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Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities (SISCF)
Data Collection Status
Active
Frequency
1974, 1979, 1986, 1991, 1997, and 2004
Latest Data Available
2004
Data Experts
Lauren G. Beatty, BJS Statistician
Tracy Snell, BJS Statistician
Collection Period
1974, 1979, 1986, 1991, 1997, and 2004
Description
Conducted periodically, the survey provides information on individual characteristics of prison inmates, current offenses and sentences, characteristics of victims, criminal histories, family background, gun possession and use, prior drug and alcohol use and treatment, medical and mental health history and treatment, educational programs and other services provided while in prison, as well as other personal characteristics. Data are collected through personal interviews with a nationally representative sample of inmates in state prisons. The survey utilizes a two-stage sample design in which prisons are selected in the first stage and inmates within prisons are selected in the second stage.
The sample for the 2004 survey was selected from two different universe files: the primary file was a list 1,549 state prisons obtained from the BJS 2000 Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities as enumerated on June 30, 2000; the secondary file contained 36 prisons which had been opened between June 30, 2000, and April 1, 2003.The sample design was a stratified two-stage selection, in which prisons were selected in the first stage and inmates to be interviewed were selected in the second stage. In the first sampling stage, 14 male and 7 female facilities were selected with certainty based on the size of the facilities. The remaining facilities were separated into 16 separate strata based on the geographic region in which the facility was located and the male and female populations in each prison. The weighting procedure consisted of a base weight for each inmate, and three adjustment factors that produced the final weight for the survey. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with inmates using computer-assisted personal interviewing.
Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities
The questionnaire is modified with each iteration in order to capture information on evolving issues in criminal justice and topics of the greatest interest to users. Recent modifications include enhanced questions on medical and mental health histories of inmates.
