The Project Gutenberg eBook ofPrevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001Author: Thomas P. BonczarRelease date: June 23, 2009 [eBook #29211]Most recently updated: January 5, 2021Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Al Haines*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PREVALENCE OF IMPRISONMENT IN THE U.S. POPULATION, 1974-2001 ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001Author: Thomas P. BonczarRelease date: June 23, 2009 [eBook #29211]Most recently updated: January 5, 2021Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Al Haines
Title: Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001
Author: Thomas P. Bonczar
Author: Thomas P. Bonczar
Release date: June 23, 2009 [eBook #29211]Most recently updated: January 5, 2021
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Al Haines
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PREVALENCE OF IMPRISONMENT IN THE U.S. POPULATION, 1974-2001 ***
At yearend 2001 over 5.6 million U.S. adults had ever served time in State or Federal prison
* Of adults in 2001 who had ever served time in prison, nearly as many were black (2,166,000) as were white (2,203,000). An estimated 997,000 were Hispanic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------At yearend 2001, over 5.6 million U.S. residents had ever served timein State or Federal prisonU.S. residents Percent of adultever incarcerated Number U.S. residents1974 1991 2001 1974 1991 2001Total 1,819,000 3,437,000 5,618,000 1.3% 1.8% 2.7%Male 1,677,000 3,142,000 5,037,000 2.3 3.4 4.9White 837,000 1,395,000 1,978,000 1.4 1.9 2.6Black 595,000 1,181,000 1,936,000 8.7 12.0 16.6Hispanic 94,000 392,000 911,000 2.3 4.9 7.7Female 142,000 295,000 581,000 0.2% 0.3% 0.5%White 86,000 139,000 225,000 0.1 0.2 0.3Black 51,000 109,000 231,000 0.6 0.9 1.7Hispanic 8,000 30,000 86,000 0.2 0.4 0.7White 922,000 1,533,000 2,203,000 0.8% 1.1% 1.4%Black 646,000 1,290,000 2,166,000 4.5 6.2 8.9Hispanic 102,000 422,000 997,000 1.3 2.7 4.3U.S. adult resident population1974 1991 2001Total 145,356,000 187,982,751 210,207,901Male 69,217,000 90,362,099 101,492,258White 57,704,209 69,718,665 74,217,435Black 6,593,640 9,465,170 11,287,707Hispanic 3,923,600 8,022,134 11,452,968Female 76,133,000 97,620,652 108,715,643White 63,173,779 75,415,364 78,956,773Black 7,813,782 11,222,468 13,178,900Hispanic 4,074,628 7,655,854 11,496,534White 120,878,496 145,134,029 153,174,207Black 14,406,407 20,687,638 24,466,606Hispanic 7,998,062 15,677,988 22,949,502Note: Because of estimation and other rounding procedures, somedetail may not add to totals and may not match precisely totalsin other tables.----------------------------------------------------------------------
* The rate of ever having gone to prison among adult black males(16.6%) was over twice as high as among adult Hispanic males (7.7%) and over 6 times as high as among adult white males (2.6%).
* U.S. residents ages 35 to 39 in 2001 were more likely to have gone to prison (3.8%) than any other age group, up from 2.3% in 1991.
* An estimated 22% of black males ages 35 to 44 in 2001 had ever been confined in State or Federal prison, compared to 10.0% of Hispanic males and 3.5% of white males in the same age group.
If incarceration rates remain unchanged, 6.6% of U.S. residents born in 2001 will go to prison at some time during their lifetime
----------------------------------------------------------------------If incarceration rates remain unchanged, 6.6% of U.S. residents bornin 2001 will go to prison at some time during their lifetimePercent ever going to prison during lifetime,born in--1974 1991 2001Total 1.9% 5.2% 6.6%Male 3.6 9.1 11.3White 2.2 4.4 5.9Black 13.4 29.4 32.2Hispanic 4.0 16.3 17.2Female 0.3% 1.1% 1.8%White 0.2 0.5 0.9Black 1.1 3.6 5.6Hispanic 0.4 1.5 2.2White 1.2% 2.5% 3.4%Black 7.0 16.5 18.6Hispanic 2.2 9.5 10.0----------------------------------------------------------------------
* About 1 in 3 black males, 1 in 6 Hispanic males, and 1 in 17 white males are expected to go to prison during their lifetime, if current incarceration rates remain unchanged.
* For women, the chances of going to prison were 6 times greater in 2001 (1.8%) than in 1974 (0.3%); for men, the chances of going to prison were over 3 times greater in 2001 (11.3%) than in 1974 (3.6%).
At yearend 2001 there were 1,319,000 adults confined in State or Federal prison and an estimated 4,299,000 living former prisoners. A total of 5,618,000 U.S. adult residents, or about 1 in every 37 U.S. adults, had ever served time in prison. Estimates of the prevalence of imprisonment in the U.S. population, presented here for the first time, are based on a demographic model incorporating rates of mortality and first incarceration in prison.
Between 1974 and 2001, the prevalence of imprisonment increased by nearly 3.8 million. This included a 1.1 million increase in the number of adults in prison (up from 216,000) and a nearly 2.7 million increase in the number of living former prisoners (up from 1,603,000).
If rates of first incarceration remain unchanged, 6.6% of all persons born in the United States in 2001 will go to State or Federal prison during their lifetime, up from 5.2% in 1991, and 1.9% in 1974. Unlike the prevalence of ever having gone to prison, which estimates the extent of past experiences, the lifetime likelihood of going to prison is an estimate of the chances of future incarceration, given unchanged rates of first incarceration and mortality.
4.3 million U.S. residents in 2001 were former prisoners
Of the estimated 5.6 million adults in the United States who had been incarcerated in State or Federal prison at some time before yearend 2001, nearly 4.3 million were no longer in prison (table 1). Former prisoners accounted for 77% of all adult residents who had ever been confined in prison.
----------------------------------------------------------------------Table 1. Prevalence of incarceration in a State or Federal prison, bycurrent and former prisoners, 1974-2001Current and former prisoners ever incarcerated in a Stateor Federal prison--1974 1979 1986 1991 1997 2001Number incarceratedTotal 1,819,000 2,100,000 2,667,000 3,437,000 4,652,000 5,618,000Current 216,000 302,000 524,000 788,000 1,171,000 1,319,000Former 1,603,000 1,798,000 2,143,000 2,649,000 3,481,000 4,299,000Ever incarcerated rate*Total 1,251 1,308 1,516 1,828 2,336 2,673Current 149 188 298 419 588 628Former 1,102 1,120 1,218 1,409 1,748 2,045Note: Numbers of current adult prisoners from National Prisoner Statisticsdata series. Former prisoner statistics based on inmate survey data.Estimates were rounded to the nearest 1,000. SeeMethodologyforestimation procedures.*The number ever incarcerated per 100,000 adult U.S. residents.U.S. adult resident population1974 1986 1991 1997 2001145,356,000 175,886,630 187,982,751 199,121,734 210,207,901----------------------------------------------------------------------
Persons ages 35 to 44 comprised the largest age group, accounting for 3 out of 10 former prisoners at yearend 2001 (1,280,000). Former prisoners were older than those currently in State or Federal prison, with 49% of former prisoners age 45 or older compared to 13% of persons confined on December 31, 2001. Current prisoners outnumbered former prisoners only among those ages 18 to 24 (254,000 compared with 155,000).
----------------------------------------------------------------------Number of adults with prison experience, 2001Former CurrentAge inmates inmatesTotal 4,299,000 1,319,00018-24 155,000 254,00025-34 775,000 511,00035-44 1,280,000 385,00045-54 1,002,000 130,00055-64 509,000 30,00065 or older 578,000 9,000Note: SeeMethodologyfor estimation procedures.----------------------------------------------------------------------
More than two-thirds of former prisoners no longer under correctional supervision
At yearend 2001 former prisoners included 731,147 persons on parole, an estimated 437,000 persons on probation who had either served part of their current sentence in prison or been confined in prison on a previous sentence, and an estimated 166,000 jail inmates who had served a previous sentence in prison. An estimated 3 million former prisoners were no longer under correctional supervision as of yearend 2001.
----------------------------------------------------------------------Former State and Federal prisoners, 2001Number PercentTotal 4,299,000 100.0%Under supervision 1,334,000 31.0Parole 731,000 17.0Probation 437,000 10.2Jail 166,000 3.9Not under supervision 2,965,000 69.0Note: Estimates rounded to nearest 1,000.----------------------------------------------------------------------
Demographic techniques used to create prevalence estimates
Estimates of the prevalence of ever having gone to prison were derived from generation life table techniques. The prevalence of ever having gone to prison includes adults currently in prison and living former prisoners.
One-day counts of the number of adults in prison are available through the National Prisoner Statistics program (NPS). Collected annually since 1926, the NPS provides a count at yearend of persons held in Federal and State prisons.
To obtain the number of persons who had ever gone to prison, separate generation life tables were prepared for persons alive between 1974 and 2001. These tables model the first incarceration and mortality experience of each birth cohort as it proceeded through life. Estimates were made of the number of persons going to prison for the first time, by year of age, and the number who had been incarcerated and survived to each later age.
Rates of first incarceration during a 12-month period were developed from prison inmate surveys conducted in 1974, 1979, 1986, 1991, and 1997, a period during which admission rates increased after many years of relative stability.
Prevalence estimates for selected calendar years represent a sum of the contribution of each birth cohort to the total number of adults alive who had ever gone to prison. The number of former prisoners was obtained by subtracting the number of prisoners at yearend (NPS) from the total.
Estimates exclude admissions to local jails, due to the absence of data needed to calculate first admissions to jail. (See Methodology for estimation procedures and limitations.)
1 in 37 adult U.S. residents in 2001 had ever served time in prison
The 5.6 million adult U.S. residents who were current and former prisoners, represented an increase of 3.8 million since 1974. At yearend 2001, 2,673 persons per 100,000 adult U.S. residents had ever gone to prison, up from 1,251 per 100,000 adult residents in 1974. Overall, approximately 1 in 37 adult residents in 2001 had ever served time in a State or Federal prison.
As a percent of all adults who had ever gone to a State or Federal prison, the number of former prisoners has steadily declined (from 88% in 1974 to 77% in 2001). The decline occurred as the number of adults confined in prison at yearend grew by 1.1 million -- a 6-fold increase. Over the 27-year period the number of adult prison inmates rose from 216,000 to 1,319,000. By yearend 2001, there were 628 prison inmates per 100,000 adult residents, up from 149 in 1974.
Between 1974 and 2001 the number of former prisoners living in the United States more than doubled, from 1,603,000 to 4,299,000. Relative to the adult population, the number of former prisoners totaled 2,045 per 100,000 adult U.S. residents in 2001, up from 1,102 per 100,000 in 1974. At yearend 2001, 1 in every 49 adults in the United States was a former prisoner.
Two-thirds of the increase in number ever incarcerated due to rise in first incarceration rates
Nearly two-thirds of the 3.8 million increase in the number of adults ever incarcerated in prison between 1974 and 2001 occurred as a result of an increase in the rates of first incarceration. In 1974 the number of persons admitted to prison for the first time totaled 44 per 100,000 adult residents. By 2001 the rate had nearly tripled, reaching 129 first admissions per 100,000 adults.
Over 40% of the total increase in first incarceration rates occurred between 1986 and 1991. First incarceration rates increased from 73 per 100,000 in 1986 to 111 in 1991.
About a third of the 3.8 million increase in the number ever incarcerated occurred as a result of growth in the U.S. resident population. Based on estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of residents 18 and older increased from 145 million in 1974 to 210 million in 2001. Had the rates of first incarceration remained stable at 1974 levels, the number of adults who had ever gone to prison would have increased by an estimated 1.3 million.
In every year, the rates of first incarceration varied by age (figure 1). In 2001 sharply higher first incarceration rates were found for each older birth cohort up to a peak of 350 per 100,000 at age 20. These rates then dropped steadily with each older age category.
Figure 1: First incarceration rates
Figure 1: First incarceration rates
----------------------------------------------------------------------Figure 1First incarceration rates rose sharply among persons under age 45Number first incarcerated per 100,000 U.S. residents.*Age at firstincarceration 1974 1986 1991 200112 0 0 0 013 0 0 1 014 1 0 6 015 6 8 27 1216 25 29 67 5817 66 81 139 15218 107 143 219 25419 142 203 295 32520 140 217 307 35021 143 209 306 34422 133 188 274 32923 132 172 285 30424 113 164 261 28525 92 153 254 28026 81 142 227 27427 79 128 224 28228 79 116 210 26229 68 116 189 26830 55 112 179 24431 45 107 164 24332 40 93 148 21733 38 87 123 20634 36 82 120 19635 38 78 125 19836 36 74 126 19537 34 68 114 17738 28 64 103 15339 23 56 92 12940 21 50 83 12341 18 43 75 11642 18 38 63 12243 16 42 56 11444 15 41 48 9845 13 41 46 7746 12 34 44 6547 12 33 45 5848 11 35 46 5349 10 28 44 4350 10 26 35 4251 8 15 27 4252 9 16 25 4153 7 12 27 3654 7 16 30 2855 8 15 33 2556 7 14 28 2157 6 10 25 1858 4 9 19 1759 4 9 19 1660 2 7 15 1561 2 5 10 1662 3 5 12 1963 3 7 12 1564 4 7 11 1165 3 5 5 466 2 2 4 267 2 2 3 368 3 5 3 469 2 4 5 570 2 3 7 571 2 2 7 672 2 2 4 473 1 2 3 174 0 0 2 075 0 0 4 076 0 0 2 377 0 0 2 378 0 0 2 379 0 0 5 080 0 0 5 0*The number first incarcerated at each age divided by the number atrisk to first incarceration, times 100,000.Note: 3-year averages were used to smooth age-specific rates.----------------------------------------------------------------------
Between 1974 and 2001 the rate of first incarceration rose in nearly every age-specific category. The largest increases occurred among younger age cohorts -- those that already had high first incarceration rates. The peak incarceration rate increased by over 200 persons per 100,000 (from 143 at age 21 in 1974, to 350 at age 20 in 2001). Rates increased even among persons age 45 or older.
In 2001, 3 out of 10 adults ever incarcerated were age 35 to 44
Persons between ages 35 and 44 accounted for the largest number of current and former prisoners at yearend 2001 (table 2). Born between 1957 and 1966, these persons turned 18 in the late 1970s and early 1980s when first incarceration rates began to climb. Between 1974 and 2001, the number ever incarcerated in this age group rose from 324,000 to 1.67 million.
Among persons between ages 25 and 34, the number ever incarcerated nearly quadrupled (from 343,000 in 1974 to 1.29 million in 2001). While persons in this age group also experienced rising first incarceration rates, they were subject to these rates for a smaller portion of their lifespan than those ages 35 to 44.
As a percent of those ever incarcerated, persons ages 35 to 44 increased from 18% in 1974 to 30% by 2001; persons age 25 to 34 increased from 19% in 1974 to 23% in 2001.
----------------------------------------------------------------------Table 1. Prevalence of incarceration in a State or Federal prison, bycurrent and former prisoners, 1974-2001Current and former prisoners ever incarcerated in a Stateor Federal prison--1974 1979 1986 1991 1997 2001Number incarceratedTotal 1,819,000 2,100,000 2,667,000 3,437,000 4,652,000 5,618,000Current 216,000 302,000 524,000 788,000 1,171,000 1,319,000Former 1,603,000 1,798,000 2,143,000 2,649,000 3,481,000 4,299,000Ever incarcerated rate*Total 1,251 1,308 1,516 1,828 2,336 2,673Current 149 188 298 419 588 628Former 1,102 1,120 1,218 1,409 1,748 2,045Note: Numbers of current adult prisoners from National Prisoner Statisticsdata series. Former prisoner statistics based on inmate survey data.Estimates were rounded to the nearest 1,000. SeeMethodologyforestimation procedures.*The number ever incarcerated per 100,000 adult U.S. residents.U.S. adult resident population1974 1986 1991 1997 2001145,356,000 175,886,630 187,982,751 199,121,734 210,207,901----------------------------------------------------------------------
Prevalence rates up sharply among persons under age 50
Between 1974 and 2001, the rise in first incarceration rates had the largest effects on younger age groups. The percent of persons ever incarcerated tripled among persons ages 25 to 29 (from 1.0% in 1974 to 3.1% in 2001)and more than doubled among persons ages 30 to 34 (from 1.3% to 3.7%) and persons ages 35 to 39 (from 1.4% to 3.8%) (table 3).
----------------------------------------------------------------------Table 3. Percent of adult population ever incarcerated in a State orFederal prison, by age, 1974-2001Percent of adult population ever incarcerated in a Stateor Federal prisonAge 1974 1979 1986 1991 1997 2001Total 1.3% 1.3% 1.5% 1.8% 2.3% 2.7%18-19 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.620-24 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.3 1.8 1.825-29 1.0 1.2 1.6 2.1 2.7 3.130-34 1.3 1.3 1.8 2.3 3.2 3.735-39 1.4 1.4 1.7 2.3 3.1 3.840-44 1.5 1.5 1.7 2.1 2.9 3.645-49 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.5 3.250-54 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.8 2.2 2.655-59 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.260-64 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.9 2.065 or older 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.7Note: Percents by age were based on intercensal resident populationestimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. SeeMethodologyfor datasources.U.S. adult resident population1974 1979 1986 1991 1997 2001Total 145,356,000 160,463,000 175,886,630 187,982,751 199,121,734 210,207,90118-19 8,196,000 8,698,000 7,571,080 7,562,252 7,629,647 8,349,42820-24 18,757,000 21,096,000 21,147,811 19,756,380 18,078,783 19,863,15325-29 16,429,000 19,078,000 21,742,173 21,509,229 19,529,293 18,057,84930-34 13,644,000 16,960,000 20,167,953 22,482,213 21,434,194 19,971,05235-39 11,400,000 13,591,000 17,839,473 20,486,038 22,851,041 21,801,10340-44 11,355,000 11,522,000 14,185,094 18,553,907 21,376,552 23,144,03545-49 11,843,000 11,211,000 11,658,854 14,135,160 18,558,879 20,879,65250-54 11,958,000 11,725,000 10,868,729 11,410,881 14,518,458 18,117,18755-59 10,386,000 11,582,000 11,210,396 10,345,736 11,434,732 14,092,33960-64 9,327,000 9,867,000 10,902,949 10,518,068 9,913,280 11,049,28165 or older 22,061,000 25,133,000 28,592,118 31,222,887 33,796,875 34,882,826Note: Because of estimation and other rounding procedures, some detail maynot add to totals and may not match precisely totals in other tables.----------------------------------------------------------------------
In contrast, the rise in the percents ever incarcerated was more modest among persons 50 or older. Although these age groups also experienced rising first incarceration rates, they were exposed at older ages when first incarceration rates are low. Persons age 65 and older were the least affected by the increases in first incarceration rates, with percents ever incarcerated rising from 1.5% in 1974 to 1.7% in 2001.
----------------------------------------------------------------------Table 4. Number of adults ever incarcerated in a State or Federalprison, by gender, race, and Hispanic origin, 1974-2001Number of adults ever incarcerated in a State or Federal prison1974 1979 1986 1991 1997 2001GenderMale 1,677,000 1,934,000 2,449,000 3,142,000 4,205,000 5,037,000Female 142,000 165,000 217,000 295,000 447,000 581,000Race/Hispanic originWhite* 922,000 1,052,000 1,286,000 1,533,000 1,909,000 2,203,000Male 837,000 958,000 1,173,000 1,395,000 1,724,000 1,978,000Female 86,000 94,000 113,000 139,000 185,000 225,000Black* 646,000 766,000 963,000 1,290,000 1,784,000 2,166,000Male 595,000 704,000 881,000 1,181,000 1,615,000 1,936,000Female 51,000 62,000 82,000 109,000 170,000 231,000Hispanic 102,000 125,000 234,000 422,000 721,000 997,000Male 94,000 116,000 217,000 392,000 664,000 911,000Female 8,000 10,000 17,000 30,000 57,000 86,000Note: Estimates were based on separate generation life tables thatincorporate first incarceration and mortality rates for each agegroup. Estimates were rounded to the nearest 1,000. SeeMethodologyfor estimation procedures.*Excludes persons of Hispanic origin.----------------------------------------------------------------------
These changes in the percents ever incarcerated by age reflect rising rates of first incarceration and the age of each of these birth cohorts when the increases occurred. In the future, the percents ever incarcerated will rise among older age groups as more recent cohorts experience the full impact of current levels of first incarceration rates throughout their lifetimes (figure 2).
Figure 2: Younger age groups experience rising rates of imprisonment
Figure 2: Younger age groups experience rising rates of imprisonment
----------------------------------------------------------------------Figure 2Younger age groups experience rising rates of imprisonmentPercent ever incarceratedAge 1974 1986 1991 200115 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.016 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.017 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.218 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.519 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.820 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.121 0.6 0.9 1.1 1.522 0.7 1.0 1.4 1.823 0.8 1.2 1.5 2.224 0.9 1.3 1.7 2.425 0.9 1.4 1.8 2.726 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.927 1.1 1.6 2.1 3.128 1.1 1.6 2.2 3.329 1.2 1.7 2.2 3.430 1.2 1.7 2.3 3.531 1.2 1.8 2.3 3.632 1.3 1.8 2.3 3.733 1.3 1.8 2.3 3.834 1.3 1.8 2.3 3.835 1.3 1.8 2.3 3.936 1.4 1.8 2.3 3.937 1.4 1.7 2.3 3.938 1.4 1.7 2.3 3.839 1.4 1.7 2.2 3.840 1.4 1.7 2.2 3.741 1.5 1.7 2.1 3.642 1.5 1.7 2.1 3.643 1.5 1.7 2.0 3.544 1.5 1.7 2.0 3.445 1.5 1.7 1.9 3.446 1.5 1.7 1.9 3.347 1.5 1.7 1.9 3.248 1.5 1.7 1.9 3.149 1.5 1.7 1.9 3.050 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.851 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.752 1.5 1.7 1.8 2.653 1.5 1.6 1.8 2.554 1.5 1.6 1.8 2.455 1.5 1.6 1.8 2.356 1.5 1.6 1.8 2.357 1.5 1.6 1.8 2.258 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.259 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.160 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.161 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.062 1.5 1.6 1.6 2.063 1.5 1.6 1.6 2.064 1.5 1.6 1.6 2.065 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.966 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.967 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.868 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.869 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.870 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.771 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.772 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.773 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.774 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.675 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6----------------------------------------------------------------------
More males than females and more blacks and Hispanics than whites had ever served time in prison
Nearly 9 times as many men (5,037,000) as women (581,000) had ever been incarcerated in a State or Federal prison at yearend 2001. As a percentage of all persons ever confined in prison, women increased from 7.8% in 1974 to 10.3% in 2001.
At yearend 2001 nearly as many blacks (2,166,000) as whites (2,203,000) had ever served time in prison; Hispanics numbered about half of either group (997,000). Together, blacks (39%) and Hispanics (18%) constituted a majority of those who had ever served time in prison in 2001. Whites accounted for 39% of all those ever incarcerated in 2001, down from 51% in 1974.
Over the 27-year period, the share of those who are black and Hispanic among persons ever incarcerated increased. The number of Hispanics rose nearly 10-fold (up from 102,000 in 1974) and the number of blacks more than tripled (up from 646,000), while the number of whites more than doubled (up from 922,000). As a result, blacks rose from 36% to 39% of all persons ever incarcerated, while Hispanics rose from 6% to 18%.
Nearly 17% of adult black males had ever served time in prison
In 2001 an estimated 16.6% of adult black males were current or former State or Federal prisoners -- a rate that was twice that of Hispanic males (7.7%), and 6 times that of white males (2.6%) (table 5).
----------------------------------------------------------------------Table 5. Percent of adult population ever incarcerated in a State orFederal prison, by gender, race, and Hispanic origin, 1974-2001Percent of adult population ever incarcerated in a Stateor Federal prison1974 1979 1986 1991 1997 2001GenderMale 2.3% 2.4% 2.8% 3.4% 4.3% 4.9%Female 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5Race/Hispanic originWhite* 0.8% 0.8% 0.9% 1.1% 1.3% 1.4%Male 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.6Female 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3Black* 4.5% 4.6% 5.2% 6.2% 7.9% 8.9%Male 8.7 8.9 9.9 12.0 15.0 16.6Female 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.3 1.7Hispanic 1.3% 1.4% 2.0% 2.7% 3.8% 4.3%Male 2.3 2.6 3.6 4.9 6.7 7.7Female 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.7Note: Percents were based on intercensal resident population estimatesfrom the U.S. Census Bureau. SeeMethodologyfor data sources.*Excludes persons of Hispanic origin.U.S. adult resident population1974 1979 1986 1991 1997 2001GenderMale 69,217,000 76,388,000 83,973,550 90,362,099 95,948,130 101,492,258Female 76,133,000 84,072,000 91,913,080 97,620,652 103,173,604 108,715,643Race/Hispanic originWhite* 120,878,496 132,166,671 140,455,378 145,134,029 149,184,485 153,174,207Male 57,704,209 63,114,508 67,150,845 69,718,665 71,989,995 74,217,435Female 63,173,779 69,055,203 73,304,533 75,415,364 77,194,490 78,956,773Black* 14,406,407 16,544,671 18,682,074 20,687,638 22,627,733 24,466,606Male 6,593,640 7,543,858 8,517,413 9,465,170 10,401,742 11,287,707Female 7,813,782 8,999,844 10,164,661 11,222,468 12,225,991 13,178,900Hispanic 7,998,062 8,854,010 11,956,854 15,677,988 19,181,910 22,949,502Male 3,923,600 4,353,052 6,003,930 8,022,134 9,674,049 11,452,968Female 4,074,628 4,500,532 5,952,924 7,655,854 9,507,861 11,496,534Note: Because of estimation and other rounding procedures, some detailmay not add to totals and may not match precisely totals in other tables.----------------------------------------------------------------------
Female rates, though significantly lower, reveal similar racial and ethnic disparities. Adult black females were nearly 2 1/2 times more likely than adult Hispanic females and 5 1/2 times more likely than adult white females to have ever served time in State or Federal prison.
Among adult residents in 2001, an estimated 1.7% of black females, 0.7% of Hispanic females and 0.3% of white females had ever been incarcerated in a prison.
Among both men and women who had ever been confined in prison in 2001, blacks outnumbered whites in each age category under age 45; whites outnumbered blacks in nearly every age category 45 or older (table 6). The percentage of blacks declined steadily among each older age group (dropping from 44% among those ages 18 to 24 to 29% among persons 65 or older). The percentage of Hispanics also declined among older age groups (dropping from 24% among those ages 18 to 24 to 8% among those age 65 or older). In contrast, at yearend 2001 the percentage white among all adults ever incarcerated increased from 27% of those ages 18 to 24 to 52% among persons age 65 or older.