Trends in Crime, Jail Population Growth, and Prisoner Reentry

1
Trends in Crime, Jail Population Growth, and
Prisoner Reentry
Presented by Allen J. Beck, Ph.D. Deputy
Director and William J. Sabol, Ph.D.
Chief, Corrections Statistics Unit Bureau of
Justice Statistics
2

• Local jails often ignored in policy discussions,
  yet process more than 12 million admissions
  annually
• Jails serve a variety functions and provide an
  array of services related to successful reentry
• Point of entry into criminal justice system but
  also point of release and return
• On any one day, half of the Nations jail
  population is the consequence of failure under
  community supervision
• 34 on probation13 on parole7 out on
  bail/bond 2 other release
• In 2004 approximately 219,000 parolees (28) and
  330,000 probationers (8) failed and were
  incarcerated

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Jail and prison population growth

• Between 1995 and 2005
• Jail populations increased by about 240,000
  inmates (to 747,529 from 507,044)
• Prison populations increased by over 350,000 (to
  1,431,468)
• Local jail populations increased faster than
  state prison populations, but slower than federal
  prison populations.

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Growth in jail and prison populations, 1995-2005
2005 data are midyear (June 30).
5
12-month growth rate for local jails rose
sharply in 2005
10
8
6
Percent Change
4
2
0
95
00
01
02
03
04 05
99
98
97
96
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Four states jails accounted for 1/3 of all
jail inmates nationwide, as of June 30, 2005

• California (82,138), Texas (66,534), Florida
  (63,620), and Georgia (44,965) accounted for more
  than 1/3 of jail population (as in 1999)
• 10 states with the smallest jail populations each
  held fewer than 4,000 inmates (3.1) of jail pop.
• In 1999 (most recent BJS data),3,365 jails
• 1,573 (48) held pop. 2/3 of all jails had a capacity for
  inmates (12 of pop.)
• 156 (4.6) held 2,000 inmates, 30 of jail
  pop. 1/2 half of inmates held in jails with ADP
  of 1,000.

7
Jail rated capacity increased at about the same
rate as jail populations
8
Community supervision persons under jail
supervision increasing somewhat
9
Stocks and flows Jail admissions are more than
16 times the average daily population

• Population counts
• June 30, 2005 747,500
• Average daily 733,400
• Admissions
• 7/1/04 6/30/05 12.1 million
• 1/1/04 12/31/04 12.6 million
• Unique offenders 9.0 million
• Based on 29.9 incarcerated twice in 12 mos.

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Offense composition of jail inmates has changed
only very slightly (property down)
11
Jail population is aging
12
Distribution by gender, race and Hispanic origin
slowly changing
13
Distribution by conviction status
14
Texas jail inmates, 2005
Preliminary subject to change.
15
Sources of jail population growth Crimes and
arrests

• From 1995 to 2005, crimes and arrests, except for
  drug arrests, generally declined
• Part I crimes declined by about 17
• Violent crimes declined by about 23
• All arrests declined by 7
• Drug arrests increased by about 25

16
Homicide rates recently declined to levels last
seen in the late 1960s
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Robbery rates declined after 1994 reaching the
lowest level recorded in 2004
18
Assault rates declined since 1994
19
Jail population growth and reported crimes
20
Jail population growth and arrests
21
2005 UCR and NCVS crime reports raise new concerns
22
FBI/UCR data indicate increase in violent crime
concentrated in Midwest
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A trend or a one-year upturn?

• UCR
• Localized highest in Midwest
• Middle size cities with moderate levels of crime
• Last 6 months of 2005 Is it continuing?
• NCVS
• Upturn in firearms-related violent crime (from
  1.4 per 1,000 to 2.0)
• Rise in serious violent crime committed by
  juveniles (25 of all serious violent)
• Gangs involved in small but rising percent of
  violent crime (7 of all serious violence)

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Implications of recent upturn in crime on jail
population is unknown

• Unknown whether recent upturn in crime will
  affect jail populations is unknown, as of yet
• Whether effects would be national or regional
  also is yet to be determined
• Slight amount of capacity is currently available
  to absorb some increase
• Crime increases could place strain on jail
  capacity nationwide, based on preliminary work by
  Beck

25
Factors other than crimes and arrests have
contributed to jail population growth

• Increasing use of jails for housing by other
  correctional authorities (1 of every 6 inmates)
• Rising number of un-convicted inmates (3/4 of
  growth since 1990)
• Growth in the number of community release
  violators (half of inmates on single day)
• No change in time served by sentenced inmates
  (mean 9 months median 5 months)

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Increasing number of jail inmates heldfor other
authorities
27
Rise in unconvicted jail inmates accounts for
three-fourths of growth
28
Increasing number of offenders on community
supervision returning to jail

• Number of probationers revoked and incarcerated
• 330,000 in 2004 up from 222,000 in 1990
• Number of parolees revoked and incarcerated
  219,000 in 2004, up from 133,900 in 1990
• At time of admission in 2002, 34 of jail inmates
  were on probation (up from 28 in 1989) 13 were
  on parole (up from 10 in 1989)

29
More than half of all jail inmates were on
probation or parole at the time of arrest
30
26 of probation violators 31 of parole
violators revoked due to arrest/conviction for a
new offense
31
About 3/4 of jail inmates on probation or parole
at arrest met criteria for substance abuse or
dependence
32
Marijuana, cocaine/crack and hallucinogens were
the drugs inmates most commonly used

33
Treatment gap linked to CJ system

• Of the 415,000 substance dependent/abusing jail
  inmates needing treatment in 2002
• 63 had been in any treatment or programs ever in
  the past
• 47 had participated in treatment or programs
  under some form of correctional supervision

34
Substance abuse treatment rose between 1996 and
2002

• Rate of treatment/programs while under
  correctional supervision increased from 1996 to
  2002
• Use at offense, up from 43 to 53
• Use in the month before offense, up from 39 to
  47
• Treatment/program participation after admission
  also up from 1996
• 20 from 17 for use at offense
• 17 from 14 for use in the month before offense.

35
More inmates receive treatment while on
probation/parole than while in jail

• 30 of substance dependent/abusing jail inmates
  had received treatment under correctional
  supervision
• 22 received treatment while on probation/parole
  17 received treatment while in jail.
• 36 participated in other programs under
  correctional supervision
• 26 participated in other programs while on
  probation/parole 24 participated while in jail.

36
2006 BJS study used modified structural clinical
interview for the DSM-IV

• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
  Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) provides a
  baseline indication of mental health problems
  rather than a clinical diagnosis of mental
  illness
• Questions addressed behaviors or symptoms related
  to major depression, mania or psychotic disorders
  that occurred in the 12 months before the
  interview
• Surveys did not assess severity or duration of
  the symptoms no exclusions were made for
  symptoms due to medical illness, bereavement or
  substance abuse

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Major depressive disorders

• Criteria Depressed mood and decreased interest
  or pleasure in activities plus 3 additional
  symptoms of depression
• 30 of jail inmates met criteria of major
  depressive disorder, as did 24 of state prison
  inmates.
• 7.9 of U.S. resident population, aged 18 or
  older meets these criteria.

National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and
Related Conditions, 2001-02.
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Mania

• Criteria 3 or more symptoms during a 12-month
  period, covering a range of feelings and
  behaviors, such as persistent sadness, loss of
  interest in activities, insomnia or hypersomnia,
  psychomotor agitation, and persistent anger or
  irritability
• 54 of jail inmates 43 of state inmates met
  criteria
• 1.8 in U.S. resident population, age 18 or
  older

National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and
Related Conditions, 2001-02.
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Psychotic disorder symptoms

• Criteria any sign of delusions or
  hallucinations.
• Delusions characterized by belief that other
  people were controlling their thoughts, could
  read their mind, or were spying on them.
• Hallucinations include reports of seeing things
  others said they did not see or hearing voices
  others did not hear.
• 24 of jail inmates and 15 of state prisoners
  met criteria.
• 3.1 in U.S. resident population, age 18 or older
  (based on lifetime occurrence)

National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and
Related Conditions, 2001-02.
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More than half of inmates report recent history
or symptoms of mental health problems
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Inmates with mental health problems pose unique
challenge for corrections

• Among jail inmates with mental health problems
• 17 homeless 31 unemployed
• 24 report past physical or sexual abuse
• 43 on public assistance at some time
• 37 report parent/guardian abused alcohol or
  drugs
• 52 report a close family member ever
  incarcerated
• 56 dependent on alcohol/drugs
• 62 drug users in month before offense 24
  cocaine/crack12 methamphetamines 10
  heroin/other opiates
• 54 under the influence of drugs or alcohol at
  time of the offense

42
Mental health problems related to violent
behavior and misconduct while incarcerated

• Among inmates with mental health problems
• 44 of jail and 61 of state inmates were
  currently violent or violent recidivists
• 19 of jail and 21 of state inmates had 6 or
  more prior sentences to probation/incarceration
• 8 of jail and 24 of state inmates charged with
  assault since admission
• 9 of jail and 20 of sate inmates injured in a
  fight

43
Gap in treatment among inmates with mental health
problems
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Other challenges facing jail inmates

• 14 of jail inmates reported being homeless,
  living in shelter or on street in last year
• 29 of inmates unemployed 18 only occasional
  employment
• 46 report a family member ever incarcerated 31
  a brother19 a father
• 31 report parent abusing alcohol/drugs while
  growing up
• 44 from single parent household 13 from
  households missing both parents

45
Length of stay statistics suggest limited
treatment opportunities in jails
Source A. Beck, unpublished estimates, 6/24/06.
46
Service capacities of jail jurisdictions (from
1999 jail census)

• Most jail jurisdictions had policies or programs
  for inmate education, counseling, and health
  services
• half had secondary education programs and ¼ had
  basic adult ed. pgms. but about 8 of detainees
  were participating in jail ed. pgms. on June 30,
  1999
• 2/3 had counseling pgms.
• 2/3 of jurisdictions used fee-for-service plan or
  on-site staff to deliver health care
• 2005 Census of Jails (in progress).