U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 5 P.M. EDT BJS
SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 1996 202/307-0703
PROBATION AND PAROLE POPULATION REACHES
ALMOST 3.8 MILLION
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- There were almost 3.8
million adult men and women on probation or parole
at the end of 1995, an increase of about 119,000
during the year, the Department of Justice
announced today. The 3.2 percent increase was
slightly lower than the 3.4 percent average
annual growth rate since 1990.
There were more than 3,090,000 adults under
federal, state, or local jurisdiction on probation
on December 31, 1995, and more than 700,000 on
parole.
The number of adults in the United States
under some form of correctional supervision--
including those held in local jails and state and
federal prisons--totaled more than 5.3 million,
which was 2.8 percent of all adults in 1995. The
number on probation rose by 4 percent during the
year, the number on parole by 1 percent and the
number in jail or prison by 6 percent. Since
1980 the total number under correctional
supervision has almost tripled, growing at an
average annual rate of 7.4 percent.
Probationers include adult offenders whom
courts place in community supervision instead of
incarceration. Parolees include those adults
conditionally released to community supervision
after serving a prison term. They are subject to
being returned to jail or prison for rule
violations or other offenses.
Half of all offenders on probation in 1995
were on probation for a felony. A quarter were on
probation for a misdemeanor. One in every six
probationers had been convicted of driving while
intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol.
Nearly all of the offenders on parole (94 percent)
had served a felony sentence.
Three-quarters of probationers and parolees
were required to maintain regular contact with a
supervisory agency. The other offenders were not
required to have regular contact (9 percent) or
had failed to report and could not be located (9
percent).
Texas had the largest number of residents on
probation and parole, with more than 518,000 under
community supervision, followed by California with
nearly 379,000. At the end of 1995, almost 3.9
percent of all adults in Texas (3,892 offenders
per 100,000 resident adults) were on probation or
parole.
Thirteen states reported that fewer than 1
percent of their adult populations were on
probation or parole. North Dakota and West
Virginia had the lowest probation and parole
supervision rate (511 offenders per 100,000
adults), followed by Kentucky (546) and
Mississippi (574).
During 1995 five states reported increases of
at least 10 percent in their probation populations
and 10 reported similar increases in their parole
populations. Arkansas, with a 14.2 percent rise
in its probation population, and Colorado, with a
22.8 percent rise in the its parole population,
led the nation.
Seven states and the District of Columbia
reported a decrease in the number of adults on
probation, led by Alaska (down 11.6 percent), the
District of Columbia (down 9.2 percent) and
Maryland (down 7.7 percent).
Women made up about 21 percent of the
nation's probationers and 10 percent of the
parolees.
Approximately 64 percent of the adults on
probation were white, and 34 percent were black.
Fifty percent of parolees were white, 49 percent
black. Hispanics, who may be of any race,
represented 14 percent of probationers and 21
percent of parolees.
The data were collected and analyzed by Allen
J. Beck, Jodi M. Brown and Darrell K. Gilliard,
Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) statisticians.
Additional criminal justice statistical
information may be obtained from the BJS
Clearinghouse, Box 179, Annapolis Junction,
Maryland 20701-0179. The telephone number is 1-
800/732-3277. Fax orders to 410/792-4358.
BJS's home page address on the Internet is:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/
# # #
BJS96143
After hours contact: Allen Beck on 888/582-5828
Adults on probation, 1995
Percent Number change on parole on
Probation Probation in probation 12/31/95 per
Region and population, During 1995 population, population 100,000 adult
jurisdiction 1/1/95 Entries Exits 12/31/95 during 1995 residents
U.S. total 2,981,400 1,501,589 1,381,636 3,090,626 3.7 % 1,593
Federal/a,b 42,309 18,601 22,404 38,506 -9 % 20
State 2,939,091 1,482,988 1,359,232 3,052,120 3.8 1,573
Northeast 526,375 232,686 214,444 544,620 3.5 % 1,402
Connecticut 53,453 37,135 36,081 54,507 2 2,201
Maine/c 8,638 DK DK 8,641 0 923
Massachusetts 46,670 34,611 37,601 43,680 -6.4 941
New Hampshire 4,323 3,432 3,408 4,347 0.6 509
New Jersey 125,299 59,376 57,552 127,123 1.5 2,125
New York 163,613 45,061 35,175 173,499 6 1,276
Pennsylvania 99,524 39,764 32,465 106,823 7.3 1,166
Rhode Island 18,179 9,813 9,314 18,678 2.7 2,483
Vermont 6,676 3,494 2,848 7,322 9.7 1,672
Midwest 642,924 341,567 316,851 671,094 4.4 % 1,472
Illinois/c 104,664 63,862 61,723 109,489 4.6 1,258
Indiana/d 83,555 DK DK 83,555 0 1,936
Iowa 15,902 10,456 9,779 16,579 4.3 783
Kansas/c 17,256 11,831 7,726 16,547 -4.1 884
Michigan/c 142,640 68,000 62,338 148,337 4 2,110
Minnesota/c 81,972 55,911 57,131 83,778 2.2 2,490
Missouri/c 36,295 21,887 18,453 40,595 11.8 1,030
Nebraska 18,639 15,485 14,697 19,427 4.2 1,627
North Dakota 2,036 1,474 1,219 2,291 12.5 486
Ohio/c 90,190 68,077 59,558 99,603 10.4 1,201
South Dakota 3,874 4,393 4,643 3,624 -6.5 693
Wisconsin/c 45,901 20,191 19,584 47,269 3 1,254
South 1,214,375 618,343 573,402 1,254,817 3.3 % 1,846
Alabama/c 31,284 4,696 4,498 31,416 0.4 990
Arkansas 19,606 8,431 5,656 22,381 14.2 1,220
Delaware 15,507 7,395 6,555 16,347 5.4 3,036
District of Columbia 11,306 4,733 5,777 10,262 -9.2 2,334
Florida/c 247,014 146,989 133,585 255,550 3.5 2,367
Georgia/c 140,694 69,102 67,228 142,453 1.3 2,699
Kentucky 11,417 5,582 5,500 11,499 0.7 398
Louisiana 33,604 11,431 11,282 33,753 0.4 1,088
Maryland 76,940 35,530 41,441 71,029 -7.7 1,884
Mississippi 9,042 3,511 2,958 9,595 6.1 496
North Carolina 90,418 49,804 42,301 97,921 8.3 1,815
Oklahoma/c 26,285 14,195 13,029 27,866 6 1,161
South Carolina 40,005 16,643 14,482 42,166 5.4 1,545
Tennessee 34,896 20,431 18,594 36,733 5.3 931
Texas 396,276 200,365 181,144 415,497 4.9 3,119
Virginia 24,089 19,394 19,219 24,264 0.7 485
West Virginia/c 5,992 111 153 6,085 1.6 433
West 555,417 290,392 254,535 581,589 4.7 % 1,397
Alaska 2,899 960 1,296 2,563 -11.6 619
Arizona/c 34,365 15,514 10,728 32,532 -5.3 1,076
California 277,655 142,560 133,229 286,986 3.4 1,259
Colorado/c 39,065 25,042 21,840 42,010 7.5 1,519
Hawaii 13,088 6,620 6,385 13,323 1.8 1,518
Idaho 5,770 6,110 5,711 6,169 6.9 757
Montana 5,656 2,022 1,833 5,845 3.3 922
Nevada 9,410 6,043 5,377 10,076 7.1 890
New Mexico 8,063 7,727 7,514 8,276 2.6 698
Oregon 38,086 13,397 11,758 39,725 4.3 1,695
Utah 7,714 4,136 3,372 8,478 9.9 664
Washington/c 110,279 58,476 43,640 122,306 10.9 3,048
Wyoming 3,367 1,785 1,852 3,300 -2 960
Note: Counts are subject to revision. Final counts will be
published in Correctional Populations
in the United States, 1995.
:Not available.
*Less than 0.05%.
--Not calculated.
/aDefined as persons received for probation directly from court.
/bThe decrease resulted from a review of the statistical
database by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, which identified and closed cases
that had been coded incorrectly.
/cBecause of nonresponse or incomplete data, the population on
December 31, 1995, does not equal the population on January 1, 1995, plus entries,
minus exits.
/dData are for 12/31/94. See explanatory notes.
Adults on parole, 1995
Percent Number
change on parole on
Parole Parole in parole 12/31/95 per
Region and population, During 1995 population, population 100,000 adult
jurisdiction 1/1/95 Entries Exits 12/31/95 during 1995 residents
U.S. total 690,371 411,369 391,298 700,174 1.4 % 361
Federal/a,b,c 61,430 29,491 22,552 59,136 -3.7 % 30
State 628,941 381,878 368,746 641,038 1.9 330
Northeast 173,882 77,451 67,082 184,122 5.9 % 474
Connecticut 1,146 1,934 1,847 1,233 7.6 50
Maine/c 40 1 2 41 2.5 4
Massachusetts/c 4,755 3,727 3,702 4,639 -2.4 100
New Hampshire/c 835 702 762 785 -6 92
New Jersey 41,802 17,198 11,589 47,411 13.4 793
New York 53,832 27,158 25,422 55,568 3.2 409
Pennsylvania 70,355 25,814 22,935 73,234 4.1 799
Rhode Island 525 597 529 593 13 79
Vermont 592 320 294 618 4.4 141
Midwest 82,478 62,155 56,698 87,364 5.9 % 192
Illinois 26,695 22,706 19,860 29,541 10.7 339
Indiana 3,409 5,310 5,120 3,599 5.6 83
Iowa 3,696 1,665 1,826 3,535 -4.4 167
Kansas 6,291 3,741 3,938 6,094 -3.1 325
Michigan 12,846 9,078 8,062 13,862 7.9 197
Minnesota 1,904 2,581 2,368 2,117 11.2 63
Missouri/c 12,592 5,352 5,278 13,023 3.4 330
Nebraska 771 718 828 661 -14.3 55
North Dakota 94 209 189 114 21.3 24
Ohio 6,453 5,332 5,203 6,582 2 79
South Dakota 662 590 564 688 3.9 132
Wisconsin/c 7,065 4,873 3,462 7,548 6.8 200
South 253,731 101,722 111,741 243,309 -4.1 % 358
Alabama 7,235 1,525 1,525 7,235 0 228
Arkansas 5,224 4,108 4,477 4,855 -7.1 265
Delaware 1,029 40 259 810 -21.3 150
District of Columbia 6,574 2,702 2,580 6,696 1.9 1,523
Florida/c 20,573 3,769 9,649 13,746 -33.2 127
Georgia/c 17,505 10,862 9,479 19,434 11 368
Kentucky 4,380 3,256 3,379 4,257 -2.8 147
Louisiana 17,112 9,793 7,877 19,028 11.2 613
Maryland 14,795 11,921 10,968 15,748 6.4 418
Mississippi/c 1,519 840 847 1,510 -0.6 78
North Carolina 20,159 11,530 13,188 18,501 -8.2 343
Oklahoma 2,604 661 909 2,356 -9.5 98
South Carolina 6,077 1,522 1,702 5,897 -3 216
Tennessee 9,353 3,357 3,859 8,851 -5.4 224
Texas 108,563 24,425 29,899 103,089 -5 774
Virginia 9,649 10,766 10,227 10,188 5.6 204
West Virginia 1,380 645 917 1,108 -19.7 79
West 118,850 140,550 133,225 126,243 6.2 % 303
Alaska 412 439 392 459 11.4 111
Arizona 4,351 5,693 5,935 4,109 -5.6 136
California 85,082 118,948 112,223 91,807 7.9 403
Colorado 2,463 3,021 2,460 3,024 22.8 109
Hawaii 1,650 668 629 1,689 2.4 192
Idaho/c 931 539 676 862 -7.4 106
Montana 710 431 386 755 6.3 119
Nevada 3,529 1,787 1,856 3,460 -2 306
New Mexico 1,078 815 775 1,118 3.7 94
Oregon 14,264 6,160 5,405 15,019 5.3 641
Utah 2,417 1,818 1,504 2,731 13 214
Washington 1,650 75 850 875 -47 22
Wyoming 313 156 134 335 7 97
Note: Counts are subject to revision. Final counts will be
published in Correctional Populations in the United States, 1995.
--Not calculated.
/aDefined as persons received for probation supervision upon
release from prison. Includes supervised release, parole, military parole, special
parole, and mandatory release.
/bThe decrease resulted from a review of the statistical
database by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, which
identified and closed cases that had been coded incorrectly.
/cBecause of nonresponse or incomplete data, the population on
December 31, 1995,does not equal the population on January 1,
1995, plus entries, minus exits.
Number of adults under correctional supervision, 1980-95
Total estimated Percent of
correctional Community supervision adults under
Year population Probation Parole Incarcerated/a supervision
1980 1,840,400 1,118,097 220,438 501,886 1.1 %
1981 2,006,600 1,225,934 225,539 555,114 1.2
1982 2,192,600 1,357,264 224,604 610,767 1.3
1983 2,475,100 1,582,947 246,440 645,713 1.4
1984 2,689,200 1,740,948 266,992 681,282 1.6
1985 3,011,500 1,968,712 300,203 742,579 1.7 %
1986 3,239,400 2,114,621 325,638 799,171 1.8
1987 3,459,600 2,247,158 355,505 856,906 1.9
1988 3,714,100 2,356,483 407,977 949,659 2.0
1989 4,055,600 2,522,125 456,803 1,076,670 2.2
1990 4,348,000 2,670,234 531,407 1,146,401 2.3 %
1991 4,535,600 2,728,472 590,442 1,216,664 2.4
1992 4,762,600 2,811,611 658,601 1,292,347 2.5
1993 4,944,000 2,903,061 676,100 1,364,881 2.6
1994 5,147,100 2,981,400 690,371 1,475,329 2.7
1995/b 5,357,800 3,090,626 700,174 1,567,000 2.8
Percent change
1994-95 4 4 1 6
1980-95 191 176 218 212
Annual average
change
1990-95 4 3 6 6
1980-95 7 7 8 8
Note: Counts for probation, prison, and parole are for December
31 of each year. Jail counts are for June 30. Because some
persons may have multiple statuses, the sum of the number of
persons incarcerated or under community supervision
overestimates the total correctional population. Percent of
adults under supervision was computed using the U.S. adult
resident population on July 1 of each year.
/aThe incarcerated population count consists of inmates in the
custody of jail and prison authorities.
/bIncarcerated total was estimated and rounded to the nearest
1,000.
Community corrections among the States, yearend 1995
10 States with Persons Persons
the largest 1995 supervised supervised
community 10 States with 10 States with the per 100,000 10 States with the per 100,000
corrections Number the largest Percent highest rates of adult U.S. lowest rates of adult U.S.
populations supervised percent increase increase supervision, 1995 residents* supervision, 1995 residents*
Probation:
Texas 415,497 Arkansas 14.2 % Texas 3,119 Kentucky 398
California 286,986 North Dakota 12.5 Washington 3,048 West Virginia 433
Florida 255,550 Missouri 11.8 Delaware 3,036 Virginia 485
New York 173,499 Washington 10.9 Georgia 2,699 North Dakota 486
Michigan 148,337 Ohio 10.4 Minnesota 2,490 Mississippi 496
Georgia 142,453 Utah 9.9 Rhode Island 2,483 New Hampshire 509
New Jersey 127,123 Vermont 9.7 Florida 2,367 Alaska 619
Washington 122,306 North Carolina 8.3 Connecticut 2,201 Utah 664
Illinois 109,489 Colorado 7.5 New Jersey 2,125 South Dakota 693
Pennsylvania 106,823 Pennsylvania 7.3 Michigan 2,110 New Mexico 698
Parole:
Texas 103,089 Colorado 22.8 % Pennsylvania 799 Maine 4
California 91,807 North Dakota 21.3 New Jersey 793 Washington 22
Pennsylvania 73,234 New Jersey 13.4 Texas 774 North Dakota 24
New York 55,568 Rhode Island 13 Oregon 641 Connecticut 50
New Jersey 47,411 Utah 13 Louisiana 613 Nebraska 55
Illinois 29,541 Alaska 11.4 Maryland 418 Minnesota 63
Georgia 19,434 Louisiana 11.2 New York 409 Mississippi 78
Louisiana 19,028 Minnesota 11.2 California 403 West Virginia 79
North Carolina 18,501 Georgia 11 Georgia 368 Ohio 79
Maryland 15,748 Illinois 10.7 North Carolina 343 Rhode Island 79
Note: The district of Columbia as a wholly urban jurisdiction is excluded.
*Rates are computed using the U.S. adult resident population on July 1, 1995.
Characteristics of persons under
community supervision
Probation Parole
Number of persons
supervised 3,090,626 700,174
Sex
Male 79 9
Female 21 10
Race
White 64 5
Black 34 49
Other 2 1
Hispanic origin
Hispanic 14 21
Non-Hispanic 86 79
Supervision status
Active 78 78
Inactive 8 11
Absconded 10 6
Out-of-State 2 4
Other 2 *
Type of offense
Felony 54 --
Misdemeanor 26 --
Driving while
intoxicated 17 --
Other infractions 3 --
Sentence to incarceration
More than 1 year ... 94
1 year or less ... 6
Note: Percentages based on reported data only
Detail may not add to total because of rounding.
*Less than 0.05%.
--Not reported.
Graph of rates of persons under supervision, 1980-95
Number per 100,000 U.S. adult residents
All Community Incarceration
1980 1125 818 307
1207 873 334
1982 1299 937 362
1446 1068 377
1984 1551 1158 393
1718 1294 424
1986 1828 1377 451
1934 1456 478
1988 2065 1542 523
2212 1625 587
1990 2347 1728 619
2425 1775 651
1992 2522 1837 684
2592 1877 716
1994 2676 1909 767
1995 2762 1954 808
Explanatory notes
The 1995 Probation and Parole Data Surveys provide a count of
the total number of persons supervised in the community on
January 1 and December 31, 1995, 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.
Probation
The 1995 Probation Data Survey was sent to 273 respondents _ 38
central State reporters and 235 separate State, county or court
agencies. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (3),
Arizona (2), Colorado (9), Florida (15), Georgia (2), Idaho (2),
Michigan (114), Missouri (2), New Mexico (2), Ohio (52),
Oklahoma (3), Tennessee (3), Washington (24), and West Virginia
(2).
The State of Indiana, 7 local agencies in Michigan, 2 in Ohio,
and 1 in Washington did not provide data. For Indiana, data
from 1994 were used but will be updated when available. For the
other nonreporting agencies, the 12/31/94 population count was
used as the 1/1/95 count and the 12/31/95 count.
Parole
The 1995 Parole Data Survey was sent to 56 respondents _ 52
central reporters, 2 Interstate Compact reporters, the
California Youth Authority, and 1 municipal agency. States with
multiple reporters were Alabama (2), California (2), West
Virginia (2), and Idaho (2).
Date Published: June 1, 1996