Beck said that if the current growth continues, the total prison population may reach 2 million by the end of next year. Viewing the latest prison figures in light of the current US population, one of every 147 residents was an inmate in an adult jail or prison last year. In Russia, one of every 146 people was behind bars in 1998, the last year for which figures were available, according to The Sentencing Project, a private group that advocates alternatives to prison. The proportion of prisoners has likely decreased because Russia had planned to release as many as 300,000 inmates by the end of 2000 to reduce chronic prison overcrowding. The US prison population has grown for more than a quarter-century, helped by increased drug prosecutions and tougher policies against all offenders.
Prisons usually hold convicted criminals sentenced to terms longer than one year.
Crime rates have been declining since 1993, but longer sentences, especially for drug crimes during the 1980s and for violent crimes in the 1990s, have driven prison populations, according to the report. More mandatory minimum sentences and less generous parole have also contributed to the increase. Among black men in their 20s or early 30s, about 11 percent were in prison or jail. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc.