Graphics: Various Comparisons
– Taken from: Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2024 | Prison Policy Initiative
- Universal Incarceration
- The U.S. locks up more people per capita than any other nation with 583 per 100,000 residents. Approximately 1.9 million people were confined nationwide.
- Racial and Ethnic Disparities
- White people are underrepresented in prisons and jails while Black and American Indian or Alaska Native people are overrepresented.
- Black Incarceration vs. White Incarceration in States
- Every state incarcerates black residents in its state prisons at a higher rate than white residents.
- Awaiting Court
- Most individuals are awaiting to be tried in court as most are presumed innocent and have not been convicted of any crimes. These incarceration rates are driven largely by local bail practices that sentences high amounts to people who cannot afford it.
- Probation to Incarceration vs. Parole to Incarceration
- On the left, there is a high amount of people who have committed the same crimes or given a new sentence essentially going back to prison from probation. On the right, less people have new offenses or given new sentences but still are going from parole and back to incarceration.
Juvenile Incarceration
- How many youth are actually locked up?
- There are approximately 48,000 juveniles locked up currently in the United states.
- Arrested before 16th birthday
- Below are the percentages of juveniles arrested at the age of 15 or younger.
- Non-person Offenses
- Some youth are locked up on charges that aren’t crimes and another handful are held awaiting placement with family or friends which is why the rates and numbers are so high.
