U.S. Prison Population Declines for Third Straight Year

According to a recent Department of Justice (DOJ) report, the U.S. prison population in 2012 declined for the third consecutive year.  The estimated 2012 total (1,571,013) was 1.7% lower than 2011.  The federal prison population increased by 0.7%, while the state prison population decreased by 2.1%.

The report, by the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, estimates the year-end prison population in both state and federal prisons. Data for Connecticut include both jail and prison populations, because the state has an integrated system of prisons and jails.

 Among other findings:

• The 2012 national imprisonment rate (number of prisoners sentenced to more than one year, per 100,000 people) was 910 for males and 63 for females.
• The Connecticut year-end 2012 total (17,530) was down 4.3% from 2011.
• California accounted for 51% of the decrease in the state prison population from 2011 to 2012.