Statistics

Overall Incarceration Rates in the U.S.

Statistic: As of 2021, the overall incarceration rate in the U.S. was approximately 358 per 100,000 residents.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Prisoners in 2021 – Statistical Tables"

Incarceration Rates by Gender

Men: In 2021, the incarceration rate for men was about 684 per 100,000 male residents.
Women: In 2021, the incarceration rate for women was about 65 per 100,000 female residents.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Prisoners in 2021 – Statistical Tables"

Incarceration Rates by Race and Ethnicity

Black Individuals: In 2020, Black men were incarcerated at a rate of 2,203 per 100,000 Black male residents; Black women were incarcerated at a rate of 83 per 100,000 Black female residents.
White Individuals: White men were incarcerated at a rate of 318 per 100,000 White male residents; White women at 27 per 100,000 White female residents.
Hispanic Individuals: Hispanic men were incarcerated at a rate of 1,016 per 100,000 Hispanic male residents.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Race and Ethnicity of Violent Crime Offenders and Arrestees, 2018"

State-Specific Incarceration Rates

Louisiana: In 2020, Louisiana had the highest incarceration rate of 680 per 100,000 residents.
Massachusetts: Massachusetts had one of the lowest rates at 90 per 100,000 residents.
Source: Prison Policy Initiative, "States of Incarceration: The Global Context 2021"

Disparities in Sentencing

Drug Offenses: Black individuals represent 27% of all individuals arrested for drug offenses in the U.S., despite making up about 13% of the U.S. population.
Source: The Sentencing Project, "Report to the United Nations on Racial Disparities in the U.S. Criminal Justice System"

Elderly Population in Prisons

Statistic: In 2021, over 10% of the state prison population was aged 55 or older, a significant increase from prior decades.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Aging of the State Prison Population, 1993-2013"

Women in Prisons

Statistic: Women in state prisons are more likely to be incarcerated for drug and property offenses compared to men, with 25% of women in state prisons for drug-related offenses as of 2021.

Source: Prison Policy Initiative, "Women’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023"

Graphs about Incarceration by Ethnicity and Gender in the US

Source: Prison Policy Initiative (Images are linked)

This chart visualizes the disparity in incarceration rates between Black and white individuals across various states in the United States for the year 2021. Specifically, it shows how much higher the incarceration rate for Black people is compared to white people, with the ratio expressed as the number of Black individuals in state prisons per 100,000 Black residents compared to the number of white individuals in state prisons per 100,000 white residents.

How Many Women Are Locked Up in the United States

Source: Prison Policy Initiative (Images are linked)

This chart provides a detailed breakdown of how many women are incarcerated in the United States and where they are held across different types of correctional facilities. The total number of incarcerated women is approximately 191,000. The chart highlights the complexity of the U.S. incarceration system, which includes local jails, state prisons, federal prisons, immigration detention centers, and other specialized facilities.

Racial Disparities in Prison Incarceration Rates, 2019

Source: Prison Policy Initiative (Images are linked)

This chart illustrates racial disparities in prison incarceration rates in the United States for the year 2022. It shows the number of people incarcerated in state and federal prisons per 100,000 individuals within each racial or ethnic category.

LGBTQ+ Youth Are Overrepresented in the Juvenile Justice System

Source: Prison Policy Initiative (Images are linked)

This chart illustrates the overrepresentation of LGBTQ+ youth within the juvenile justice system in comparison to their proportion in the general youth population. It highlights a significant disparity between the percentage of LGBTQ+ youth in the general population versus those in the juvenile justice system.