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Who’s in Prison?Who’s in Prison?The Changing Demographics of The Changing Demographics of

IncarcerationIncarceration

Amanda BaileyAmanda Bailey

Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaPublic Policy Institute of California

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Why Study Prisoners?Why Study Prisoners?

Prison population growing 3 times faster than the Prison population growing 3 times faster than the state populationstate population

Corrections expenditures increasingCorrections expenditures increasing

– Per capita: $109 in 1990; $194 in 2006Per capita: $109 in 1990; $194 in 2006

– $8.7 billion in 2006-07 budget$8.7 billion in 2006-07 budget

Recent attention to the systemRecent attention to the system

– Federal interventionsFederal interventions

– Ballot measuresBallot measures

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Our ContributionOur Contribution

Combines administrative and survey data to Combines administrative and survey data to describe the adult prison populationdescribe the adult prison population

Provides a demographic profile of who’s in Provides a demographic profile of who’s in California prisonsCalifornia prisons

Examines effects of legislation on prison populationExamines effects of legislation on prison population

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OutlineOutline

Demographic profile Demographic profile

Effects of policy interventionsEffects of policy interventions

Summary and policy considerationsSummary and policy considerations

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Prison Population Has Grown Three Times Prison Population Has Grown Three Times as Rapidly as General Populationas Rapidly as General Population

California

Population

Prison

Population

167,698

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1990 1995 2000 2005

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The Prison Population Undergoes The Prison Population Undergoes Tremendous TurnoverTremendous Turnover

-150,000

-100,000

-50,000

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

19901991

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

2002

Admissions

Releases

Net Change

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Men Constitute 93% of theMen Constitute 93% of theState’s Adult Prison PopulationState’s Adult Prison Population

Men93%

Women7%

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Imprisonment Affects Many FamiliesImprisonment Affects Many Families

FemaleFemale PrisonersPrisoners

Male Male PrisonersPrisoners

Have minor child Have minor child 64%64% 58%58%

Lived with child before Lived with child before incarcerationincarceration 33%33% 23%23%

Immediate family member Immediate family member has been incarceratedhas been incarcerated 58%58% 42%42%

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Young and Middle-Aged Adults are Young and Middle-Aged Adults are Overrepresented among PrisonersOverrepresented among Prisoners

Age Distribution of Prisoners & Adults, 2005

%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

<30 30-49 50+

Prisoners

California Adults

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Latinos Constitute the Largest Race/Ethnic Latinos Constitute the Largest Race/Ethnic Group among Male Prisoners…Group among Male Prisoners…

05

101520253035404550

Latino AfricanAmerican

White Other

Men PrisonersAdult Men

%

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……But Incarceration Rates are Far Higher But Incarceration Rates are Far Higher for African-American Menfor African-American Men

1,141

5,125

770474

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

Latino AfricanAmerican

White Other

Pe

r 1

00

,00

0 a

du

lt m

en

Age-standardized incarceration rates per 100,000 men, 2005

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One in Six Prisoners WasOne in Six Prisoners Was Born Outside the U.S. Born Outside the U.S.

Foreign-born make up 17% of prison population;Foreign-born make up 17% of prison population; 35% of California adult population 35% of California adult population

Most foreign-born prisoners are from Most foreign-born prisoners are from Mexico (60%), El Salvador (4%), or Vietnam (3%)Mexico (60%), El Salvador (4%), or Vietnam (3%)

Lower incarceration rates among foreign-born Lower incarceration rates among foreign-born

– Foreign-born: 297 per 100,000Foreign-born: 297 per 100,000

– Native-born: 813 per 100,000Native-born: 813 per 100,000

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Most Prisoners Have Most Prisoners Have Little Formal EducationLittle Formal Education

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Latina/o AfricanAmerican

White Other

BA+

Some college

GED in prison

High school grad

< HS

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Inland and Poorer Counties Have Higher Inland and Poorer Counties Have Higher Incarceration RatesIncarceration Rates

Inyo

Kern

San Bernardino

Fresno

Siskiyou

Tulare

Riverside

Lassen

Modoc

Shasta

Mono

Trinity

Imperial

Humboldt

San Diego

TehamaPlumas

Monterey

ButteMendocino

Los Angeles

Lake

Merced

Yolo

Kings

Placer

Tuolumne

Ventura

Glenn

El Dorado

Santa Barbara

Sierra

Madera

San Luis Obispo

Sonoma

Colusa

MariposaStanislaus

Napa

NevadaYuba

San Benito

Alpine

Del Norte

San Joaquin

Solano

Santa Clara

Sutter

Calaveras

Orange

Marin

Alameda

SacramentoAmador

Contra Costa

San Mateo

Santa Cruz

San Francisco

Incarceration Rates (per 100,000 adults)< 400400 - 699700 - 9991,000+

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Inland Areas’ Contribution RisingInland Areas’ Contribution Rising

Adult Population Adult Population Growth RateGrowth Rate

1990-20051990-2005

Prison Population Prison Population Growth Rate Growth Rate

1990-20051990-2005

Inland EmpireInland Empire 48%48% 221%221%

South CoastSouth Coast 26%26% 116%116%

San Joaquin San Joaquin ValleyValley 39%39% 87%87%

Los Angeles Los Angeles CountyCounty 14%14% 45%45%

Bay AreaBay Area 19%19% 24%24%

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OutlineOutline

Demographic profile Demographic profile

Effects of policy interventionsEffects of policy interventions

Summary and policy considerationsSummary and policy considerations

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Legislation that Affects Prison PopulationLegislation that Affects Prison Population

Three Strikes and You’re Out (1994)Three Strikes and You’re Out (1994)

– 25 years to life for third strike25 years to life for third strike

– Double sentence for second strikeDouble sentence for second strike

– Enhancement forEnhancement for any any felony or serious offense felony or serious offense

Truth in Sentencing (1994)Truth in Sentencing (1994)

– Violent offenders serve 85% of sentenceViolent offenders serve 85% of sentence

Prop. 36, a.k.a. Substance Abuse and Crime Prop. 36, a.k.a. Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000 Prevention Act of 2000

– Drug treatment instead of incarcerationDrug treatment instead of incarceration

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A Fifth of Prisoners are “Permanent” A Fifth of Prisoners are “Permanent” Residents of the SystemResidents of the System

DeterminateSentence: 59%2nd Striker: 21%

3rd Striker: 5%

Life: 12%

Life w/o Parole: 2%

Death Row: 0.4%

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Prisoners Serving Time for Violent Crimes Prisoners Serving Time for Violent Crimes Increasing in Share, Absolute NumbersIncreasing in Share, Absolute Numbers

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Violent Crimes

Property Crimes

Drug Crimes

Other Crimes

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Women

29%

36%

30%

5%

Men

52%

20%

20%

8%

Violent Crimes

Property Crimes

Drug Crimes

Other Crimes

Prop. 36 Provisions Could Prop. 36 Provisions Could Affect Women MoreAffect Women More

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0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

1990 1995 2000 2005

Death Row

Life w/o Parole

Lifer

3rd Striker2nd Striker

DeterminateSentence

Emergence of “Strikers” Shifts Prison Emergence of “Strikers” Shifts Prison Population Into Longer SentencesPopulation Into Longer Sentences

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Prison Population is AgingPrison Population is Aging

19901990 19951995 20002000 20052005

Prison PopulationPrison Population

<25<25 20%20% 17%17% 15%15% 14%14%

50+50+ 4%4% 5%5% 8%8% 11%11%

Incarceration Incarceration Rates per 100,000 Rates per 100,000

<25<25 550550 722722 708708 646646

50+50+ 5959 8989 147147 185185

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Admission Rates Increasing Admission Rates Increasing Among Older Age GroupsAmong Older Age Groups

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

per

100

,000

in

po

pu

lati

on

<25

25-39

40-49

50+

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OutlineOutline

Demographic profile Demographic profile

Effects of policy interventionsEffects of policy interventions

Summary and policy considerationsSummary and policy considerations

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Finding: High Turnover RatesFinding: High Turnover Rates

More than 120,000 prisoners leave prisons More than 120,000 prisoners leave prisons each year each year

Policy considerationsPolicy considerations

– Higher turnover means high administrative Higher turnover means high administrative costscosts

– Many low-skilled people returning to Many low-skilled people returning to communitiescommunities

– Communicable and infectious diseases are Communicable and infectious diseases are brought back to communitiesbrought back to communities

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Finding: Many Families are AffectedFinding: Many Families are Affected

Most prisoners are parents of a minor childMost prisoners are parents of a minor child

Policy considerationsPolicy considerations

– Who is caring for all these inmates’ children Who is caring for all these inmates’ children while they are imprisoned for longer terms? while they are imprisoned for longer terms?

– Healthy, successful re-entry improves ability Healthy, successful re-entry improves ability to care for familyto care for family

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Finding: Prison Population Is AgingFinding: Prison Population Is Aging

Longer sentences are being imposed and more time Longer sentences are being imposed and more time is being served is being served

Incarceration and admissions are increasing among Incarceration and admissions are increasing among older populationolder population

Policy considerations:Policy considerations:

– Cost of incarcerating older prisoners is 2 to 3 Cost of incarcerating older prisoners is 2 to 3 times higher than for other inmatestimes higher than for other inmates

– Prison healthcare system under federal Prison healthcare system under federal receivershipreceivership

– Cutbacks to other rehabilitation programsCutbacks to other rehabilitation programs

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Thank youThank you

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