cogeco.ca
DOJ report released

The US Department of Justice Statistics division released its Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2003 report late yesterday. Highlights of the report include:

Prison population increased by 40,983, the largest increase in 4 years.

At midyear 2003, a total of 3,006 State prisoners were under age 18. Adult jails held a total of 6,869 persons under age 18.

Local jails were operating 6% below their rated capacity. In contrast, at yearend 2002 State prisons were operating 1% and 17% above capacity, and Federal prisons were 33% about their rate capacity.

In the year ending June 30, 2003, the smaller State prison systems had the greatest percentage increase: Vermont (up 12.2%), Minnesota (up 9.4%), and Maine (up 9.1%).

A pdf version of the full report is available here.

Overall it adds up to 1 out of every 75 men in the United States are presently incarcerated, the majority being non-Caucasian.

[thanks to JackL and Vig Haufniensis for the links]