U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Special Report

JANUARY 2019 NCJ 251776 

Source and Use of Firearms Involved in 

Crimes: Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 

Mariel Alper, Ph.D., and Lauren Glaze, BJS Statisticians 

Based on the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates 

(SPI), about 1 in 5 (21%) of all state and federal 

prisoners reported that they had possessed or 

carried a frearm when they committed the ofense 

for which they were serving time in prison (fgure 1). 

More than 1 in 8 (13%) of all prisoners had used 

a frearm by showing, pointing, or discharging it 

during the ofense for which they were imprisoned. 

Fewer than 1 in 50 (less than 2%) of all prisoners had 

obtained a frearm from a retail source and possessed, 

carried, or used it during the ofense for which they 

were imprisoned. 

An estimated 287,400 prisoners had possessed a 

frearm during their ofense. Among these, more than 

half (56%) had either stolen it (6%), found it at the 

scene of the crime (7%), or obtained it of the street 

or from the underground market (43%). Most of 

the remainder (25%) had obtained it from a family 

member or friend, or as a gif. Seven percent had 

purchased it under their own name from a licensed 

frearm dealer. 

FIGURE 1 

Percent of all state and federal prisoners who had 

possessed or used a frearm during their ofense, 2016 

Possesseda

Any gun 

Handgun 

Gun they obtained 1.9% 

20.8%

18.4%

from retail source 

Usedb

Any gun 

Handgun 

Gun they obtained 

12.8%

11.2%

1.3% from retail source 

0 5 10 15 20 25 

Percent

Note: See appendix table 1 for standard errors. 

aIncludes prisoners who carried or possessed a frearm during the 

ofense. 

bIncludes prisoners who showed, pointed, or discharged a frearm 

during the ofense. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 

HIGHLIGHTS

 About 21% of state and 20% of federal prisoners said  Among prisoners who possessed a frearm during 

they possessed a gun during their ofense, while  their ofense, 0.8% obtained it at a gun show. 

79% of state and 80% of federal prisoners did not.  About 1 in 5 state and federal prisoners who 

 About 29% of state and 36% of federal prisoners possessed a frearm during their ofense obtained it 

serving time for a violent ofense possessed a gun with the intent to use it during the crime. 

during the ofense.  Among state prisoners who possessed a gun during 

 About 1.3% of prisoners obtained a gun from a retail their ofense, 27% killed someone with it, another 

source and used it during their ofense. 12% injured someone, 7% fred the gun but did not 

injure anyone, and 54% did not fre it.  Handguns were the most common type of frearm 

possessed by state and federal prisoners (18% each);  State prisoners with no military service were more 

11% of all prisoners used a handgun. likely to possess a gun during their ofense (21%) than 

prisoners who had served in the military (16%).  Among prisoners who possessed a gun during their 

ofense, 90% did not obtain it from a retail source. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 2 

 

Statistics in this report are based on self-reported 

data collected through face-to-face interviews with 

a national sample of state and federal prisoners in the 

2016 SPI. (See Methodology.) 

Te 2016 SPI data collection was conducted from 

January through October 2016. Te SPI was formerly 

known as the Survey of Inmates in State and Federal 

Correctional Facilities (SISFCF). Te Bureau of 

Justice Statistics (BJS) has periodically conducted the 

survey since the 1970s, with the most recent iteration 

felded in 2004. Te survey collects information from 

prisoners on a variety of topics, including frearm 

possession during the crime for which a prisoner was 

serving time and how the frearm was used during 

the crime. It also collects information on the method, 

source, and process that prisoners used to obtain the 

frearm. (See appendix 1, Questions related to frearms 

in the Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016.) 

Terms and defnitions 

 Firearm − a weapon that uses gunpowder to — Pawn shop – a business that ofers secured 

shoot a bullet. Primary types are handguns, rifes, loans to customers, with personal property 

and shotguns:1 used as collateral. This personal property is 

sold to the public if the loan is not repaid. | Handgun – a frearm which has a short stock 

and is designed to be held and fred by the use — Flea market – a market that rents space to 

of a single hand. individuals to sell or barter merchandise. 

| Rife – a frearm intended to be fred from the — Gun show – a temporary market where 

shoulder and designed to use the energy of an licensed dealers and unlicensed sellers can 

explosive to fre only a single projectile through rent tables or booths to sell frearms. 

a rifed bore for each single pull of the trigger. | Obtained from an individual – includes 

| Shotgun – a frearm intended to be fred from purchasing, trading, renting, or borrowing 

the shoulder and designed to use the energy from a family or friend. Also includes when 

of an explosive to fre through a smooth the frearm was gifted to or purchased for 

bore either a number of ball shot or a single the person. 

projectile for each pull of the trigger. | Of the street or underground market – illegal 

 Firearm possession – carrying or possessing at least sources of frearms that include markets for 

one frearm when the ofense for which prisoners stolen goods, middlemen for stolen goods, 

were serving a sentence was committed. criminals or criminal enterprises, or individuals 

or groups involved in sales of illegal drugs.  Firearm use – showing a frearm to or pointing a 

frearm at anyone or discharging a frearm during the | Theft – includes stealing the frearm during a 

ofense for which a prisoner was serving time. burglary or from a retail source, family member, 

friend, or another source.  Source of the frearm – from where and how 

prisoners reported obtaining the frearm they | Other sources – includes a frearm that a prisoner 

possessed during the crime for which they obtained or found at the location of the crime, 

were imprisoned— including one that belonged to a victim or that 

someone else brought to the location of the | Purchased or traded from a retail source – crime. This category also includes sources for includes a gun shop or store, pawn shop, fea 

market which there were few responses, such as for guns , or gun show. bought online, and other sources that did not — Gun shop or store – a business ft into one of the existing categories. This also establishment that sells frearms in an open includes instances where there was not enough shopping format. information to categorize the source, such as 

when a frearm was purchased from an unknown 1Te defnitions of types of frearms in this section were taken source or obtained from another person by an from 18 U.S.C. § 921 (2009). Tey have been edited for length. unknown method. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 3 

Controlling-ofense characteristics 

About 29% of state and 36% of federal prisoners 

serving a sentence for a violent ofense in 2016 

possessed a frearm during the crime (table 1). About 

a quarter of state (23%) and federal (25%) prisoners 

serving time for a violent ofense used a frearm during 

the crime. “Firearm use” is defned in this report as 

showing, pointing, or discharging a frearm during the 

ofense for which a prisoner was serving a sentence. 

Among prisoners serving time for homicide, more 

than 2 in 5 (44%) state prisoners and more than 1 in 3 

(36%) federal prisoners had possessed a frearm during 

the crime. About 37% of state and 28% of federal 

prisoners serving time for homicide used a frearm 

during the homicide. 

Among those serving time for robbery, more than 

2 in 5 state prisoners (43%) and federal prisoners (46%) 

possessed a frearm during the ofense, and nearly a 

third of state (31%) and federal (32%) prisoners used 

a frearm during the robbery. Firearm possession was 

less common among state prisoners serving a sentence 

for rape or sexual assault (2%). Less than 1% of state 

prisoners serving time for rape or sexual assault used a 

frearm in the commission of their crime. 

TABLE 1 

Firearm possession and use among state and federal prisoners during the ofense for which they were serving time, 

by type of controlling ofense, 2016 

Estimated Percent of state prisoners who— Estimated Percent of federal prisoners who— 

number of Possessed number of Possessed 

Controlling ofensea state prisonersb a frearmb Used a frearmc federal prisonersb a frearmb Used a frearmc 

Total 1,211,200 20.9% 13.9% 170,400 20.0% 5.0% 

Violent* 667,300 29.1% 23.0% 20,900 36.2% 25.3% 

Homicided 191,400 43.6 37.2 3,800 35.9 28.4 

Rape/sexual assault 144,800 2.0 0.8 2,400 : : 

Robbery 149,600 43.3 31.5 10,700 46.3 32.1 

Assault 149,400 25.0 20.6 2,900 29.0 18.1 

Other violente 32,200 17.0 12.6 1,200 34.1 : 

Property 186,100 4.9% † 2.0% † 12,000 2.6% † : 

Burglary 88,100 6.7 3.2 300 : : 

Other propertyf 98,000 3.3 1.0 11,800 2.4 : 

Drug 180,800 8.4% † 0.8% † 80,500 12.3% † 0.6% † 

Trafckingg 130,500 9.4 0.9 72,300 12.9 0.7 

Possession 45,900 6.1 : 3,500 : : 

Other/unspecifed drug 4,300 : : 4,700 : : 

Public order 158,300 21.5% † 5.6% † 52,900 30.2% 5.3% † 

Weaponsh 43,800 67.2 15.7 22,200 66.9 11.3 

Other public orderi 114,400 4.0 1.7 30,700 3.6 : 

Other 3,900 : : 1,800 : : 

Unknown 14,900 4.3% † : 2,200 : : 

Note: See appendix table 2 for standard errors. 

*Comparison group. 

†Diference with comparison group is signifcant at the 95% confdence level across main categories, and no testing was done on subcategories 

(e.g., homicide). 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. aSee Methodology for information on how controlling ofense was measured. bExcludes 3.0% of state prisoners and 1.7% of federal prisoners who were missing responses on frearm possession. Includes prisoners who were 

missing responses on frearm use. 

cExcludes 3.0% of state prisoners and 1.7% of federal prisoners who were missing responses on frearm possession, and an additional 0.6% of state 

prisoners and 0.7% of federal prisoners who were missing responses on frearm use.

dIncludes murder and both negligent and non-negligent manslaughter. 

eIncludes kidnapping, blackmail, extortion, hit-and-run driving with bodily injury, child abuse, and criminal endangerment. f

Includes larceny, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, fraud, stolen property, destruction of property, vandalism, hit-and-run driving with no bodily injury, 

criminal tampering, trespassing, entering without breaking, and possession of burglary tools. 

gIncludes possession with intent to distribute. 

hIncludes being armed while commiting a crime; possession of ammunition, concealed weapons, frearms and explosive devices; selling or trafcking 

weapons; and other weapons ofenses. Among federal prisoners, weapons ofense include violations of federal frearms and explosives. i

Includes commercialized vice, immigration crimes, DUI, violations of probation/parole, and other public-order ofenses. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
State and federal prisoners serving time for a violent 

ofense were much more likely to have possessed a 

frearm during the ofense (29% state, 36% federal) 

than prisoners serving time for a property (5% state, 

3% federal) or drug (8% state, 12% federal) ofense. 

Among prisoners serving time for a public-order 

ofense, about 1 in 5 (21%) state prisoners and nearly 

1 in 3 (30%) federal prisoners reported that they 

possessed a frearm during the crime, and about 1 in 20 

reported they had used it. About two-thirds of state 

and federal prisoners sentenced for a weapons ofense 

said they possessed a frearm during the crime.2 

2In addition to prisoners serving a sentence in state or federal 

prison in 2016 who possessed a frearm during the ofense, weapons 

ofenses include prisoners who were convicted of trafcking 

frearms but did not possess them at the time of the ofense and 

prisoners who were convicted of a weapons ofense that did not 

involve a frearm. 

Extent of frearm use among prisoners during 

the crime 

State and federal prisoners in 2016 who had possessed 

a frearm during their ofense were about equally 

likely to report that they had obtained the frearm 

with the intent to use it during the ofense (19% state, 

20% federal) (table 2). However, state prisoners (68%) 

who possessed a frearm were more than 2.5 times 

as likely as federal prisoners (26%) who possessed a 

frearm to have used it during the crime. 

Nearly half of state prisoners (46%) serving a sentence 

for a crime during which they possessed a frearm 

discharged the frearm when they committed the 

crime, compared to 12% of federal prisoners. Among 

state prisoners who possessed a frearm during their 

ofense, 27% killed a victim with the frearm and 

another 12% injured or shot a victim but did not kill 

him or her. Federal prisoners who possessed a frearm 

when they committed their ofense were much less 

likely to have killed (4%) or injured (2%) a victim with 

the frearm than state prisoners. 

TABLE 2 

Among state and federal prisoners who possessed a frearm during the ofense for which they were serving time, 

extent of frearm use, 2016 

State prisoners Federal prisoners 

State Federal Violent Non-violent Violent Non-violent 

Firearm use prisoners* prisoners ofense* ofensea ofense* ofensea 

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 

Obtained frearm because planned to use

in controlling ofenseb 

Yes 19.3% 19.7% 17.7% 24.6% † 26.4% 18.0% 

No 80.7 80.3 82.3 75.4 † 73.6 82.1 

Used frearmc 68.0% 25.9% † 81.0% 24.8% † 72.5% 12.9% † 

Discharged 46.5% 11.9% † 55.9% 15.4% † 27.3% 7.5% † 

Killed victim 27.1 4.1 † 35.0 : 16.5 : 

Injured/shot victim but did not kill victim 12.4 2.2 † 14.5 5.3 † : : 

Discharged frearm but did not shoot anyone 

Did not discharged 

7.0 

21.5% 

5.6 

14.0% † 

6.4 

25.2% 

9.0 

9.4% † 

5.7 

45.3% 

5.4 

5.4% † 

Did not use frearm 32.0% 74.1% † 19.0% 75.2% † 27.5% 87.1% † 

Estimated number of prisoners who possessed 

a frearm (with valid data)e 245,400 32,900 187,800 57,000 7,200 25,600 

Note: Percentages are based on data reported on frearm possession, use, and controlling ofense. Excludes 3.1% of state prisoners and 3.5% of federal 

prisoners who possessed a frearm during the ofense and were missing responses on frearm use and 0.3% of state prisoners and 0.7% of federal 

prisoners who possessed a frearm and were missing a controlling ofense. The sum of violent ofense and non-violent ofense does not equal the total 

number of state and federal prisoners who possessed a frearm in this table due to an estimated 600 state and 100 federal prisoners whose ofense 

type was unknown. See appendix table 3 for standard errors. 

*Comparison group. 

†Diference with comparison group is signifcant at the 95% confdence level. 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. aIncludes property, drug, public order, and other non-violent ofenses. 

bPercentages are based on the 246,200 state and 32,600 federal prisoners who reported they carried or possessed a frearm and whether they 

obtained a frearm to use during the ofense. 

cIncludes prisoners who showed a frearm to anyone, pointed a frearm at anyone, or discharged the frearm during the ofense. dIncludes prisoners who showed or pointed a frearm at anyone during the ofense but did not discharge it. 

eIncludes prisoners who reported they carried or possessed a frearm. Excludes prisoners who were missing responses on frearm possession or use. 

For violent ofense and non-violent ofense, also excludes prisoners who were missing a controlling ofense. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 5 

Among prisoners who possessed a frearm during 

a violent ofense, a large majority of both state 

(81%) and federal (73%) prisoners used the frearm 

during the ofense, far more than the percentages for 

non-violent ofenders (25% state, 13% federal). More 

than half (56%) of state prisoners serving time for a 

violent ofense who possessed a frearm during the 

crime discharged it, compared to fewer than a sixth 

(15%) of non-violent ofenders in state prison who 

possessed a frearm. Violent ofenders (27%) in federal 

prison who possessed a frearm during the crime were 

about 3.5 times as likely to discharge it as non-violent 

ofenders (8%). Among state prisoners who had 

possessed a frearm during their ofense, however, 

non-violent ofenders (25%) were more likely than 

violent ofenders (18%) to have planned to use the 

frearm during the ofense. 

Type of frearm possessed by prisoners 

during ofense 

Handguns were by far the most common type of 

frearm possessed or used by prisoners during the 

crime for which they were sentenced. About 18% of all 

state and federal prisoners in 2016 reported that they 

had possessed a handgun during the crime for which 

they were serving a sentence (table 3). Two percent or 

fewer possessed a rife or a shotgun. Twelve percent 

of state and 5% of federal prisoners used a handgun 

during their ofense. Most state (79%) and federal 

(80%) prisoners did not possess any type of frearm 

during the crime for which they were imprisoned. 

TABLE 3 

Firearm possession and use among state and federal prisoners during the ofense for which they were serving time, 

by type of frearm, 2016 

Percent of prisoners who possessed a frearm Percent of prisoners who used a frearma 

Type of frearm All prisoners State* Federal All prisoners State* Federal 

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 

Firearmb 20.8% 20.9% 20.0% 12.8% 13.9% 5.0% † 

Handgun 18.4 18.4 18.3 11.2 12.2 4.6 

Rife 1.5 1.4 2.0 † 0.8 0.8 0.4 † 

Shotgun 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.1 1.2 0.4 † 

No frearm 79.2% 79.1% 80.0% 87.2% 86.1% 95.0% 

Estimated number of

 prisoners (with valid data)c 1,378,200 1,208,100 170,100 1,378,200 1,208,100 170,100 

Note: Details on type of frearm may not sum to totals because prisoners could report more than one type of frearm. Percentages exclude missing data. 

Excludes 3.0% of state prisoners and 1.7% of federal prisoners who were missing responses on frearm possession during the ofense and an additional 

0.3% of state prisoners and 0.2% of federal prisoners who were missing responses on type of frearm. See appendix table 4 for standard errors. 

*Comparison group. 

†Diference with comparison group is signifcant at the 95% confdence level. aPercentages exclude 0.6% of state prisoners and 0.7% of federal prisoners who were missing responses on frearm use.

bIncludes prisoners who reported a type of frearm that did not ft into one of the existing categories and those who did not provide enough 

information to categorize the type of frearm. About 0.1% of state prisoners and 0.2% of federal prisoners reported another type of frearm or did not 

report enough information to specify the type of frearm. 

cExcludes prisoners who were missing responses on frearm possession or type of frearm. Counts are weighted to totals from the 2015 National 

Prisoner Statistics Program; see Methodology: Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 (NCJ 252210, BJS web, forthcoming). 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
Demographic characteristics 

Male prisoners were more likely than female prisoners 

to have possessed a frearm during their crime. About 

a ffh of male state and federal prisoners serving a 

sentence in 2016 possessed a frearm during the crime 

(table 4). Males in state prisons in 2016 were about 

2.5 times as likely (22%) as females in state prisons 

(9%) to have possessed a frearm during the crime for 

which they were imprisoned. In federal prisons, males 

(21%) were about three times as likely as females (7%) 

to have possessed a frearm during their crime. Almost 

3 in 10 (29%) black prisoners serving a sentence in 

state prison in 2016 possessed a frearm during their 

crime. White (12%) and Hispanic (21%) state prisoners 

were less likely to have possessed a frearm during 

their crime. Similarly, white (17%) and Hispanic (13%) 

federal prisoners serving a sentence in 2016 were less 

likely to have possessed a frearm during the crime 

than black (29%) federal prisoners. State prisoners who 

served in the military were less likely to have possessed 

a frearm during their crime (16%) than state prisoners 

who had not served in the military (21%). 

TABLE 4 

Firearm possession among state and federal prisoners during the ofense for which they were serving time, by 

demographic characteristics, 2016 

State Federal 

Demographic characteristic 

Number of 

prisoners 

Percent of prisoners who 

possessed a frearm during 

the ofense 

Number of 

prisoners 

Percent of prisoners who 

possessed a frearm during 

the ofense 

Sex 

Male* 1,124,200 21.8% 159,800 20.9% 

Female 87,000 9.5 † 10,600 6.6 † 

Race/Hispanic origina 

White 383,300 12.4% † 35,400 16.6% † 

Black* 401,500 29.4 53,800 29.2 

Hispanic 247,200 21.5 † 62,600 12.6 † 

American Indian/Alaska Native 17,200 14.8 † 2,800 23.8 

Asian/Native Hawaiian/Other Pacifc Islander 10,700 22.8 2,600 : 

Two or more races 133,100 19.1 † 10,900 29.3 

Age at time of survey 

18–24* 123,800 31.7% 8,200 30.1% 

25–34 389,100 24.4 † 47,700 27.4 

35–44 318,800 19.3 † 58,800 19.0 † 

45–54 224,800 14.6 † 36,700 14.1 † 

55 or older 154,800 16.0 † 19,000 12.2 † 

Marital status 

Married* 168,500 16.7% 36,800 14.4% 

Widowed/widowered 34,300 18.3 3,100 21.7 

Separated 58,300 12.7 † 9,600 12.8 

Divorced 233,300 14.5 30,900 15.2 

Never married 715,900 24.8 † 90,000 24.6 † 

Educationb 

Less than high school* 750,500 23.1% 94,900 22.7% 

High school graduate 273,700 19.6 † 36,500 19.4 

Some college 133,900 14.7 † 23,100 18.8 

College degree or more 43,600 11.0 † 12,700 6.3 † 

Citizenship 

U.S. citizen* 1,156,800 21.0% 127,500 24.2% 

Non-U.S. citizen 53,100 18.5 42,400 7.2 † 

Military service 

Yes* 95,200 15.6% 9,200 15.9% 

No 1,115,900 21.4 † 161,200 20.3 

Note: Percentages and counts exclude missing data. Excludes 3.0% of state prisoners and 1.7% of federal prisoners who were missing responses on 

frearm possession during the ofense. Details for counts may not sum to totals due to missing data. See appendix table 5 for standard errors. 

*Comparison group. 

†Diference with comparison group is signifcant at the 95% confdence level. 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. aExcludes persons of Hispanic/Latino origin, unless specifed. 

bBased on highest year of education completed. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 7 

In general, the likelihood of state and federal prisoners 

having possessed a frearm during their crime decreased 

with age. Firearm possession among state prisoners ages 

18 to 24 (32%) in 2016 was more common than among 

older prisoners. Federal prisoners ages 18 to 24 (30%) 

were more likely to possess a frearm than those age 35 

or older (16%, not shown in table). 

Te diference in frearm possession between 

U.S. citizens (21%) and non-citizens (18%) in state 

prisons in 2016 was not statistically signifcant. Among 

federal prisoners serving a sentence in 2016, frearm 

possession was more than three times as high among 

U.S. citizens (24%) as non-citizens (7%). 

Method, source, and process used to obtain 

the frearm 

Among prisoners who possessed a frearm when they 

committed the ofense for which they were imprisoned 

and who reported the source from which they obtained 

it, the most common source (43%) was of-the-street or 

the underground market (table 5). Another 7% of state 

and 5% of federal prisoners stole the frearm, and 7% 

of state and 8% of federal prisoners reported that they 

obtained the frearm at the location of the crime. 

TABLE 5 

Among state and federal prisoners who had possessed a frearm during the ofense for which they were serving 

time, sources and methods used to obtain a frearm, 2016 

Source and method to obtain frearm All prisoners State Federal 

Purchased/traded at retail source 10.1% 9.7% 13.7% 

Gun shop/store 7.5 7.2 9.6 

Pawn shop 1.6 1.5 2.2 

Flea market 0.4 : : 

Gun show 0.8 0.8 1.4 

Obtained from individual 25.3% 26.0% 20.5% 

Purchased/traded from family/friend 8.0 7.9 9.1 

Rented/borrowed from family/friend 6.5 7.0 3.0 

Gift/purchased for prisoner 10.8 11.2 8.4 

Of the street/underground marketa 43.2% 43.2% 42.9% 

Theftb 6.4% 6.6% 4.7% 

From burglary 1.5 1.5 : 

From retail source 0.2 : : 

From family/friend 1.6 1.8 : 

Unspecifed theftc 3.1 3.3 1.8 

Other source 17.4% 17.1% 20.1% 

Found at location of crime/victim 6.9 6.7 7.9 

Brought by someone else 4.6 4.7 3.6 

Otherd 5.9 5.6 8.5 

Multiple sourcese 2.5% 2.6% 2.0% 

Estimated number of prisoners who possessed a frearm, excluding prisoners who did not report sourcef 256,400 227,100 29,300 

Note: Prisoners were asked to report all sources and methods of obtaining any frearm they possessed during the ofense, so details may not sum to 

totals. Each source is included in this table when multiple sources were reported. See Methodology. Percentages exclude missing data. Excludes 10.3% 

of state prisoners and 14.1% of federal prisoners who possessed a frearm during the ofense and were missing responses on either source or method 

of obtaining the frearm. These prisoners were excluded either because they did not provide a valid response or they did not receive the questions 

due to providing an open-ended response to the previous question about type of weapon. See appendix table 6 for standard errors. 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. aIllegal sources of frearms that include markets for stolen goods, middlemen for stolen goods, criminals or criminal enterprises, or individuals or 

groups involved in sales of illegal drugs. 

bExcludes theft from victim. 

cIncludes theft where the source could not be identifed and theft other than from a burglary, retail location, family, or friend. 

dIncluded if no source specifed in the table was reported. Includes sources that did not ft into one of the existing categories, sources for which 

there were few responses such as bought online, or if there was not enough information to categorize the source. Examples of other sources include 

bought from an unknown source or obtained from a friend by an unknown method. 

eIncludes prisoners who reported multiple sources or methods that ft into more than one of the categories. Each reported source is included in the 

categories above. 

f

Includes prisoners who reported they carried or possessed a frearm and prisoners who reported a source or method. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 8 

Among prisoners who possessed a frearm during the 

ofense for which they were imprisoned, 7% of state 

and 10% of federal prisoners serving a sentence in 2016 

bought or traded for the frearm from a gun shop or 

gun store. About 1% bought or traded for the frearm 

at a gun show. About a quarter (26%) of state prisoners 

and about a ffh (21%) of federal prisoners obtained a 

frearm that they possessed during their ofense from 

an individual in a non-retail setting, such as a friend or 

family member. 

Prisoners who reported that they had purchased or 

traded a frearm at a retail source were asked if they 

had obtained the frearm from a licensed dealer or 

private seller. Among prisoners who had possessed a 

frearm during the ofense for which they were serving 

time, 8% of state and 11% of federal prisoners had 

purchased it from or traded with a licensed frearm 

dealer at a retail source (table 6). 

Prisoners who reported that they had purchased a 

frearm from a licensed frearm dealer at a retail source 

were further asked whether they bought the frearm 

under their own name and whether they knew a 

background check was conducted. Among those who 

had possessed a frearm during the ofense for which 

they were imprisoned, 7% of state and 8% of federal 

prisoners had purchased it under their own name 

from a licensed frearm dealer at a retail source, while 

approximately 1% of state and 2% of federal prisoners 

had purchased a frearm from a licensed dealer at a 

retail source but did not purchase it under their own 

name (not shown in table). 

Among all prisoners who purchased or traded a 

frearm from a licensed frearm dealer at a retail source 

(8.2%), the majority reported that a background check 

was conducted (6.7%). 

TABLE 6 

Among state and federal prisoners who had possessed 

a frearm during the ofense for which they were 

serving time, processes used to obtain a frearm, 2016 

All 

Process to obtain frearm prisoners State Federal 

Total 100% 100% 100% 

Not purchased or traded at retail

 source 89.9% 90.3% 86.3% 

Purchased or traded at retail sourcea 10.1% 9.7% 13.7% 

Licensed frearm dealer at retail 

 source 8.2 7.9 10.9 

Purchased under own nameb 6.9 6.8 8.4 

Background check was 

 reportedly conductedc 6.7 6.3 9.4 

Private seller at retail sourced 1.2 1.1 2.3 

Unknowne 0.7 0.8 : 

Estimated number of prisoners 

who possessed a frearm (with 

valid data)f 256,400 227,100 29,300 

Note: Percentages exclude missing data. Excludes 10.3% of state 

prisoners and 14.1% of federal prisoners who possessed a frearm 

during the ofense and were missing responses on source or method of 

obtaining the frearm. See appendix table 7 for standard errors. 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or 

coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. 

aIncludes prisoners who purchased or traded from a retail source, 

including a retail store, pawn shop, fea market, or gun show. bIncludes prisoners who purchased from a retail source, including a 

retail store, pawn shop, fea market, or gun show. Excludes prisoners 

who traded for a frearm from a retail source. 

cIncludes prisoners who purchased from a retail source, including a 

retail store, pawn shop, fea market, or gun show. Excludes prisoners 

who traded for a frearm from a retail source and prisoners who reported 

that a background check was not conducted or who were unaware as to 

whether one was conducted. 

dExcludes private sellers other than at a retail source. 

eIncludes prisoners who purchased or traded a frearm from a retail 

source and were missing responses on whether a frearm was purchased 

or traded from a licensed frearm dealer or a private seller at a retail 

source. 

f

Includes prisoners who reported they carried or possessed a frearm 

and prisoners who reported a source or method. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 9 

 

Use and source of frearms among all state and Tirteen percent of all state and federal prisoners 

federal prisoners used a frearm during the ofense for which they were 

serving time in 2016. About 1% of all state and federal prisoners used a 

frearm during the ofense that they obtained from 

a retail source (table 7). About 2% of prisoners 

possessed a frearm that they obtained from a retail 

source, including a retail store, pawn shop, fea market, 

or gun show. 

TABLE 7 

Firearm possession and use among all state and federal prisoners during the ofense for which they were serving 

time, by type of controlling ofense and source, 2016 

Percent of state and federal prisoners who— Percent of state and federal prisoners who— 

Controlling ofensea Possessed a frearmb Possessed a frearm that they obtained from a retail sourcec Used a frearmd Used a frearm that they obtained from a retail sourcee 

Total 20.8% 1.9% 12.8% 1.3% 

Violent* 29.3% 2.8% 23.1% 2.3% 

Homicidef 43.5 5.9 37.0 5.2 

Robbery 43.5 1.8 31.5 1.3 

Property 4.8% † 0.5% † 1.9% † : 

Drug 9.6% † 1.0% † 0.8% † 0.1% † 

Public order 23.6% † 1.7% † 5.5% † 0.6% † 

Note: Percentages exclude missing data. Excludes 2.8% of prisoners who were missing responses on frearm possession during the ofense and 1.2% of 

prisoners who had a valid response to frearm possession but were missing a controlling ofense. Retail source includes purchasing or trading the 

frearm from a retail store, pawn shop, fea market, or gun show. Use includes prisoners who showed a frearm to anyone, pointed a frearm at anyone, 

or discharged a frearm during the controlling ofense. See appendix table 8 for standard errors. 

*Comparison group. 

† Diference with comparison group is signifcant at the 95% confdence level across main categories, and no testing was done on subcategories 

(e.g., homicide). 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. aSee Methodology for more information on how controlling ofense was measured. bIncludes state and federal prisoners who reported a valid response to frearm possession. 

cIncludes state and federal prisoners who reported a valid response to frearm possession and source.

dIncludes state and federal prisoners who reported a valid response to frearm possession and use. 

eIncludes state and federal prisoners who reported a valid response to frearm possession, source, and use. 

f

Includes murder and both non-negligent and negligent manslaughter. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 10 

Methodology 

Survey of Prison Inmates 

Te fndings in this report are primarily based on data 

collected through the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates 

(SPI). Te SPI is a periodic, cross-sectional survey of 

the state and sentenced federal prison populations. 

Its primary objective is to produce national statistics 

of the state and sentenced federal prison populations 

across a variety of domains, including—but not limited 

to—demographic characteristics, current ofense and 

sentence, incident characteristics, frearm possession 

and sources, criminal history, socioeconomic 

characteristics, family background, drug and alcohol 

use and treatment, mental and physical health and 

treatment, and facility programs and rule violations. 

RTI International served as BJS’s data collection agent 

for the 2016 SPI under a cooperative agreement (award 

no. 2011-MU-MU-K070). From January through 

October 2016, data were collected through face-to-face 

interviews with prisoners using computer-assisted 

personal interviewing (CAPI). 

Prior iterations of the SPI were known as the 

Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional 

Facilities (SISFCF), which was renamed with the 

2016 implementation. Te frst survey of state 

prisoners was felded in 1974 and thereafer in 1979, 

1986, 1991, 1997, and 2004. Te frst survey of federal 

prisoners was felded in 1991, along with the survey 

of state prisoners, and since then both surveys have 

been conducted at the same time using the same 

questionnaire and administration. 

Te target population for the 2016 SPI was prisoners 

ages 18 and older who were held in a state prison 

or had a sentence to federal prison in the United 

States during 2016. Similar to prior iterations, the 

2016 survey was a stratifed two-stage sample design 

in which prisons were selected in the frst stage and 

prisoners within sampled facilities were selected in 

the second stage. Te SPI sample was selected from 

a universe of 2,001 unique prisons (1,808 state and 

193 federal) that were either enumerated in the 

2012 Census of State and Federal Adult Correctional 

Facilities or had opened between the completion of the 

census and July 2014 when the SPI sample of prisons 

was selected. A total of 364 prisons (306 state and 

58 federal) participated in the 2016 survey out of the 

385 selected (324 state and 61 federal) for interviewing. 

Te frst-stage response rate (i.e., the response rate 

among selected prisons) was 98.4% (98.1% among 

state prisons and 100% among federal prisons).3 

A total of 24,848 prisoners participated (20,064 state 

and 4,784 federal) in the 2016 SPI based on a sample 

of 37,058 prisoners (30,348 state and 6,710 federal). 

Te second-stage response rate (i.e., the response rate 

among selected prisoners) was 70.0% (69.3% among 

state prisoners and 72.8% among federal prisoners).4 

Responses from interviewed prisoners in the 2016 SPI 

were weighted to provide national estimates. Each 

interviewed prisoner was assigned an initial weight 

corresponding to the inverse of the probability of 

selection within each sampled prison. A series of 

adjustment factors were applied to the initial weight 

to minimize potential bias due to non-response and to 

provide national estimates. 

For more information on the 2016 SPI methodology, 

see Methodology: Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 

(NCJ 252210, BJS web, forthcoming). 

Standard errors and tests of signifcance 

When national estimates are derived from a sample, as 

with the SPI, caution must be used when comparing 

one estimate to another or when comparing estimates 

between years. Although one estimate may be larger 

than another, estimates based on a sample rather than 

a complete enumeration of the population have some 

degree of sampling error. Te sampling error of an 

estimate depends on several factors, including the size 

of the estimate, the number of completed interviews, 

and the intracluster correlation of the outcome within 

prisons. When the sampling error around an estimate 

is taken into account, estimates that appear diferent 

may not be statistically diferent. One measure of 

the sampling error associated with an estimate is the 

standard error. Te standard error may vary from one 

estimate to the next. Standard errors in this report were 

estimated using Taylor Series Linearization to account 

for the complex design of the SPI in producing the 

variance estimates. 

3A total of 15 prisons (12 state and 3 federal) that were sampled 

were deemed ineligible for the 2016 SPI. For more information, 

see Methodology: Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 (NCJ 252210, BJS web, 

forthcoming).

4Tere were 10,661 sampled prisoners who were eligible for the 

survey but did not participate. Another 1,549 sampled prisoners 

were deemed ineligible for the survey. For more information, see 

Methodology: Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 (NCJ 252210, BJS web, 

forthcoming). 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 11 

Readers may use the estimates and standard errors 

of the estimates provided in this report to generate 

a 95% confdence interval around the estimates as a 

measure of the margin of error. Typically, multiplying 

the standard error by 1.96 and then adding or 

subtracting the result from the estimate produces the 

confdence interval. Tis interval expresses the range 

of values with which the true population parameter is 

expected to fall 95% of the time if the same method is 

used to select diferent samples. 

For small samples and estimates close to 0%, the use 

of the standard error to construct the 95% confdence 

interval may not be reliable. Terefore, caution should 

be used when interpreting the estimates. Caution 

should also be used if constructing a 95% confdence 

interval, which would include zero in these cases, 

because the estimate may not be distinguishable 

from zero. 

Te standard errors have been used to compare 

estimates of frearm possession during the ofense, 

frearm use during the crime, and type of frearm 

possessed. Tey have also been used to compare 

frearm possession among selected groups of prisoners 

that have been defned by demographic characteristics 

and controlling ofense. To facilitate the analysis, rather 

than provide the detailed estimates for every standard 

error, diferences in the estimates for subgroups in 

the relevant tables in this report have been tested and 

notated for signifcance at the 95% level of confdence. 

Readers should reference the tables for testing on 

specifc fndings. Unless otherwise noted, fndings 

described in this report as higher, lower, or diferent 

passed a test at the 0.05 level of statistical signifcance 

(95% confdence level). 

Measurement of frearm possession and source 

Te 2016 SPI was restricted to prisoners age 18 or 

older at the time of the survey. Firearms analyses 

in this report were restricted to state and federal 

prisoners who were sentenced or state prisoners who 

were convicted but were awaiting sentencing. Tis 

report excludes prisoners who were awaiting trial 

(i.e., unconvicted) or a revocation hearing or who 

were held for other reasons. Unconvicted prisoners, 

such as those awaiting trial or being held for other 

reasons like safekeeping or a civil commitment, were 

excluded from this report because they were not asked 

questions about frearm possession to protect against 

self-incrimination. (See appendix 1, Questions related 

to frearms in the Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016.) Of 

the estimated 1,421,700 state and federal prisoners in 

2016, an estimated 287,400 were armed with a frearm, 

1,094,200 were not armed with a frearm, 23,800 did 

not know or refused to answer the question, and 

16,300 were not asked the question because they were 

not convicted or they stopped the interview before 

responding to the question.5 

To determine whether prisoners possessed a frearm 

at the time of the ofense for which they were serving 

time in prison, respondents were frst asked whether 

they had carried, possessed, or used a weapon when 

the controlling ofense occurred. Respondents could 

report that they carried, possessed, or used a frearm or 

another weapon such as a toy or BB gun, knife, other 

sharp object, or blunt object. Weapons other than 

frearms, including toy and BB guns, were excluded 

from this report. Multiple weapons and frearms could 

be reported by respondents. 

Of the respondents who were asked about possessing 

a frearm during the ofense for which they were 

imprisoned, about 3.0% of state and 1.7% of federal 

prisoners in 2016 were missing responses on frearm 

possession. Tese prisoners were excluded from the 

analyses in this report. All prisoners who reported they 

carried, possessed, or used a frearm during the ofense 

were asked whether they had obtained the frearm 

because they were planning to carry, possess, or use 

it during the ofense. Tey were also asked whether 

they showed, pointed, or fred the frearm during 

the ofense. Respondents who reported that they 

fred the frearm were also asked whether they shot 

anyone and, if so, whether anyone they shot had died. 

Of the respondents who possessed a frearm during 

the ofense, about 3.1% of state and 3.5% of federal 

prisoners in 2016 were missing responses on how they 

used the frearm. Tese prisoners were excluded from 

the analyses in fgure 1, tables 1 through 3, and table 7. 

To measure the type of frearm possessed by prisoners, 

respondents were asked whether they had carried, 

possessed, or used a handgun, rife, shotgun, or 

some other type of frearm during the ofense for 

which they were imprisoned. About 0.3% of state 

prisoners and 0.2% of federal prisoners in 2016 were 

missing responses on the type of frearm that they 

possessed. Tese prisoners, along with prisoners who 

were missing a response on frearm possession, were 

excluded from the analyses in table 3. 

5Te SPI sample was weighted to the state and federal prison 

populations that were eligible to be sampled in the survey. See 

Methodology: Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 (NCJ 252210, BJS web, 

forthcoming). 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 12 

To measure the source and method of obtaining the 

frearm possessed by prisoners during their crime, two 

separate questions were asked in the survey. Te frst 

question asked how the prisoners obtained the frearm, 

and multiple responses could be reported in the 

2016 SPI. Possible responses included stole it, rented 

it, borrowed it from or were holding it for somebody, 

traded something for it, bought it, someone bought it 

for them, someone gave it as a gif, found it or it was at 

the location where the ofense occurred, it was brought 

by someone else, or other. If respondents specifed 

an “other” method of obtaining the frearm, then the 

feld interviewers entered the respondents’ answers 

into a text feld. Tese responses originally reported 

as “other” were coded to one of the existing response 

categories if possible. 

Te second question asked where prisoners obtained 

the frearm, and multiple responses could be reported 

in the 2016 SPI. Respondents received this question if 

they reported that they stole, rented, borrowed from 

or were holding for somebody, traded something for, 

or bought the frearm. Possible responses included 

gun shop or gun store; pawn shop; fea market; gun 

show; from a victim, family member, or friend; from a 

fence (a middleman for stolen goods) or underground 

market; of the street or from a drug dealer; in a 

burglary; online or the internet; or other. Fewer than 

1% of state and federal prisoners reported obtaining a 

frearm online. Tese responses were included in table 

5 in the “other” category due to the small number of 

sample cases. If respondents specifed an “other” source 

of obtaining a frearm, then the feld interviewers 

entered the respondents’ answers into a text feld. 

Responses originally reported as “other” were coded to 

one of the existing response categories if possible. 

Te responses from these two questions were used to 

create the source and method categories in fgure 1 

and tables 5 through 7. Approximately 10.3% of state 

and 14.1% of federal prisoners in 2016 who possessed 

a frearm during the ofense for which they were 

serving a sentence were missing responses on source or 

method of obtaining the frearm. Tese prisoners were 

excluded from fgure 1 and tables 5 through 7. 

Prisoners who reported purchasing or trading a 

frearm from a retail source (gun shop or gun store, 

pawn shop, fea market, or gun show) were asked if 

they purchased or traded it from a licensed frearm 

dealer or a private seller. Prisoners who reported 

they purchased a frearm from a retail source were 

further asked whether they bought the frearm under 

their own name and whether the seller did a frearm 

purchase background check before selling them the 

frearm. About 1% of the respondents who possessed a 

frearm during the ofense purchased or traded it from 

a retail source and were missing responses on whether 

they bought the frearm from a licensed dealer or 

private seller. About 1% of respondents who possessed 

a frearm during the ofense purchased it from a 

retail source and were missing responses on whether 

the frearm was purchased under their own name or 

whether a background check was conducted. 

Measurement of controlling ofense 

Te way controlling ofense was measured through 

the 2016 SPI, and refected in this report, varies 

by sentence status and the number of ofenses 

of prisoners: 

 For sentenced prisoners and those awaiting 

sentencing with one ofense, that ofense is the 

controlling ofense. 

 For sentenced prisoners with multiple ofenses and 

sentences, the controlling ofense is the one with the 

longest sentence. 

 For sentenced prisoners with multiple ofenses and 

one sentence and those awaiting sentencing with 

multiple ofenses, the controlling ofense is the most 

serious ofense. For this report, violent ofenses are 

considered most serious, followed by property, drug, 

public-order, and all other ofenses. 

For prisoners who were convicted but awaiting 

sentencing, the controlling ofense is the most 

serious ofense. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 13 

Appendix 1. Questions related to frearms in the Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 

This appendix includes the questions from the 2016 SPI 

that were used to measure the frearms' constructs in this 

report. Text that appears in capital letters in the questions 

was not read out loud to respondents. That text refects 

programming instructions for the CAPI instrument, 

instructions to feld interviewers who conducted the 

interviews, or response options that were not read 

out loud to respondents but were coded by the feld 

interviewers during the interviews. 

Questions 

CJ39. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED BEING SENTENCED 

IN CJ1 OR CJ3 OR IF RESPONDENT REPORTED HE/SHE WAS 

AWAITING SENTENCING IN CJH2A.) Did you carry, possess, 

or use a weapon when the (INSERT CONTROLLING 

OFFENSE) occurred? 

 YES 

 NO (SKIP TO NEXT SECTION) 

CJH1. How many weapons did you carry, possess, or use 

when the (INSERT CONTROLLING OFFENSE) occurred? 

 ONE 

 TWO OR MORE 

CJH2. What (INSERT “kind of weapon was it?” OR “kinds of 

weapons were they?”) CHECK ALL THAT APPLY. 

 FIREARM 

 TOY OR BB GUN (INCLUDE FAKE OR REPLICA GUNS) 

 KNIFE 

 OTHER SHARP OBJECT (SCISSORS, ICE PICK, AX, ETC.) 

 BLUNT OBJECT (ROCK, CLUB, BLACKJACK, ETC.) 

 ANOTHER WEAPON 

| What kinds of weapons were they? 

— INTERVIEWER: RECORD RESPONSE VERBATIM. 

CJH3. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED “FIREARM” IN 

CJH2.) How many frearms did you carry, possess, or use 

when the (INSERT CONTROLLING OFFENSE) occurred? 

 ENTER NUMBER OF FIREARMS 

CJH4. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED “FIREARM” IN 

CJH2.) What (INSERT “type of frearm was it?” OR “types of 

frearms were they?”) CHECK ALL THAT APPLY. 

 A HANDGUN 

 A RIFLE 

 A SHOTGUN 

 SOME OTHER TYPE OF FIREARM 

| What type of frearm? 

— INTERVIEWER: RECORD RESPONSE VERBATIM. 

CJH5. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED “FIREARM” IN 

CJH2.) How did you obtain the (INSERT “frearm” OR 

“frearms”) that you carried, possessed, or used during the 

(INSERT CONTROLLING OFFENSE)? Any others? CHECK ALL 

THAT APPLY. 

 STOLE IT (GO TO CJH6) 

 RENTED IT (GO TO CJH6) 

 BORROWED FROM OR WAS HOLDING FOR SOMEBODY 

(GO TO CJH6) 

 TRADED SOMETHING FOR IT (GO TO CJH6) 

 BOUGHT IT (GO TO CJH6) 

 SOMEONE BOUGHT IT FOR ME (GO TO CJH7) 

 SOMEONE GAVE IT TO ME AS A GIFT (GO TO CJH9) 

 FOUND IT/WAS AT LOCATION WHERE OFFENSE 

OCCURRED (GO TO CJH9) 

 WAS BROUGHT BY SOMEONE ELSE (GO TO CJH9) 

 OTHER 

| How did you obtain the frearm that you carried, 

possessed, or used during the ofense? 

— INTERVIEWER: RECORD RESPONSE VERBATIM. 

CJH6. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED “FIREARM” IN CJH2 

AND REPORTED IN CJH5 HE/SHE “STOLE IT”, “RENTED IT”, 

“BORROWED FROM OR WAS HOLDING FOR SOMEBODY”, 

“TRADED SOMETHING FOR IT”, OR “BOUGHT IT”.) Where 

did you obtain the (INSERT TYPE OF FIREARM REPORTED 

IN CJH4)? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY. 

 GUN SHOP OR GUN STORE (GO TO CJH6A) 

 PAWN SHOP (GO TO CJH6A) 

 FLEA MARKET (GO TO CJH6A) 

 GUN SHOW (GO TO CJH6A) 

 FROM THE VICTIM(S) (GO TO CJH9) 

 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER (GO TO CJH9) 

 FROM A FRIEND (GO TO CJH9) 

 FROM A FENCE/BLACK MARKET SOURCE (GO TO CJH9) 

 OFF THE STREET/FROM A DRUG DEALER (GO TO CJH9) 

 IN A BURGLARY (GO TO CJH9) 

 ONLINE/THE INTERNET (GO TO CJH9) 

 OTHER 

| Where did you obtain the (INSERT TYPE OF 

FIREARM REPORTED IN CJH4)? 

— INTERVIEWER: RECORD RESPONSE VERBATIM. 

Continued on next page 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 14 

Appendix 1. Questions related to frearms in the Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 (continued) 

CJH6a. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED IN CJH6 THAT 

THE FIREARM WAS FROM A “GUN SHOP OR GUN STORE”, 

“PAWN SHOP”, “FLEA MARKET”, OR “GUN SHOW”.) When 

you obtained the (INSERT TYPE OF FIREARM REPORTED 

IN CJH4) was it from a licensed frearm dealer or a 

private seller? 

 LICENSED FIREARM DEALER 

 PRIVATE SELLER 

CJH6b. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED IN CJH5 THAT 

HE/SHE “BOUGHT IT” AND IN CJH6 REPORTED THAT THE 

FIREARM WAS FROM A “GUN SHOP OR GUN STORE”, “PAWN 

SHOP”, “FLEA MARKET”, OR “GUN SHOW”.) Did you buy the 

(INSERT TYPE OF FIREARM REPORTED IN CJH4) under your 

own name? 

 YES 

 NO 

 NO PAPERWORK WAS REQUIRED 

CJH6c. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED IN CJH5 THAT 

HE/SHE “BOUGHT IT” AND REPORTED IN CJH6 THAT THE 

FIREARM WAS FROM A “GUN SHOP OR GUN STORE”, “PAWN 

SHOP”, “FLEA MARKET”, OR “GUN SHOW”.) Did the seller do 

a frearm purchase background check before selling you 

the gun? 

 YES 

 NO 

CJH6d. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED IN CJH5 THAT 

HE/SHE “BOUGHT IT” AND REPORTED IN CJH6 THAT THE 

FIREARM WAS FROM A “GUN SHOP OR GUN STORE”, “PAWN 

SHOP”, “FLEA MARKET”, OR “GUN SHOW”.) Did you buy the 

(INSERT TYPE OF FIREARM REPORTED IN CJH4) directly or 

did someone else buy it for you? 

 INMATE BOUGHT 

 SOMEONE ELSE BOUGHT 

CJH7. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED “SOMEONE ELSE 

BOUGHT IT FOR ME” IN CJH5.) Where did that person 

obtain the (INSERT TYPE OF FIREARM REPORTED IN CJH4)? 

 GUN SHOP OR GUN STORE 

 PAWN SHOP 

 FLEA MARKET 

 GUN SHOW 

 FROM THE VICTIM(S) 

 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER 

 FROM A FRIEND 

 FROM A FENCE/BLACK MARKET SOURCE 

 OFF THE STREET/FROM A DRUG DEALER 

 IN A BURGLARY 

 ONLINE/THE INTERNET 

 OTHER 

| Where did that person obtain the (INSERT TYPE OF 

FIREARM REPORTED IN CJH4)? 

— INTERVIEWER: RECORD RESPONSE VERBATIM. 

CJH8. (ASK IF RESPONDENT REPORTED “SOMEONE ELSE 

BOUGHT IT FOR ME” IN CJH5.) Why did someone else 

obtain the (INSERT TYPE OF FIREARM REPORTED IN CJH4) 

for you? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY. 

 COULD NOT TRAVEL TO WHERE THE SELLER WAS 

 NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE TOO YOUNG 

 NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE OF CRIMINAL RECORD 

 THEY COULD GET IT MORE QUICKLY OR EASILY 

 DID NOT WANT TO BE LINKED TO FIREARM PURCHASE 

 OTHER 

| Why did someone else obtain the (INSERT TYPE 

OF FIREARM REPORTED IN CJH4) for you? 

— INTERVIEWER: RECORD RESPONSE VERBATIM. 

CJH9. Did you get the (INSERT TYPE OF FIREARM 

REPORTED IN CJH4) because you were planning 

to carry, possess, or use it during the (INSERT 

CONTROLLING OFFENSE)? 

 YES 

 NO 

CJH10. Did you show or point (INSERT “the frearm” 

OR “any of the frearms”) at anyone during the (INSERT 

CONTROLLING OFFENSE)? 

 YES 

 NO 

CJH11. Did you fre (INSERT “the frearm” OR “any of the 

frearms”) during the (INSERT CONTROLLING OFFENSE)? 

 YES 

 NO (SKIP TO NEXT SECTION) 

CJH12. Did you shoot anyone? 

 YES 

 NO (SKIP TO NEXT SECTION) 

CJH13. Did anyone you shot die? 

 YES 

 NO 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 15 

APPENDIX TABLE 1 

Standard errors for fgure 1: Percent of all state and 

federal inmates who had possessed or used a frearm 

during their ofense, 2016 

Characteristic Possessed Used 

Any gun 0.64% 0.51% 

Handgun 0.59 0.46 

Gun they obtained from retail source 0.13 0.12 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 

APPENDIX TABLE 2 

Standard errors for table 1: Firearm possession and use among state and federal prisoners during the ofense for 

which they were serving time, by type of controlling ofense, 2016 

Percent of state prisoners who— Percent of federal prisoners who— Estimated Estimated 

number of Possessed number of Possessed 

Controlling ofense state prisoners a frearm Used a frearm federal prisoners a frearm Used a frearm 

Total 31,100 0.69% 0.57% 8,300 1.76% 0.71% 

Violent 22,400 0.90% 0.73% 2,700 2.87% 2.83% 

Homicide 10,900 1.16 1.12 700 6.53 4.75 

Rape/sexual assault 9,900 0.36 0.22 600 : : 

Robbery 6,700 1.32 1.28 1,600 3.73 3.80 

Assault 5,900 1.34 1.24 700 5.15 4.52 

Other violent 2,100 2.03 1.73 300 8.42 : 

Property 7,800 0.53% 0.32% 2,000 0.83% : 

Burglary 3,900 0.80 0.54 100 : : 

Other property 5,800 0.58 0.33 2,000 0.81 : 

Drug 11,400 0.68% 0.20% 5,400 0.87% 0.21% 

Trafcking 9,700 0.83 0.24 5,000 0.88 0.21 

Possession 3,400 1.06 : 600 : : 

Other/unspecifed drug 700 : : 600 : : 

Public order 8,400 1.35% 0.58% 3,600 3.55% 0.88% 

Weapons 3,000 2.02 1.70 2,700 2.02 1.60 

Other public order 7,200 0.70 0.42 3,800 0.89 : 

Other 600 : : 300 : : 

Unknown 1,400 1.61% : 400 : : 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 16 

APPENDIX TABLE 3 

Standard errors for table 2: Among state and federal prisoners who possessed a frearm during the ofense for 

which they were serving time, extent of frearm use, 2016 

State prisoners Federal prisoners 

State Federal Violent Non-violent Violent Non-violent 

Firearm use prisoners prisoners ofense ofense ofense ofense 

Obtained frearm because planned to use

in controlling ofense 

Yes 0.81% 1.57% 0.81% 2.00% 4.01% 1.88% 

No 0.81 1.57 0.81 2.00 4.01 1.88 

Used frearm 1.11% 1.92% 0.85% 1.83% 3.86% 1.57% 

Discharged 1.34% 1.17% 1.36% 1.47% 3.58% 1.14% 

Killed victim 1.28 0.75 1.40 : 2.49 : 

Injured/shot victim but did not kill victim 0.73 0.55 0.86 0.89 : : 

Discharged frearm but did not shoot anyone 0.47 0.98 0.51 1.17 2.16 1.02 

Did not discharge 0.97% 1.60% 1.21% 1.24% 4.99% 0.87% 

Did not use frearm 1.11% 1.92% 0.85% 1.83% 3.86% 1.57% 

Estimated number of prisoners who possessed 

a frearm (with valid data) 10,100 3,100 9,200 3,400 1,200 2,200 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 

APPENDIX TABLE 4 

Standard errors for table 3: Firearm possession and use among state and federal prisoners during the ofense for 

which they were serving time, by type of frearm, 2016 

Percent of prisoners who possessed a frearm Percent of prisoners who used a frearm 

Type of frearm All prisoners State Federal All prisoners State Federal 

Firearm 0.64 0.69% 1.76% 0.51 0.57% 0.71% 

Handgun 0.59 0.64 1.63 0.46 0.51 0.67 

Rife 0.10 0.10 0.28 0.07 0.08 0.13 

Shotgun 0.11 0.12 0.22 0.09 0.10 0.09 

No frearm 0.64 0.69 1.76 0.51 0.57 0.71 

Estimated number of 

prisoners (with valid data) 32,100 31,000 8,300 32,100 31,000 8,300 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 17 

APPENDIX TABLE 5 

Standard errors for table 4: Firearm possession among state and federal prisoners during the ofense for which 

they were serving time, by demographic characteristics, 2016 

State Federal 

Percent of prisoners who Percent of prisoners who Number of possessed a frearm Number of possessed a frearm Demographic characteristic prisoners during the ofense prisoners during the ofense 

Sex 

Male 30,700 0.74% 8,200 1.88% 

Female 5,200 0.96 1,300 1.00 

Race/Hispanic origin 

White 16,500 0.64% 3,900 2.28% 

Black 16,200 0.91 5,600 2.02 

Hispanic 12,400 1.26 8,000 1.70 

American Indian/Alaska Native 2,500 2.94 800 5.18 

Asian/Native Hawaiian/Other Pacifc Islander 1,600 4.69 600 : 

Two or more races 5,000 1.19 1,200 3.50 

Age at time of survey 

18–24 8,200 1.71% 1,000 5.69% 

25–34 13,700 1.00 3,200 2.57 

35–44 9,500 0.94 3,400 1.68 

45–54 9,100 0.76 2,400 1.68 

55 or older 7,700 1.02 2,200 2.02 

Marital status 

Married 6,300 1.06% 3,100 1.77% 

Widowed/widowered 2,000 2.10 400 5.93 

Separated 2,700 1.34 1,200 3.11 

Divorced 10,600 0.97 2,200 1.58 

Never married 20,100 0.81 5,800 2.10 

Education 

Less than high school 21,500 0.83% 6,000 2.18% 

High school graduate 8,500 0.88 2,100 1.69 

Some college 5,000 0.96 2,000 2.08 

College degree or more 2,500 1.43 2,000 1.83 

Citizenship 

U.S. citizen 30,000 0.69% 10,700 1.87% 

Non-U.S. citizen 3,700 2.04 9,500 1.09 

Military service 

Yes 4,800 1.07% 1,200 2.98% 

No 28,700 0.72 8,200 1.80 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 18 

APPENDIX TABLE 6 

Standard errors for table 5: Among state and federal prisoners who had possessed a frearm during the ofense for 

which they were serving time, sources and methods used to obtain a frearm, 2016 

Source and method to obtain frearm All prisoners State Federal 

Purchased/traded at retail source 0.66% 0.70% 2.07% 

Gun shop/store 0.54 0.56 1.87 

Pawn shop 0.27 0.29 0.62 

Flea market 0.13 : : 

Gun show 0.16 0.17 0.44 

Obtained from individual 0.87% 0.94% 2.02% 

Purchased/traded from family/friend 0.59 0.65 1.27 

Rented/borrowed from family/friend 0.47 0.52 0.54 

Gift/purchased for prisoner 0.69 0.75 1.40 

Of the street/underground market 1.07% 1.13% 3.26% 

Theft 0.48% 0.53% 0.79% 

From burglary 0.22 0.24 : 

From retail source 0.07 : : 

From family/friend 0.26 0.29 : 

Unspecifed theft 0.31 0.34 0.53 

Other source 0.78% 0.85% 1.80% 

Found at location of crime/victim 0.50 0.53 1.31 

Brought by someone else 0.45 0.49 0.87 

Other 0.51 0.55 1.40 

Multiple sources 0.27% 0.29% 0.50% 

Estimated number of prisoners who possessed a frearm, excluding prisoners who did not report source 9,900 9,500 2,800 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 

APPENDIX TABLE 7 

Standard errors for table 6: Among state and federal 

prisoners who had possessed a frearm during the 

ofense for which they were serving time, processes 

used to obtain a frearm, 2016 

All 

Process to obtain frearm prisoners State Federal 

Not purchased or traded at retail

 source 0.66% 0.70% 2.07% 

Purchased or traded at retail source 0.66% 0.70% 2.07% 

Licensed frearm dealer at retail

 source 0.60 0.63 2.08 

Purchased under own name 0.54 0.57 1.89 

Backgroundcheck was

 reportedly conducted 0.54 0.56 1.93 

Private seller at retail source 0.19 0.20 0.63 

Unknown 0.21 0.24 : 

Estimated number of prisoners

who possessed a frearm (with 

valid data) 9,900 9,500 2,800 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or 

coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
SOURCE AND USE OF FIREARMS INVOLVED IN CRIMES: SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES, 2016 | JANUARY 2019 19 

APPENDIX TABLE 8 

Standard errors for table 7: Firearm possession and use among all state and federal prisoners during the ofense for 

which they were serving time, by type of controlling ofense and source, 2016 

Percent of state and federal prisoners who— Percent of state and federal prisoners who— 

Controlling ofense Possessed a frearm Possessed a frearm that they obtained from a retail source Used a frearm Used a frearm that they obtained from a retail source 

Total 0.64% 0.13% 0.51% 0.12% 

Violent 0.88% 0.23% 0.72% 0.21% 

Homicide 1.14 0.63 1.10 0.62 

Robbery 1.25 0.29 1.22 0.25 

Property 0.50% 0.15% 0.30% : 

Drug 0.52% 0.17% 0.15% 0.04% 

Public order 1.35% 0.27% 0.48% 0.17% 

: Not calculated. Too few cases to provide a reliable estimate, or coefcient of variation is greater than 50%. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. 
Te Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice is the principal 

federal agency responsible for measuring crime, criminal victimization, 

criminal ofenders, victims of crime, correlates of crime, and the operation of 

criminal and civil justice systems at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels. 

BJS collects, analyzes, and disseminates reliable statistics on crime and justice 

systems in the United States, supports improvements to state and local criminal 

justice information systems, and participates with national and international 

organizations to develop and recommend national standards for justice statistics. 

Jefrey H. Anderson is the director. 

Tis report was written by Mariel Alper and Lauren Glaze of BJS. Mariel Alper 

conducted statistical analyses. Marcus Berzofsky and John Bunker of RTI 

International provided statistical review. Danielle Kaeble, Laura Maruschak, 

Todd Minton, and Stephanie Mueller verifed the report. Lauren Glaze was the 

BJS project manager for the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates. 

Eric Hendrixson and Jill Tomas edited the report. Tina Dorsey and Morgan 

Young produced the report. 

January 2019, NCJ 251776 

NCJ251776

Ofce of Justice Programs 

Building Solutions • Supporting Communities • Advancing Justice 

www.ojp.gov