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Department of Corrections

Prisoners in 2002

Reports the number of persons in State and Federal prisons at yearend, compares the increase in the prison population during 2002 with that of the previous year, and gives the prison growth rates since 1995. The report also provides the number of male and female prisoners on December 31, 2002. It includes incarceration rates for the States and the 5 highest and 5 lowest jurisdictions for selected characteristics, such as the growth rate, number of prisoners held, and incarceration rates. Tables present data on prison capacities and the use of local jails and privately operated prisons. Estimates are provided on the number of sentenced prisoners by offense, gender, race, and Hispanic origin.
 

• Between July 1, 2001, and December 31, 2001, the number of inmates under State jurisdiction increased by 15,713.
• On December 31, 2001 State prisons were operating between 1% and 16% above capacity, while Federal prisons were operating at 33% above capacity.
• At yearend 2000, 49% of State prisoners were serving time for violent offenses, up from 47% in 1995.
• In 2003, 6.9 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole at yearend 2003 -- 3.2% of all U.S. adult residents or 1 in every 32 adults.
• State and Federal prison authorities had under their jurisdiction 1,460,920 inmates at midyear 2003: 1,290,459 under State jurisdiction and 170,461 under Federal jurisdiction.
• Local jails held or supervised 762,672 persons awaiting trial or serving a sentence at midyear 2003. About 71,400 of these were persons serving their sentence in the community.
• Between 1995 and midyear 2003, the incarcerated population grew an average 3.7% annually. Population growth during the 12-month period ending June 30, 2003 was lower in State prisons (up 2.6%) than in local jails (up 3.9%) and Federal prison (up 5.4%).

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics - http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/p02.htm

Incarceration Cost

·         CASA estimates that of the $38 billion spent on corrections in 1996, more than $30 billion was spent incarcerating individuals who had a history of drug and/or alcohol abuse, were convicted of drug and/or alcohol violations, were using drugs and/or alcohol at the time of their crimes, or had committed their crimes to get money to buy drugs.

·                                 The average cost per year to incarcerate an inmate in the United States is $20,674, the Federal average cost is $23,542, and the State average is $20,261. Annual costs among local jail systems vary widely, from $8,037 to $66,795.  

Source: ONDCP FACT SHEET - http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/treatment/index.html#incarceration

Criminal Justice Treatment Needs 

• According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's ((SAMHSA's) Uniform. Facility Data Set (UFDS) 1997 Survey of Correctional Facilities, drug and alcohol counseling was available in about 40% of Federal, State, and local adult and juvenile correctional facilities. Approximately 173,000 adults and juveniles were in those substance abuse treatment programs.

·         State corrections officials estimate that between 70% and 85% of inmates need some level of substance abuse treatment. In approximately 7,600 correctional facilities surveyed, 172,851 inmates were in drug treatment programs in 1997, less than 11% of the inmate population. More than 13% of inmates receiving treatment were under 18 years old. Approximately 70% of inmates receiving drug treatment were treated in the general inmate population. The rest received drug treatment in specialized units (28.1%) or in hospital inpatient treatment (2%).

·         Approximately 73% of local jails provide drug treatment or programs, with 32.1% providing detoxification, 29.6% providing drug education, and 63.7% providing self-help programs. About 61% of convicted jail inmates who committed their offenses under the influence of drugs or alcohol had received treatment in the past. 

Source: ONDCP FACT SHEET - http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/treatment/index.html#incarceration

• In 2002, the criminal justice system was the principal source of referral for 36% of all substance abuse treatment admissions, as found by SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).
• Specific criminal justice venues and programs referring clients to substance abuse treatment include State and Federal courts, other courts, probation programs, other recognized legal entities (e.g., local law enforcement, corrections, or youth agencies), diversionary programs (e.g., Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities [TASC]), prisons, and "driving under the influence/driving while intoxicated (DUI/DWI) programs.
• Probation/parole programs referrals were the most common type of criminal justice system referral (47%). Compared with the substance abuse treatment admissions referred by other sources, those referred by the criminal justice system were younger, less likely to report prior substance abuse treatment, and more likely to be employed.

Source: The DASIS Report:  Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Referred by the Criminal Justice System - http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k4/CJreferrals/CJreferrals.cfm