In 2008, the U.S. prison and probation population experienced its slowest growth in eight years, according to numbers released Dec. 8 by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statis­tics. The total correctional population – including those in prison or jail and those on parole or probation – was just more than 7.3 million at the end of last year. The majority of those on paper with the criminal justice system – 5 million, or one in every 45 adults – were on community supervision (parole or probation), while just more than 2 million were in prison or jail, the bureau reports. While the growth rate slowed to just under a half-percent last year, the number of people in prison or jail has increased 2.2% total since 2000.

This article appears in December 11 • 2009.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US