NCJ Number
132717
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 12 Issue: 9 Dated: (March 1988) Pages: 9-15
Date Published
1988
Length
7 pages
Annotation
From 1985 to 1986, the total number of inmates escaping from U.S. State and Federal correctional custody dropped slightly, despite an increase in the inmate population.
Abstract
There were 8,909 reported escapes in 1986, down from 9,012 in 1985. The total inmate population increased from 468,844 in 1985 to 508,796 in 1986. Most escapes were from community or minimum custody, and many of these were walkaways. Just under 8 percent of the total number of escapes were from medium or maximum security institutions. The greatest difference among systems was in the percentage of escapes reported from community custody. Delaware reported the highest proportion, 59 percent in 1985 and 57 percent in 1986. Colorado reported over 50 percent in 1985, while New York, North Dakota, and Texas reported none for either year. About 1.92 and 1.75 percent of all State and Federal inmates escaped in 1985 and 1986, respectively. Fifteen people died and five were injured as a result of escapes during the period surveyed. Approximately 85 percent of escapees were returned to the systems from which they escaped. In the Canadian correctional system, about 2.14 percent of 50,601 inmates escaped in 1985 and 2.39 percent of 51,422 inmates escaped in 1986. A tabular summary of inmate escapes for 1985 and 1986 is provided as well as information on deaths or injuries caused by escapes in 13 States.