US Prison and Jail Population Continues Growing

[Capt Larimore]

US Prison and Jail Population Continues Growing
Jim Kouri

During the fiscal year that ended last June 30, the nation's prison and jail population grew 2.6 percent, reaching 2,186,230 inmates behind bars, according to the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics. Two thirds were in state or federal prisons (1,438,701) and the other third (747,529) were in local jails.
The 12-month increase of 56,428 prison and jail inmates was the equivalent of 1,085 new inmates every week, the BJS report said. Other report highlights include:

During the period, 10 state systems grew by more than 5 percent, led by Montana (up 7.9 percent), South Dakota (up 7.8 percent), and Minnesota (up 6.7 percent).

Three state systems -- Florida (up 2,812 inmates), Texas (up 2,228), and North Carolina (up 1,482) -- accounted for more than 40 percent of the state growth.

Twelve state systems reported population decreases, including Vermont (down 2.9 percent), Idaho (down 2.8 percent) and New York (down 2.5 percent).

The Federal prison population rose 2.9 percent, reaching 184,484 inmates.

The Census of Jail Inmates, conducted on June 30 of 2005, recorded a 33,539 inmate increase, the largest 12-month growth since 1997.

Women make up an increasing proportion of jail inmates, reaching 12.7 percent of the population in 2005, compared to 10.2 percent in 1995.

At midyear 2005, nearly 6 in 10 offenders in local jails were racial or ethnic minorities, which was nearly unchanged in the last 10 years.

During the period, slightly more inmates (33,539) than beds (33,398) were added to local jail capacity. At the midyear, jail facilities were operating at 95 percent of rated capacity.

During the 12-month period, the number of women under the jurisdiction of state and federal prison authorities rose 3.4 percent (from 102,691 to 106,174), while the number of men rose by 1.3 percent (from 1,389,143 to 1,406,649). At midyear 2005, women accounted for 7.0 percent of all prisoners, up from 6.1 percent in 1995.

Since 1995 the nation's prison and jail population has risen by more than 600,000 inmates. At midyear 2005 one in every 136 U.S. residents were in prison or jail.

Louisiana and Georgia led the nation in percentage of their state residents incarcerated (with more than 1 percent of their state residents in prison or jail at midyear 2005). Maine and Minnesota had the lowest rates of incarceration (with 0.3 percent or less of their state residents incarcerated).

At midyear 2005, nearly 4.7 percent of black males were in prison or jail, compared to 1.9 percent of Hispanic males, and 0.7 percent of white males. Among males in their late 20s, nearly 12 percent of black males, compared to 3.9 percent of Hispanic males and 1.7 percent of white males, were incarcerated.

[TX-Leo]

The more the better. However I do disagree with taking up valuable jail space with pot smokers and meth users.

[deputychief301]

 In the State of Michigan prisoners are being paroled at a record pace, even though there should be concern for the public safety after these
 convicts are being released. Michigan dept of Corrections is closing facility's due to budget costs and many officers are being laid off.
 As I take prisoners into see the parole board, I am totally amazed as I hear the board asking the prisoners what can we do to get you out of here,
 when they should be saying what have you did to prove that you can be paroled and function in society without getting in trouble or
 committing crimes and land back in prison. Major county jails in Michigan are refusing to hold the prisoners that violate their parole, one
reason is because the number of prisoners that are being paroled and get into trouble once they are out.
 Cutting operation costs by closing prisons is just another way for the government to save money any cost, including public safety.
 I have been in Corrections for over 20 years and have never seen anything like this, releasing dangerous prisoners after they reach their mini um
 sentence back into the public, knowing there is no jobs and the prisoners are going to resort back to what  landed them in prison in the first place.
 But then again, that doesn't concern the law makers as long as they can meet their projected budgets at any means of doing it.



thanks

deputychief301 

[TX-Leo]

 In the State of Michigan prisoners are being paroled at a record pace, even though there should be concern for the public safety after these
 convicts are being released. Michigan dept of Corrections is closing facility's due to budget costs and many officers are being laid off.
 As I take prisoners into see the parole board, I am totally amazed as I hear the board asking the prisoners what can we do to get you out of here,
 when they should be saying what have you did to prove that you can be paroled and function in society without getting in trouble or
 committing crimes and land back in prison. Major county jails in Michigan are refusing to hold the prisoners that violate their parole, one
reason is because the number of prisoners that are being paroled and get into trouble once they are out.
 Cutting operation costs by closing prisons is just another way for the government to save money any cost, including public safety.
 I have been in Corrections for over 20 years and have never seen anything like this, releasing dangerous prisoners after they reach their mini um
 sentence back into the public, knowing there is no jobs and the prisoners are going to resort back to what  landed them in prison in the first place.
 But then again, that doesn't concern the law makers as long as they can meet their projected budgets at any means of doing it.



thanks

deputychief301 

Yeah just look at CA. They want to release everyone from dopers to child molesters last I heard.  Granted MI is having some job problems but thats in part due to MI being a big union state, and jobs related to Unions.  It's sad the bad economy is the criminals best bet with liberals who want to release them anyways.