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Probation and Parole in the United States. 2001 

LAUREN E GLAZE / Bureau of Justice Statistics / USDOJ 25aug02

Lauren E. Glaze is a BJS Statistician

More Than 6 Million in Correctional System
San Jose Mercury News 26aug02

One in every 32 adults in United States was behind bars or on probation
or parole by the end of last year, according to a government report Sunday 
that found a record 6.6 million people in the nation's correctional system.

The number of adults under supervision by the criminal justice system rose by 
147,000 700, or 2.3 percent, between 2000 and 2001, according to the 
Bureau of Justice Statistics. In 1990, almost 4.4 million adults were incarcerated 
or been supervised. Experts noted the recent trend of arrests declined for 
murder, rape, and other violent crimes. Many of those on probation were 
convicted of using illegal drugs or driving while intoxicated.

mindfully.org note:
A person accused of smoking crack or drunk driving can be imprisoned, 
and yet, high-paid CEOs steal billions of dollars and are free. . .
to do it again repeatedly. 

It's just business--the prison industry. Don't take it personally we're told. 
But isn't it hard not to take it personally when you can see it's racially motivated
and has nothing to do with justice?

The total Federal, State, and local adult correctional population - incarcerated or in the community - grew by 148,400 during 2001 to reach a new high of over 6.5 million. About 3.1 % of the U.S. adult population, or 1 in every 32 adults, were incarcerated or on probation or parole at yearend 2001.

A total of 3,932,751 adult men and women were on probation at yearend 2001, representing a growth of 2.8% during the year. The adult parole population grew 1.1 %, rising to a total of 732,351 by December 31, 2001. Since 1995 the parole population has been the slowest growing correctional population, up 1.3% per year, compared to jails (up 3.7% annually) prisons (up 3.6% annually), and probation (up 3.4% annually).

Highlights

Probation

Parole


Persons under adult correctional supervision, 1990,1995-2001 

	Total estimated
	correctional 	Community supervision 	Incarceration      .
Year    populations     Probation    Parole     Jail      Prison   .
1990 	   4,350,300 	2,670,234    531,407 	405,320   743,382
1995 	   5,342,900 	3,077,861    679,421 	507,044   1,078,542
1996 	   5,490,700 	3,164,996    679,733 	518,492   1,127,528
1997b 	   5,734,900 	3,296,513    694,787 	567,079   1,176,564
1998b 	   6,134,200 	3,670,441    696,385 	592,462   1,224,469
1999b 	   6,340,800 	3,779,922    714,457 	605,943   1,287,172
2000 	   6,445,600 	3,826,209    724,486 	621,149   1,316,333 
2001 	   6,594,000 	3,932,751    732,351 	631,240   1,330,980 
%change 2000-01
	   2.3%		2.8% 	     1.1% 	1.6%      1.1% 
Average annual %change 1995-2001  
	   3.6% 	3.4% 	     1.3% 	3.7% 	  3.6% 

Note: Counts are for December 31, except for jail counts, which are for June 30. Jail 
      and prison counts include inmates held in private facilities. Totals in 1998 
      through 2001 exclude probationers held in jail or prison.
a Because some offenders may have multiple statuses, totals were rounded to the nearest 100.
b Coverage of probation agencies was expanded. For counts based on the same reporting agencies, 
  use 3,266,837 in 1997b (to compare with 1996); 3,417,613 in 1998 (to compare with 1997); 
  and 3,773,624 in 1999 (to compare with 1998). The average annual percent change was adjusted 
  for the change in coverage.

Over 4.6 million adult men and women were on probation or parole 

At yearend 2001 the number of adult men and women in the United States who were being supervised in the community reached a record high 4,665,102, up from 3,757,282 on December 31, 1995. These data were collected in the 2001 Annual Probation Survey and the 2001 Annual Parole Survey conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). In 2001 the number of adults under supervision in the community increased 2.5%, which was less than the average annual increase of 3.7% since 1995. The total adult correctional population, including those incarcerated and those being supervised in the community, reached a new high of 6,594,000 at the end of 2001. At yearend 2001, 3.1 %, or about 1 in every 32 adults in the United States, were in State or Federal prisons, local jails, or under the supervision of probation or parole authorities, up from 2.7% in 1995.

Texas and California led the Nation in number of adults supervised in the community

More than 1 million persons being supervised in the community in 2001, or about 1 in 5 probationers and parolees, were in Texas and California (table 1). Texas led the Nation with 551,372 persons on probation or parole, followed by California with 468,672. Washington and Texas led the Nation with the largest percentage of its adult population under community supervision (each with 3.6% at yearend 2001), followed by Delaware (3.4%). California's community supervision rate of 1.9% was about half that of Texas.  Twelve States reported that fewer than 1 % of their adult populations were on probation or parole. New Hampshire had the lowest rate of supervision in the community (486 offenders per 100,000 adults).

4 States reported an increase of 10% or more in their probation population

Maine reported an increase of 15% in the number of adults on probation during 2001. Colorado, Virginia, and Kentucky (each up 12%) also reported an increase of at least 10% in their adult probation populations. Seventeen States had fewer adults on probation at the end of 2001 than at the beginning of the year, led by Nevada, down 14%, the only double-digit decrease during 2001 (table 2).


		Number under supervision 
		per 100.000 adult residents
New Hampshire 	486
West Virginia 	508
North Dakota 	638
Virginia 	784
Mississippi 	827
Utah 		891
Maine 		909
New Mexico 	914
Kentucky 	924
Nevada 		936
Kansas 		971 
Massachusetts 	980

Table 1. Community corrections among the States, yearend 2001 

KEY
A  10 States with the largest 2001 community corrections populations
B  Number supervised
C  10 States with the largest percent increase
D  Percent increase, 2000-01
E  10 States with the highest rates of supervision, 2001
F  Persons supervised per 100,000 adult U.S. residents*
G  10 States with the lowest rates of supervision, 2001
H  Persons supervised per 100,000 adult U.S. residents*

A	B	  C	D	E	F	G	H
Probation:                                                 .
TX	443,684	  ME	14.8%	ID 	3,747	NH	385
CA	350,768	  CO	12.1	WA	3,551	WV	441
FL	294,626	  KY	12.1	DE	3,321	ND	613
NY	196,835	  VA	11.6	MN	3,081	NV	654
OH	195,403	  WY	8.8	RI	3,049	UT	667
MI	176,406	  SD	5.9	TX	2,873	VA	694
WA 	159,119   AZ	5.5 	IN 	2,481 	KY	716
IL	141,508   UT	5.4 	MI	2,385 	MS	741
NJ	132,846	  NY	5.3	FL	2,304	KS	769 
PA	125,928	  MO	4.6	OH	2,302	NM	782 

A	B	  C	D	E	F	G	H
Parole:                                                    .
CA	117,904   OK	86.6% 	PA	921 	ME	3
TX	107,688   KY	23.1 	OR	729 	WA	4
PA 	86,238	  ID	19.7	TX	720	ND	24
NY	56,719	  AR	19.0	LA	718	NE	42
IL	30,157	  MT	14.3	AR	517	RI	47
LA	23,330 	  CT	13.8	CA	479 	FL	48
GA	20,809	  RI	13.3	NY	397	NC	49
OR	18,761	  MS	12.0	GA	346	WV	67
OH	17,885 	  NV	11.4 	MD	340 	MA	77
MI	16,501	  NE	11.3	IL	329 	CT	83 
 
Note: This table excludes the District of Columbia, a wholly urban jurisdiction, 
      and Georgia, which provided case-based counts for private agencies.
*Rates are computed using the estimated U.S. adult resident population on July 1, 2001.

106,542 probationers added in 2001 

During 2001 the probation population grew 106,500, an increase of 2.8% (table 3). This was more than double the annual increase recorded in 2000 (46,287) and slightly lower than the average increase since 1995 (up 113,148 per year).
At yearend 2001 the probation supervision rate totaled 1,849 probationers per 100,000 adult U.S. residents -the equivalent of 1 in every 54 adults. Idaho with 3,747 probationers per 100,000 adult State residents had the highest rate of probation supervision; New Hampshire (with 385 per 100,000) had the lowest.

More than 2.1 million adults entered probation supervision during 2001, an increase of over 78,500 probation entries from 2000. Since 1995 the annual number of entries to probation has risen by 34%, an increase of more than 532,000.

	Entries to
	probation supervision
1995 	1,578,182
1996 	1,651,544
1997 	1,725,431
1998 	1,771,952
1999 	2,041,167
2000 	2,032,089
2001 	2,110,550 

Table 3. Change in the number of adults on probation, 1995-2001

	      Annual Increase  .
Year 	   Number	%Change
1995 	   96,839 	3.2%
1996 	   87,135 	2.8
1997b 	   101,841	3.2
1998a 	   121,100 	3.7
1999a 	   109,481 	3.0
2000 	   46,287 	1.2 
2001 	   106,542	2.8 
Total increase, 1995-2001 b 
	   854,890 	27.8% 
Average annual increase, 1995-2001 c 
	   113,148 	3.4% 

a Survey coverage was expanded to include 186 additional agencies in 1998 and 1999. 
  Annual increases reflect comparable reporting agencies in each year.
b Based on the overall survey counts in 1995 and 2001.
c Based on comparable reporting agencies, excluding 176,005 probationers in 2001 
  who were in agencies added since 1995.

Table 2. Adults on probation, 2001

KEY
A  Region and jurisdiction
B  Probation population, 1/1/01
C  Entries 2001
D  Exits 2001
E  Probation population, 12/31/01
F   Percent change, 2001
G  Number on probation per 100,000 adult residents, 12/31/01

A               B               C               D               E               F       G    .
  U.S. total 	3,826,209	2,110,550 	1,999,164 	3,932,751	2.8%	1,849
Federal		31,669 		13,828 		13,893 		31,561 		-0.3% 	15
State 		3,794,540 	2,096,722 	1,985,271 	3,901,190 	2.8 	1,834
Northeast 	573,280 	232,600 	209,691 	596,189 	4.0% 	1,462
  CT		47,636 		22,752 		20,556 		49,832 		4.6 	1,928
  ME		7,788 		7,179 		6,028 		8,939 		14.8 	906
  MA		45,233 		39,871 		40,985 		44,119 		-2.5 	904
  NH a,b	3,629 		2,798 		2,762 		3,665 		1.0 	385
  NJ		130,610 	55,010 		52,774 		132,846 	1.7 	2,075
  NY		186,955 	43,199 		33,319 		196,835 	5.3 	1,374
  PA b 		121,176 	48,245 		43,493 		125,928 	3.9 	1,344
  RI a		20,922 		8,482 		4,645 		24,759 		-- 	3,049
  VT		9,331 		5,063 		5,128 		9,266 		-0.7 	1,988
Midwest 	896,061 	569,740 	550,868 	914,606 	2.1% 	1,903
  IL		139,029 	62,911 		60,432 		141,508 	1.8 	1,532
  IN		109,251 	90,845 		87,395 		112,701 	3.2 	2,481
  IA		21,147 		18,870 		19,220 		20,797 		-1.7 	950
  KS		15,992 		21,338 		22,080 		15,250 		-4.6 	769
  MI b		170,276 	118,999 	112,536 	176,406 	3.6 	2,385
  MN		115,906 	62,194 		64,487 		113,613 	-2.0 	3,081
  MO		53,299 		25,741 		23,273 		55,767 		4.6 	1,327
  NE		21,483 		14,570 		15,206 		20,847 		-3.0 	1,651
  ND		2,847 		1,782 		1,728 		2,901 		1.9 	613
  OH b 		189,375 	123,269 	117,247 	195,403 	3.2 	2,302
  SD		4,214 		3,404 		3,156 		4,462 		5.9 	805
  WI		53,242 		25,817 		24,108 		54,951 		3.2 	1,362
South 		1,573,215 	921,288 	874,971 	1,616,358 	2.7% 	2,117
  AL		40,178 		16,019 		15,580 		40,617 		1.1 	1,215
  AR		28,409 		11,308 		13,159 		26,558 		-6.5 	1,319
  DE		20,052 		11,792 		11,849 		19,995 		-0.3 	3,321
  DC		10,664 		8,542 		8,738 		10,468 		-1.8 	2,291
  FL b		296,139 	245,593 	244,827 	294,626 	-0.5 	2,304
  GA b,d	321,407 	203,155 	166,532 	358,030 	--	--
  KY		19,620 		11,255 		8,884 		21,993 		12.1 	716
  LA		35,854 		11,857 		11,967 		35,744 		-0.3 	1,101
  MD		81,523 		42,602 		43,417 		80,708 		-1.0 	2,006
  MS		15,118 		8,074 		7,757 		15,435 		2.1 	741
  NC		105,949 	61,596 		56,869 		110,676 	4.5 	1,776
  OK a,b	30,969 		15,086 		15,786 		30,269 		-2.3 	1,179
  SC		44,632 		14,815 		17,039 		42,408 		-5.0 	1,388
  TN		40,682 		24,374 		23,070 		41,089 		1.0 	946
  TX		441,848 	202,476 	200,640 	443,684 	0.4 	2,873
  VA		33,955 		29,642 		25,715 		37,882 		11.6 	694
  WV b		6,216 		3,102 		3,142 		6,176 		-0.6 	441
West 		751,984 	373,094 	349,741 	774,037 	2.9% 	1,630
  AK		4,779 		908 		832 		4,855 		1.6 	1,091
  AZ		59,810 		39,464 		36,192 		63,082 		5.5 	1,598
  CA a 		343,145 	157,440 	149,817 	350,768 	2.2 	1,388
  CO b		50,460 		29,125 		23,018 		56,567 		12.1 	1,702
  HI		15,525 		5,813 		5,757 		15,581 		0.4 	1,675
  ID		35,103 		30,324 		29,757 		35,670 		1.6 	3,747
  MT		6,108 		3,526 		3,376 		6,258 		2.5	928
  NV		12,189 		5,528 		7,263 		10,454 		-14.2 	654
  NM		10,461 		7,735 		6,561 		10,335 		-1.2 	782
  OR a		46,023 		17,419 		16,902 		46,540 		1.1 	1,770
  UT		9,800 		5,036 		4,505 		10,331 		5.4 	667
  WA b		154,466 	68,401 		63,748 		159,119 	3.0 	3,551
  WY		4,115 		2,376 		2,014 		4,477 		8.8 	1,223 
Note: Because of incomplete data, the population for some jurisdictions on December 31, 2001, 
      does not equal the population on January 1, 2001 plus entries, minus exits.
-- Not calculated.
a All data were estimated.
b Data for entries and exits were estimated for nonreporting agencies. Counts include estimates for 
  misdemeanors based on annual admissions.
c Counts include private agency cases and may overstate the number under supervision.

At yearend 2001, 1 in 5 probationers were women; 1 in 3 were black

Nationwide, women represented a slightly larger percentage of the probation population in 2001 than in 1990. Women were 22% of adults on probation in 2001(870,000), up from 18% in 1990. At yearend 2001 about half of all probationers were white (2,175,600); a third were black (1,228,700); and an eighth were of Hispanic origin (469,800). Persons of other races comprised about 2% of probationers (58,600).

Half of all probationers convicted of a felony; a quarter convicted of a drug law violation

Probationers are criminal offenders who have been sentenced to a period of conditional supervision in the community. At yearend 2001, 53% had been convicted of a felony offense. More than half of those on probation (54%) had a direct sentence to probation; 25% had received a sentence to incarceration that had been suspended; and 9% had received a split sentence that included incarceration followed by probation. An additional 10% had entered probation before completion of all court proceedings (including those who entered probation before final verdict). Approximately 3 of every 4 probationers were under active supervision and were required to regularly report to a probation authority in person, by mail, or by telephone. The percent of probationers required to report regularly has dropped steadily, from 83% in 1990 to 79% in 1995 and to 74% in 2001. At yearend 2001 at least 1 in 10 probationers had absconded - though still on probation, they had failed to report and could not be located. Among all persons on probation, absconders have increased from 6% in 1990 to 10% in 2001. In 2001, 25% of probationers had a drug law violation; 18% were sentenced for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol; 7% for minor traffic offenses; and 7% for domestic violence. More than 3 out of 5 of the nearly 2 million adults discharged from probation in 2001 had successfully met the conditions of their supervision. Approximately 13% of those discharged from probation supervision were incarcerated because of a rule violation or new offense. An additional 3% of those discharged had absconded, and 11 % had their probation sentence revoked without incarceration.


Table 4. Characteristics of adults on probation, 1990, 1995, and 2001

Characteristic 			1990 	1995 	2001
   Total 			100% 	100% 	100% 

Gender
Male 				82% 	79% 	78%
Female 				18 	21 	22 

Race a
White 				52% 	53% 	55%
Black 				30 	31 	31
Hispanic 			18 	14 	12
American Indian/
   Alaska Native 		1 	1 	1 
Asian/Pacific Islander b 	-- 	-- 	1

Status of supervision
Active 				83% 	79% 	74%
Inactive 			9 	8 	11
Absconded 			6 	9 	10
Supervised out of State 	2 	2 	2
Other 				** 	2 	3 

Adults entering probation
Without incarceration 		87% 	72% 	76%
With incarceration 		8 	13 	17 
Other types 			5 	15 	7 

Adults leaving probation
Successful completions 		69% 	62% 	62%
Returned to incarceration 	14 	21 	13
With new sentence 		3 	5 	3
  With the same sentence	9 	13 	7
  Unknown 			2 	3 	4
Absconder c 			7 	** 	3
Other unsuccessful 		2 	** 	11
Death 				-- 	1 	1
Other 				7 	16 	10

Type of offense of adults on probation d
Felony 				48% 	54% 	53%
Misdemeanor 			52 	44 	45
Other infractions 		1 	2 	1 

Most serious offense
Driving while intoxicated 	21% 	16% 	18%
Drug law violations 		***	***	25
Minor traffic offenses 		***	***	7
Domestic violence 		***	***	7
Other 				79 	84 	43 

Status of probation
Direct imposition 		38% 	48% 	54%
Split sentence 			6 	15 	9
Sentence suspended 		41 	26 	25
Imposition suspended 		14 	6 	10
Other 				1 	4 	1 

Note: For every characteristic there were persons of unknown status or type. 
      Detail may not sum to total because of rounding. **Not available.
-- Less than 0.5%.
a  In 2001 race/Hispanic origin was collected as a single item. For comparison, percents 
   were recalculated for prior years. 
b  Includes Native Hawaiians.
c  In 1995 absconder status was reported among "other."
d  In 2001 type of offense was limited to three categories. Driving while intoxicated was 
   reported among the most serious offense. For comparison, percents were recalculated for 
   prior years.

Table 5. Adults on parole, 2001

KEY
A  Region and jurisdiction
B  Parole population, 1/1/01
C  Entries 2001
D  Exits 2001
E  Parole population, 12/31/01
F  Percent change, 2001
G  Number on parole per 100,000 adult residents, 12/31/01

A		B	  C	    D	      E		F	G  
    US total	724,486   473,688   464,050   732,351   1.1%    350
  Federal 	76,069 	  28,066    25,586    78,013    2.6%    37
  State 	648,417   445,622   438,464   654,338   0.9     313
Northeast 	159,653   69,416    66,081    162,986   2.1%    402
  CT 		1,868     1,986     1,728     2,126     13.8    83
  ME 		28	  1 	    2 	      27 	-3.6    3
  MA 		3,703 	  3,715     3,698     3,718     0.4     77
  NH a,b	944 	  492       483       953 	1.0 	103
  NJ 		11,709    10,810    10,588    11,931	1.9	189
  NY 		57,858 	  25,644    26,783    56,719 	-2.0 	397
  PA b 		82,345    26,015    22,122    86,238 	4.7 	921
  RI 		331 	  439 	    395       375	13.3	47
  VT 		867 	  313 	    281       899 	3.7 	195
Midwest 	103,331   86,909    85,412    104,828 	1.4% 	220
  IL 		30,196    33,685    33,724    30,157 	-0.1 	329
  IN 		4,917     5,734     5,312     5,339	8.6 	118
  IW b,c 	2,763     3,019     2,706     3,076 	11.3 	140
  KS 		3,829     4,492     4,330     3,991	4.2 	202
  MI 		15,753    9,998     9,250     16,501 	4.7 	225
  MN 		3,072 	  3,515     3,431     3,156 	2.7 	87
  MO 		12,563    8,479     8,178     12,864 	2.4 	309
  NE 		476 	  699       645       530 	11.3 	42
  ND 		110 	  240       234       116 	5.5 	24
  OH 		18,248    10,567    10,930    17,885 	-2.0 	211
  SD a 		1,481     937 	    886       1,532 	3.4 	277
  WI 		9,923 	  5,544     5,786     9,681 	-2.4 	242
South 		226,543   102,933   103,661   224,620 	-0.8% 	301
  AL 		5,484 	  2,403     2,224     5,663 	3.3 	170
  AR 		8,659     7,928     6,286     10,301 	19.0 	517
  DE 		579 	  123       172       530 	-8.5 	90
  DC 		5,332 	  2,272     3,151     4,453 	-- 	974
  FL 		5,982     4,674     4,456     5,891 	-1.5 	48
  GA 		21,556 	  9,975     10,223    20,809 	-3.5 	346
  KY 		5,202     2,896     1,692     6,406 	23.1 	210
  LA 		22,860    13,814    13,344    23,330 	2.1 	718
  MD 		13,666    7,871     8,122     13,415 	-1.8 	340
  MS c		1,596 	  841 	    649       1,788 	12.0 	86
  NC 		3,352     3,684     4,082     2,954 	-11.9 	49
  OK a 		1,825 	  2,314     733       3,406 	86.6 	133
  SC 		4,378     1,132     1,410     4,100 	-6.3 	137
  TN 		8,093     3,765     3,397     8,074 	-0.2 	188
  TX a 		111,719   35,289    39,320    107,688 	-3.6 	720
  VA 		5,148 	  3,457     3,732     4,873 	-5.3 	91
  WV 		1,112 	  495       668       939 	-15.6 	67
West 		158,890   186,364   183,310   161,904 	1.9% 	351
  AK 		525 	  311       314       522 	-0.6 	120
  AZ c 		3,474 	  6,737     6,675     3,536 	1.8 	94
  CA c		117,647   156,267   156,132   117,904 	0.2 	479
  CO 		5,500 	  4,605     4,372     5,733 	4.2 	179
  HI 		2,504 	  1,028     924       2,608 	4.2 	285
  ID 		1,409 	  1,145     868       1,686 	19.7 	182
  MT c		621 	  582       493       710 	14.3 	106
  NV 		4,056     2,957     2,494     4,519 	11.4 	304
  NM 		1,670     1,744     1,510     1,742 	4.3 	133
  OR 		17,579 	  8,046     6,864     18,761 	6.7 	729
  UT 		3,231 	  2,574     2,334     3,471	7.4 	229
  WA a 		160 	  13 	    18        155 	-3.1 	4
  WY 		514 	  355       312       557 	8.4 	153 

Note: Because of incomplete data, the population on December 31, 2001, does not equal 
      the population on January 1, 2001, plus entries, minus exits.
-- Not calculated.
a All data were estimated.
b Data for entries and exits were estimated for nonreporting agencies.
c Data do not include parolees in one or more of the following categories: absconder, 
  out of State, or inactive.

Parole population up by fewer than 8,000 during 2001

Also serving time in the community at the end of 2001 were 732,351 adults on parole (table 5). Parole is a period of conditional supervised release following a prison term. Prisoners may be released to parole either by a parole board decision or by mandatory conditional release. The 1.1 % growth in parole during 2001 - a net increase of 7,865 parolees - was slightly smaller than the average annual increase of 1.3% in parole since 1995 (table 6). Nearly all parolees had been convicted of a felony (95%). 11 States had double-digit increases in their parole populations; 2 had similar decreases For the year ending December 31, 2001, 11 States reported an increase of 10% or more in their parole population. Oklahoma led with 87%, followed by three other States with increases of 19% or higher: Kentucky (23%), Idaho (20%), and Arkansas (19%). A total of 17 States reported a decrease in their adult parole population during 2001. Two States reported double-digit decreases, led by West Virginia (down 16%) and North Carolina (down 12%).


Table 6. Change in the number of adults on parole, 1995-2001 

	 Annual increase .
Year 	Number		% change
1995 	-10,950		-1.6% 
1996 	312 		0.0
1997 	15,054 		2.2
1998 	1,598 		0.2
1999 	18,072 		2.6
2000 	10,029 		1.4
2001 	7,865 		1.1 
Total increase, 1995-2001 
	52,930 	  	7.8% 
Average annual increase, 1995-2001 
	8,822		1.3%

Women accounted for more than 1 of every 8 adults on parole in 2001 

About 1 of every 8 adults on parole in 2001 (90,700) were women (table 7). Women represented a larger percentage of the parole population (12%) in 2001 than in 1990 when they were 8%. More than 2 out of 5 adults on parole on December 31, 2001, (299,400) were black; more than 1 in 3 were white (285,500). Nineteen percent of parolees were Hispanic (136,500). About 2% were of other races (9,800).

Since 1990 discretionary releases to parole have dropped, while mandatory releases have risen 

Discretionary releases of prisoners to parole supervision by a parole board have decreased from 59% of adults entering parole in 1990 to 36%, or 161,100, in 2001. Mandatory releases to parole supervision increased from 41 % in 1990 to 55% (248,000) in 2001. At yearend 2001 more than 4 of every 5 parolees were under active supervision and were required to maintain regular contact with the paroling agency. About 7% of parolees were absconders and could not be located. 

40% of parolees discharged from supervision were incarcerated

Of the more than 464,500 parolees discharged from supervision in 2001, 46% had successfully met the conditions of their supervision, while 40% had been returned to incarceration either because of a rule violation or new offense. An additional 9% had absconded and 2% had failed to successfully meet the conditions of supervision but were discharged without incarceration. The success rate among those discharged from parole dropped from 50% in 1990 to 46%; however, the percent incarcerated also dropped (from 46% to 40%). These declines were offset by increases in absconders (from 1 % to 9%).

Correctional supervision rate highest in Texas and lowest in New Hampshire

Texas led the Nation at yearend 2001 with 4,818 adults under correctional supervision per 100,000 adult State residents, followed by Idaho (4,786) and Delaware (4,545) (table 8). New Hampshire (924 per 100,000), West Virginia (940), and North Dakota (1,008) had the fewest adults on probation or parole or in prison or jail relative to their State populations. Offenders on probation or parole represented nearly 71 % of all persons under correctional supervision at yearend. The 10 States with the highest rates of correctional supervision were also the 10 States with the highest rates of probation supervision.

10 States with the Highest Correctional Supervision Rate

	Probation 
	supervision,
	yearend 2001.
	Rate* 	Rank
TX 	2,873 	6
ID 	3,747 	1
DE 	3,321 	3
WA 	3,551 	2
MN 	3,081 	4
MI 	2,385 	8
RI	3,049 	5
IN 	2,481 	7
FL 	2,304 	9 
OH 	2,302 	10 

* Number under probation supervision per 100,000 adult State residents.

Except for Texas, with 27% of its correctional population in prison or jail, States with the highest correctional supervision rate had an appreciably lower percentage of their correctional populations incarcerated. Minnesota with the 3,474 persons under supervision per 100,000 adult residents had the lowest percent incarcerated (8.9% of all persons under supervision).


Table 7. Characteristics of adults on parole, 1990, 1995, and 2001

Characteristic 		1990 	1995 	2001
	Total		100% 	100% 	100% 
Gender
Male 			92% 	90% 	88% 
Female 			8 	10 	12 
Race a
White 			36% 	34% 	39%
Black 			46 	45 	41 
Hispanic 		18 	21 	19 
American Indian/
  Alaska Native 	1 	1 	1 
Asian/Pacific Islander*	-- 	-- 	1 
Status of supervision
Active 			82% 	78% 	84%
Inactive 		6 	11 	4
Absconded 		6 	6 	7
Supervised out of State	6 	4 	5 
Other 			** 	-- 	--
Sentence length
Less than 1 year 	5% 	6% 	5%
1 year or more 		95 	94 	95 
Adults entering parole
Discretionary parole 	59% 	50% 	36% 
Mandatory parole 	41 	45 	55 
Reinstatement 		** 	4 	7 
Other 			** 	2 	2 
Adults leaving parole
Successful completion 	50% 	45% 	46% 
Returned to 
  incarceration 	46 	41 	40
With new sentence 	17 	12 	9
Other 			29 	29 	30
Absconder b 		1 	** 	9
Other unsuccessful 	1 	** 	2
Transferred 		1 	2 	1
Death 			1 	1 	1 
Other 			** 	10 	1 

Note: For every characteristic there were persons of unknown status or type. 
      Detail may not sum to total because of rounding. **Not available.
-- Less than 0.5%.
a In 2001 race/Hispanic origin was collected as a single item. 
   For comparison, percents were estimated for prior years.
b In 1995 absconder status was reported among "other."

Other States with a low percentage incarcerated included Vermont and Rhode Island (with 12%) and Washington State (with 15%). Mississippi with 60% of its correctional population incarcerated had the highest percentage among States, followed by Virginia (55%) and Nevada (51 %).


Table 8. Total under adult correctional supervision and number supervised per 100,000 adult residents, by jurisdiction, yearend 2001

KEY
A  Region and jurisdiction
B  Total under correctional supervision, 12/31/01
C  Number on probation or parole a
D  Number in prison or jail
E  Supervision rate per 100,000 adults b
F  Percent of correctional population incarcerated

A         B           C         D         E       F    .
US total  6,594,000   4,631,800 1,962,200 3,101   29.8%
  Federal 259,400     109,600   149,900   122     57.8%
  State   6,334,600   4,522,200 1,812,400 2,979   28.6
Northeast 1,022,100   757,800   262,900   2,503   25.8%
  CT 	  69,500      52,000    17,500    2,688   25.2 
  ME 	  11,800      9,000     2,800     1,197   24.1 
  MA 	  70,500      47,800    22,700    1,444   32.2 
  NH 	  8,800       4,600     4,200     924     47.5
  NJ 	  187,400     144,800   42,600    2,927   22.7
  NY 	  355,400     253,600   101,800   2,481   28.6
  PA 	  278,700     212,200   66,500    2,975   23.9
  RI 	  27,200      23,800    3,400     3,344   12.4
  VT 	  11,600      10,200    1,400     2,482   12.1
Midwest   1,354,600   1,014,200 340,300   2,819   25.1%
  IL 	  234,300     171,700   62,700    2,536   26.7
  IN 	  151,600     118,000   33,600    3,339   22.2
  IA	  34,700      23,900    10,800    1,586   31.2
  KS 	  32,400      19,200    13,200    1,637   40.7
  MI 	  256,900     192,100   64,800    3,473   25.2
  MN 	  128,100     116,800   11,400    3,474   8.9
  MO 	  104,100     68,600    35,400    2,476   34.1
  NE 	  27,400      21,400    6,000     2,169   22.0
  ND 	  4,800       3,000     1,700     1,008   36.7
  OH 	  272,000     208,900   63,100    3,205   23.2
  SD 	  9,900       6,000     3,900     1,791   39.6
  WI	  98,200      64,600    33,600    2,434   34.2
South 	  2,625,200   1,823,300 801,800   3,438   30.5%
  AL 	  81,500      45,200    36,300    2,438   44.6
  AR 	  52,800      36,300    16,400    2,622   31.2
  DE 	  27,400      20,500    6,800     4,545   25.0
  DC 	  17,700      14,900    2,700     3,863   15.5
  FL 	  424,500     297,400   127,000   3,319   29.9
  GA 	  459,200     378,800   80,400    --      --
  KY 	  50,700      28,300    22,300    1,650   44.1
  LA 	  104,400     59,100    45,400    3,218   43.4
  MD 	  129,300     94,100    35,200    3,214   27.2
  MS 	  41,000      16,400 	24,600    1,969   60.0
  NC 	  160,100     113,600   46,500    2,569   29.0
  OK 	  61,500      33,700    27,800    2,394   45.2
  SC 	  77,500      46,500    31,000    2,535   40.0
  TN 	  86,200      48,100    37,000    1,959   43.5
  TX 	  755,100     540,400   203,800   4,818   27.4
  VA 	  95,300      42,800    52,500    1,746   55.1
  WV 	  13,200      7,100     6,000     940     45.9
West 	  1,334,100   926,800   407,300   2,809   30.5%
  AK 	  9,800       5,400     4,400     2,210   45.3
  AZ	  105,400     66,600    38,800    2,671   36.8
  CA 	  704,900     468,700   236,300   2,790   33.5
  CO	  84,400      57,700    26,600    2,539   31.6
  HI 	  23,300      18,200    5,100     2,505   22.0
  ID 	  45,600      37,300    8,200     4,786   18.0
  MT 	  11,400      7,000     4,400     1,684   38.7
  NV 	  30,200      14,900    15,300    1,891   50.7
  NM 	  23,000      12,100    11,000    1,744   47.6
  OR 	  82,300      64,600    17,600    3,127   21.4
  UT 	  21,700      12,000    9,600     1,400   44.5
  WA 	  184,500     157,200   27,300    4,118   14.8
  WY 	  7,600       5,000     2,600     2,074   33.6 

Note: Counts are for December 31, 2001, except for jail counts which were for June 29. 
      Jail counts by State were estimated based on the Census of Jails, 1999, and the 
      Annual Survey of Jails, 2000 and 2001. Because some offenders under supervision 
      may have multiple statuses, counts were rounded to the nearest 100.
--Not calculated.
a Excludes by State and region 23,355 probationers in jail and 9,962 probationers in prison. 
b Based on the estimated number of adult State residents on July 1, 2001, using the 2000 Census
  of Population and Housing and adjusting for population change since April 2000.

Methodology

The Annual Probation and Parole Surveys provide a count of the total number of persons supervised in the community on January 1 and December 31, 2001, and a count of the number entering and leaving supervision during the year. These surveys cover all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Federal system. Data for the Federal system are from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts as provided to the BJS Federal Justice Statistics Program. Because many States update their population counts, the January 1, 2001, numbers may differ from those previously published for December 31, 2000.

Probation

The 2001 Annual Probation Survey was sent to 477 respondents -36 central State reporters and 441 separate State, county or court agencies. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (3), Arizona (2), Colorado (9), Florida (44), Georgia (5), Idaho (2), Kentucky (3), Michigan (132), Missouri (2), New Mexico (2), Ohio (190), Oklahoma (3), Tennessee (3), Washington (35), and West Virginia (2). Since 1997 the survey coverage has been expanded to include 186 additional agencies previously excluded from the survey. At yearend 2001, 176,005 probationers were under the supervision of these agencies. For year-to-year comparisons, use total counts based on the same reporting agencies - 3,266,837 in 1997 to compare with the final 1996 counts; 3,417,613 in 1998 to compare with final 1997; and 3,773,624 in 1999 to compare with final 1998.

Parole

The 2001 Annual Parole Survey was sent to 54 respondents, including 52 central reporters, the California Youth Authority, and 1 municipal agency. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (2) and California (2). Federal parole as defined here includes supervised release, parole, military parole, special parole, and mandatory release.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Lawrence A. Greenfeld is the director. BJS Bulletins present the first release of findings from permanent data collection programs such as the Annual Probation and Parole Surveys. Lauren E. Glaze wrote this report while under the supervision of Allen J. Beck. Jennifer C. Karberg provided statistical verification. Data collection and processing were conducted by Lauren Glaze with assistance from Lara E. Reynolds. Tom Hester edited the report. Jayne Robinson administered final production. August 2002, NCJ 195669

  • This report in portable document format and in ASCII, its tables, and related statistical data are available at the BJS World Wide Web Internet site: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/ 

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics Washington, DC 20531

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