United States of America

CountryUnited States of America
Ministry responsible
Department of Justice
Prison administration
Federal Bureau of Prisons, state and local correctional authorities
Contact address
320 First Street N.W, Washington DC 20534
Website
http://www.bop.gov
Head of prison administration (and title)
(General) Mark Inch
Director of Federal Bureau of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
2 121 600
at 31.12.2016 (U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics - 704,500 in local jails, 1,228,800 in state prisons, 188,300 federal prisoners. In addition, there are prisoners in the 80 Indian Country Jails (2,540 at mid-year 2016) and the 1,852 juvenile facilities (50,821 at 2014).)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
655
based on an estimated national population of 323.9 million at end of 2016 (from U.S. Census Bureau figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
21.6%
(31.12.2016)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
9.8%
(31.12.2016)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(2014 - juveniles)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.2%
(2014)
Number of establishments / institutions
4 455
(3,163 local jails at 2014, 1,190 state confinement facilities at 2005, 102 federal confinement facilities at 2005)
Official capacity of prison system
2 140 321
(2014)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
103.9%
(2014)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 1,937,482 683
2002 2,033,022 703
2004 2,135,335 725
2006 2,258,792 752
2008 2,307,504 755
2010 2,270,142 731
2012 2,228,424 707
2014 2,217,947 693
2000 1,937,482 683
2002 2,033,022 703
2004 2,135,335 725
2006 2,258,792 752
2008 2,307,504 755
2010 2,270,142 731
2012 2,228,424 707
2014 2,217,947 693

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Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                 UNITED STATES

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010

349,800
463,200
457,500

18.1%
21.1%
20.2%

123
156
147

2015

434,600

20.3%

135

   Note. Figures for 2010 include pre-trial/remand prisoners in state and federal institutions (c. 30,000).

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                 UNITED STATES

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010

158,629
195,140
197,100

8.2%
8.9%
8.7%

55.9
66.0
63.5

2015

c. 211,870

c. 9.8%

c. 65.7

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate