Number of US prisoners hits all-time high (again)

[High Plains]

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT NOON EDT Bureau of Justice Statistics
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2007 Contact: Stu Smith 202-307-0784
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs After hours: 301-983-9354

LARGEST INCREASE IN PRISON AND JAIL INMATE POPULATIONS
SINCE MIDYEAR 2000

More Than 2.24 Million Incarcerated as of June 30, 2006

WASHINGTON -- During the 12 months that ended June 30, 2006, the
nation.s prison and jail populations increased by 62,037 inmates (up 2.8
percent), to total 2,245,189 inmates, the Justice Department.s Bureau of
Justice Statistics (BJS) reported today. State and federal inmates
accounted for 70 percent of the increase. At midyear 2006, two-thirds of
the nation.s incarcerated population was in custody in a state or federal
prison (1,479,179), and the other one-third was held in local jails
(766,010).

The number of prisoners under the legal jurisdiction of state
or federal correctional authorities . some of whom were held in local
jails . increased by 42,942 prisoners (2.8 percent) during the 12 months
ending June 30, 2006, to reach 1,556,518 prisoners. In absolute number
and percentage change, the increase in prisoners under state or federal
jurisdiction was the largest since the 12 months ending on June 30, 2000.

The growth in state prisoners was due largely to a rise in
prison admissions, up 17.2 percent between 2000 and 2005. During the same
period, releases from state prisons increased at a slower rate, up 15.5
percent. New court commitments totaled 421,426 during 2005, a 20.3
percent increase since 2000, and parole violators returned to prison
totaled 232,229, up 14.1 percent.

Forty-two states and the federal system reported an increase
in their prison populations during the 12 months ending June 30, 2006.
Idaho had the largest percentage increase (up 13.7 percent), followed by
Alaska (up 9.4 percent) and Vermont (up 8.3 percent). Eight states
reported declines in their prison populations, led by Missouri (down 2.9
percent), Louisiana and Maine (both down 1.8 percent).

The number of federal prisoners increased by 3.6 percent to
reach 191,080 prisoners. At midyear 006 the federal system had
jurisdiction over more prisoners than did any single state, including
California and Texas, which had jurisdiction over 175,115 and 172,889
prisoners, respectively.

The number of local jail inmates increased by 2.5 percent
during the year, the smallest annual percent change since 2001. Since
2000, the number of unconvicted inmates held in local jails has been
increasing. As of June 30, 2006, 62 percent of inmates held in local
jails were awaiting court action on their current charge, up from 56
percent in 2000.

During the year, local jail officials added slightly more beds
(21,862) than inmates (18,481). At midyear 2006, local jail facilities
operated at about 94 percent of their rated capacity. On December 31,
2005, state prison systems were between 1 percent below and 14 percent
above capacity. The federal prison system was operating at 34 percent
above capacity.

During the 12 months ending on June 30, 2006, the number of
state and federal prisoners housed in private facilities increased by 10.1
percent to reach 111,975 prisoners (7.2 percent of all prisoners).

Black men comprised 37 percent of all inmates held in custody
in the nation.s prison and jails on June 30, 2006. About 4.8 percent of
all black males in the general population were in prison or jail, compared
to 1.9 percent of Hispanic males and 0.7 percent of white males. Among
black men age 25 to 34 years, more than 11 percent were incarcerated in
prison or jail.

The report, Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2006
(NCJ-217675), was written by BJS statisticians William J. Sabol, Todd D.
Minton and Paige M. Harrison. Following publication it can be found at
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/pjim06.htm.

For additional information about the Bureau of Justice
Statistics please visit the BJS Web site at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant
Attorney General Regina B. Schofield, provides federal leadership in
developing the nation.s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer
justice and assist victims. OJP has five component bureaus: the Bureau of
Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National
Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime. Additionally, OJP has
two program offices: the Community Capacity Development Office, which
incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy, and the Sex Offender Sentencing,
Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART) Office. More
information can be found at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.

# # #

[High Plains]

1. Yay, Yay, USA, We're #1

The "land of the free" increases its lead as the world's number one imprisoner of its citizens. That's true both per capita and in absolute numbers. Take that, China and Russia!

[High Plains]

2. This report doesn't say it, but about 500,000 are drug war prisoners.

About half of all prisoners are non-violent offenders. Why don't we reserve prison--the deprivation of freedom--for those we are afraid of, and not those we're just mad at?

This is a sick, vicious, punitive society. Greatest country on earth, my ass.

[Geezoh]

7. The Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914

One of the worst laws in the history of the country. And look, we're still paying for it.

[Bonobo]

8. Drug war. They are essentially political prisoners, victims of a Corporocacy

who would imprison anyone who commits the unforgivable act of "self-medication" (a term I loathe).

[Blackhatjack]

3. Compare 2.25 mil prisoners with $ earned by private prison corporations....

and you begin to see the profit potential in building and operating prisons by private entities will likely keep the campaign contributions rolling in and these numbers going up still further.

[Blackhatjack]

5. Here is a 2000 Link to story $10billion business of private prisons...

http://www.disinfo.com/archive/pages/dossier/id377/pg1/index.html
who says crime doesn't pay?

In a report on CCA, Prudential Securities wrote, "It takes time to bring inmate population levels up to where they cover costs. Low occupancy is a drag on profits," but went on to note that "company profits would be strong" if facility populations were jacked up at an "acceptable rate."

All firms have hired lobbyists to nudge legislators towards their view of things. Silverstein writes, "In 1995, Wackenhut Chairman Tim Cole testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee to urge support for amendments to the Violent Crime Control Act - which subsequently passed - that authorized the expenditure of US$10 billion to construct and repair state prisons."

Many are being hired after leaving public office by these private prison firms, lending their names to the board. There are also those companies not directly involved in running the prisons, but invest in construction, as American Express has done in Oklahoma, and General Electric in Tennessee. "Goldman Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, among other Wall Street firms," writes Silverstein, "have made huge sums by underwriting prison construction with the sale of tax exempt bonds. This now a thriving US$2.3 billion industry."

[izzie]

4. Nice to get back to being number one in something.

We are the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Double T]

6. Bushco's job creation plan...........

and 'customers' to insure those jobs are secure. Wonder when those jobs will be outsourced to other nations that provide torture services?

[High Plains]

9. A lot of people profit from this, not just private prison companies.

There's a manufacturing plant in my community, Trussbuilt, who builds prison doors and the like. Business is booming...

Prison guard unions love the hard line on crime, and lobby for more punishments...

The drug war is a jobs program for cops, prosecutors, and the rest of their criminal justice system ilk...

Private companies make a fortune fulfilling prison contracts: Architects, construction firms, health service firms, food supply firms, surveillance firms...

All of these people are profiting from depriving others of liberty, many, many of them in prison for no good reason.

[High Plains]

10. Oh, hell, I'll kick this again.

Hard to compete with dead wrestlers and Ann Coulter, though.