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2019 Prisoners in 1 (2019)

handle is hein.death/prsin2019 and id is 1 raw text is: U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
October 2020, NCJ 255115

Prisoners in 2019
E. Ann Carson, Ph.D., BJS Statistician

he combined state and federal
imprisonment rate for 2019 (419 per
100,000 U.S. residents), based on
sentenced prisoners (those sentenced to more
than one year), decreased 3% from 2018 (432
per 100,000 U.S. residents) (figure 1). This was
the lowest imprisonment rate in 24 years, dating
back to 1995. Since 2009, the imprisonment
rate-the portion of U.S. residents who are in
prison-has dropped 17% overall, including 29%
among black residents, 24% among Hispanic
residents, and 12% among white residents. At
year-end 2019, there were 1,096 black prisoners
per 100,000 black residents, 525 Hispanic
prisoners per 100,000 Hispanic residents, and
214 white prisoners per 100,000 white residents
in the United States.
The total prison population in the U.S. declined
from 1,464,400 at year-end 2018 to 1,430,800 at
year-end 2019, a decrease of 33,600 prisoners.
This was the largest absolute population decline
since year-end 2015. The 2% decline in the

FIGURE 1
Combined state and federal imprisonment rates
per 100,000 U.S. residents, 1989-2019
700
600 -   --         Age 18 or older 
500-      -
All ages
400 -Jo' -       --    --      -      -- --- -
300                       -    -       -       -
200
100
'89     '94    '99     '04     '09    '14     '19
Note: Rates are based on prisoners sentenced to serve more
than one year in state or federal prison. See appendix table 1
for rates.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Prisoner Statistics,
1989-2019; and U.S. Census Bureau, post-censal resident
population estimates for January 1 of the following
calendar year.

HIGHLIGHTS

* The number of prisoners under state or federal
jurisdiction decreased by an estimated 33,600
(down 2%) from 2018 to 2019, and by 184,700
(down 11%) since 2009, the year that the number
of prisoners peaked in the U.S.
* In 2019, the imprisonment rate fell for the
11th consecutive year, hitting its lowest point
since 1995.
* The imprisonment rate fell 3% from 2018 to 2019,
and 17% from 2009 to 2019.
* From 2009 to 2019, the total imprisonment
rate fell 29% among black residents, 24%
among Hispanic residents, and 12% among
white residents.
* In 2019, the imprisonment rate of black residents
was the lowest rate in 30 years, since 1989.

* An estimated 14% of sentenced state prisoners
were serving time for murder or non-negligent
manslaughter and 13% were serving time for
rape or sexual assault at year-end 2018, the most
recent data available.
* Among sentenced state prisoners at year-end
2018, a larger percentage of black (62%) and
Hispanic (62%) prisoners than white prisoners
(48%) were serving time for a violent offense.
* At the end of fiscal-year 2019, 46% of sentenced
federal prisoners were serving time for a drug
offense (99% for drug trafficking), and 8% were
serving time for a violent offense.
* In 2019, privately operated facilities held 7% of
state prisoners and 16% of federal prisoners.

BjS40

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