Prison Facts Citations

  1. There are approximately 2.2 million people in prison in the United States - the highest prison population in the world.
    Institute for Criminal Policy Research
  2. The prison population in the United States has increased 700% since 1970.
    Pew Trusts
  3. The United States represents 5% of the world’s population and 25% of the world’s PRISON population.
    The New York Times
  4. At least 95% of inmates will eventually be released from prison.
    U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics
  5. Black men are incarcerated 6 times more often than white men.
    Pew Research Center
  6. One out of every four black males born today will end up in jail if current incarceration rates continue.
    The Washington Post
  7. The state of California houses more than 130,000 inmates across 35 prisons.
    California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  8. In 2017 alone, California taxpayers will pay $11.4 BILLION dollars to oversee 129,000 inmates and 44,000 parolees.
    CA State Budget: Public Safety
    National Association of State Budget Officers
  9. As of 2017, the cost to the California taxpayer is $75,560 a year for each inmate – more than the cost of tuition at Harvard for a year.
    Los Angeles Times
  10. The recidivism rate in California hovers around 65%.
    California Innocence Project