisdictions that reported
declines were the District of Columbia (down 10.9
percent), Idaho (down 3.6 percent), Wyoming (down
3.0 percent) and Massachusetts (down 0.3 percent).

     Local jails held an estimated 592,462 men and
women, up from 567,079 at midyear 1997.  Jail
authorities supervised an additional 72,385 men
and women in the community under the following
programs:

     Electronic monitoring . . . . 10,827 
     Home detention without 
          electronic monitoring . .   370
     Day reporting . . . . . . . .  3,089
     Community service   . . . . . 17,518
     Weekender programs . . . . .  17,249
     Other pretrial supervision . . 6,048
     Work programs*  . . . . . . .  7,089
     Treatment programs** . . . . . 5,702
     Other . . . . . . . . . . . .  4,493 
     _____
     * Includes people in work crews, work 
     gangs and other work alternatives  
     administered by jail authorities.
     ** Includes people in drug, alcohol, 
     mental health and other medical treatment
     programs.

     From midyear 1997 through midyear 1998 the
number of jail inmates increased 4.5 percent--
less than half the rate experienced 12 months
earlier (9.4 percent) and less than the average
annual rate (4.9 percent) since 1990.  As of last
June, 219 of every 100,000 U.S. residents were
held in local jails, up from 163 per 100,000 in
1990.

     Males constituted 89 percent of the jail
inmate population on June 30, 1998.  On average, 
the adult female jail population has grown 7
percent annually since 1990, compared to 4.5
percent increase for males.  An estimated 8,090
people younger than 18 years old were held in
jails, of which 81 percent had been convicted or
were being held for trial as adults in criminal
court.

     The 25 largest jail jurisdictions housed more
than a quarter of all jail inmates.  The largest
jail populations were in Los Angeles County
(21,268 inmates); New York City (17,680 inmates);
Cook County, Illinois, (9,321); Harris County,
Texas, (7,587) and Dade County, Florida, (7,036). 
Together these jurisdictions held approximately
63,000 inmates, or 11 percent of the national
total.  

     The national jail inmate population was 41
percent white, 41 percent African American, 
16 percent Hispanic and 2 percent of other
backgrounds, such as Asians, Pacific Islanders,
American Indians and Alaska Natives.  During the
year ending June 30, relative to their number in
the U.S. population, African Americans were six
times more likely than whites and almost 2« times
as likely as Hispanics to have been held in a
local jail.

     Between July 1, 1997, and June 30, 1998, the
capacity of the nation's jails rose by 26,216
beds, while the number of inmates increased by
25,383.  At midyear 1998 local jails were filled
to 97 percent of their capacity, compared to being
4 percent over capacity as of midyear 1990.   

     The bulletin, "Prison and Jail Inmates at
Midyear 1998" (NCJ-173414) was written by BJS
statistician Darrell Gilliard.  Single copies may
be obtained from the BJS fax-on-demand system by
dialing 301/519-5550, listening to the complete
menu and selecting document number 151.  Or call
the BJS Clearinghouse number: 1-800-732-3277.  Fax
orders for mail delivery to 410/792-4358.  The BJS
Internet site is:        
           http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

     Additional criminal justice materials can be
obtained from the Office of Justice Programs
homepage at:             
            http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
        
                      # # # 
          
After hours contact: Stu Smith at 301/983-9354

(End of file)