NCJ Number
177201
Journal
American Jails Volume: 12 Issue: 6 Dated: January/February 1999 Pages: 9-11-14
Date Published
1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The 1990s have seen tremendous growth in the jail population of the United States, from about 405,000 persons at the start of the decade to more than 567,000 by the middle of 1997, a 40 percent increase in 7 years.
Abstract
During the 12-month period ending June 30, 1997, the number of inmates held in jails increased by 9.4 percent, nearly twice the average annual rate of 4.9 percent since 1990. In 1997, jail authorities also supervised an additional 70,000 offenders in alternative programs outside jail facilities, including alternative work programs, community service, weekend reporting, home detention, and other treatment programs. Including offenders under community supervision by jail authorities, the rate of jail supervision was 238 offenders per 100,000 population at midyear 1997. Changes in the jail population are tracked in corrections statistics collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The Census of Jails, conducted in 1970, 1972, 1978, 1983, 1988, and 1993, is the source of all national statistics on local jails and inmates. The next Census of Jails was to have been conducted in June 1999. Planning and procedural aspects of this census are described, the jail survey form is included, and collaboration between the BJS and the American Jail Association is discussed.