U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin Probation and Parole in the United States, 2006 December 2007, NCJ 220218 ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- This file is text only without graphics and many of the tables. A Zip archive of the tables in this report in spreadsheet format (.csv) and the full report including tables and graphics in .pdf format are available from: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ppus06.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ This report is one in a series. More recent editions may be available. To view a list of all in the series go to http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pubalp2.htm#probation ------------------------------------------------------------ Lauren E. Glaze and Thomas P. Bonczar BJS Statisticians ------------------------------------------------------------ The number of adult men and women in the United States who were being supervised on probation or parole at the end of 2006 reached 5,035,225, up from 3,757,282 on December 31, 1995. These data were collected in the Bureau of Justice Statistics' (BJS) 2006 Annual Probation Survey and 2006 Annual Parole Survey. Probationers are criminal offenders who have been sentenced to a period of correctional supervision in the community in lieu of incarceration. Parole is a period of conditional supervised release following a prison term. In 2006 the combined probation and parole populations grew by 1.8% or 87,852 persons. The growth in 2006 was slower than the average annual increase of 2.2% since 1995. Over the past 11 years, the total population under community supervision increased by over 1 million offenders, based on comparable reporting agencies. It excludes 236,014 probationers under the supervision of agencies added since 1995. (See Methodology.) More than 8 in 10 offenders under community supervision were on probation at yearend 2006 About 84% of the community supervision population was on probation at yearend 2006. Since 1995 (82%) the proportion of offenders on probation increased as a percentage of the total community supervision population. During 2006 the probation population grew by 1.7% which represented an increase of 70,266 probationers. This was the largest growth since 2002 when the population increased 2.3% or 92,336 probationers. Probation population grew by 923,100 persons since 1995 The probation population increased from 3,077,861 in 1995 to 4,237,023 in 2006 (figure 1). Based on comparable reporting agencies from 1995 to 2006, the probation population grew by 923,100 persons or 30%. Between 1995 and 2006 the number entering probation supervision exceeded the number exiting and the probation population continued to grow. Entries increased from 1.6 million in 1995 to 2.3 million in 2006. Exits rose from 1.5 million to 2.2 million during this same 11-year period. Both entries and exits increased an average of 3.4% annually between 1995 and 2006. Nearly a quarter of probationers who entered supervision during 2006 received a probation sentence combined with incarceration Seventy percent of the estimated 2.3 million probationers who entered supervision during 2006 were sentenced to probation without a term of incarceration. Nearly a quarter of probationers received a combined probation and incarceration sentence. Indiana reported detailed data for type of entry in 2006, but not in 2000. Based on comparable reporting methods in 2000 and 2006, almost 8 in 10 probationers entered supervision without incarceration while 1 in 6 received a sentence to probation combined with incarceration in both years. Nearly 1 in 5 probationers who exited from supervision in 2006 were incarcerated Since 2000 the total estimated number of probationers exiting supervision annually increased from 2,095,200 to 2,201,800 in 2006 (table 1). During this same time, the percentage of probationers who completed their full-term sentence or were discharged early declined, from 60% in 2000 to 57% in 2006. Eighteen percent of probationers who exited supervision during 2006 were incarcerated. Nine percent were incarcerated due to a rule violation and 4% were incarcerated because of new offense. ------------------------------------------------------------- Over 7.2 million persons on probation or parole or incarcerated in jail or prison at yearend 2006 During 2006 the total Federal, State, and local adult correctional population -- incarcerated or in the community -- grew by 159,500 persons to over 7.2 million. The growth of 2.3% during the year was about the same as the average annual increase in the correctional population since 1995 (2.5%). About 3.2% of the U.S. adult population, or 1 in every 31 adults, were incarcerated or on probation or parole at yearend 2006. Since 1995 the jail population was the fastest growing correctional population, with an average annual increase of 3.8%, followed by prison (3.0%), probation (2.4%), and parole (1.5%). Based on data from comparable reporting agencies, between 1995 and 2006 the correctional population increased by over 1.6 million offenders or 31%. Probationers accounted for more than half (57% or 923,100 offenders) of the growth. As a percentage of the correctional population, offenders under community supervision accounted for 69% of the total in 2006, while those incarcerated accounted for 31%. These percentages were almost unchanged from 1995 (70% and 30%, respectively). ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 States accounted for over half of the growth in the probation population during 2006 Five States had an absolute increase of 4,500 or more in their probation population during 2006. California experienced the largest increase (13,400), followed by Minnesota (8,400), Alabama (7,200), Colorado (6,600), and Pennsylvania (4,700). These same 5 States accounted for 57% of the growth in the population during the year. Majority of probationers were male and white At yearend 2006, 76% of probationers were male, down from 79% in 1995 (table 2). Since 1995 women have accounted for a larger percentage of the probation population (21% in 1995 compared to 24% in 2006). The racial composition of the probation population has remained nearly stable since 1995. In both 1995 (53%) and 2006 (55%) the majority of probationers were white. Twenty-nine percent were black in 2006, nearly unchanged from 31% in 1995. Hispanic probationers comprised 13% of the population in 2006; 14% in 1995. More than 7 in 10 probationers were non-violent offenders Nearly three-quarters (73%) of probationers under supervision on December 31, 2006 were supervised for a non-violent offense, including more than a quarter for a drug law violation and a sixth for driving while intoxicated. Sixteen percent of probationers were convicted of a violent offense, including 3% for sexual assault, 4% for domestic violence, and 9% for assault other than domestic violence and sexual assault. Eleven percent of probationers were supervised for other unspecified offenses. Parole population grew by 17,586 during 2006 At yearend 2006 a total of 798,202 adult men and women were on parole or mandatory conditional release following a prison term (table 3). The population grew by 17,586 parolees during the year or 2.3%. This was greater than the average annual increase of 1.5% since 1995. At yearend 2006, 352 persons per 100,000 adult residents were under parole supervision. This represented 1 in every 284 adults in the United States. Arkansas had the highest rate of parole supervision at yearend 2006 (863 per 100,000), surpassing Pennsylvania (791 per 100,000) which had the highest rate of parole supervision since 1997. Maine had the lowest rate of parole supervision in 2006 (3 per 100,000). Parole population increased in 36 States The Federal System, 36 States, and the District of Columbia had more adults on parole at the end of 2006 than at the beginning of the year. Double-digit increases were reported in 14 States, led by North Dakota (up 23%) and Rhode Island (up 21%). A total of 13 States had a decrease in their parole population during 2006. Double-digit decreases were found in Oklahoma (down 29%), Virginia (down 12%), and South Carolina (down 11%). Parole entries outpaced exits during 2006 The State parole population reached 708,764 at yearend 2006, an increase of 15,000 parolees (or 2.2%). This was greater than the 10,200 average annual increase (1.5%) that occurred between 2000 and 2006. During 2006 entries to State parole supervision (3.0%) outpaced exits (2.4%). However, between 2000 and 2006 entries (1.9%) and exits from State parole (1.8%) grew at about the same pace each year on average. Mandatory releases from prison made up half of all entries to parole supervision during 2006 Of the 536,200 parolees who entered parole supervision during 2006, more than half entered through a mandatory release from prison. Since 2000 (54%) mandatory releases to parole have decreased slightly. Thirty-five percent of parolees who entered supervision in 2006 received a discretionary release from prison by a parole board decision. Discretionary releases to parole have decreased since 2000 (37%). Between 2000 and 2006 reinstatements to parole increased as a percentage of all entries (6% and 9%, respectively). Percentage of parolees who completed their full-term sentence or exited parole early has remained stable since 2000 Forty-four percent of the estimated 519,200 parolees who exited supervision during 2006 completed their full-term parole sentence or were released from supervision early. Since 2000 this proportion has remained stable (43% in 2000). In both 2000 and 2006, about 4 in 10 parolees exited supervision because they were returned to incarceration for a new offense or a technical violation. In the same two years, about 1 in 10 parolees exited supervision because they had absconded. Another 2% who exited in 2000 and 2006 had their parole sentence terminated unsatisfactorily. Since 1995 the percentage of female and white parolees has increased At yearend 2006 about 1 out of every 8 adults on parole was a woman (96,200) (table 4). Women represented a greater percentage of the parole population in 2006 (12%), compared to 1995 (10%). The percentage of parolees who were black dropped to 39% in 2006, continuing a decline from 45% in 1995. Whites constituted 41% of the parole population in 2006, up from 34% in 1995. Almost 1 in 5 parolees were Hispanic (146,200). About 2% of parolees were of other races (12,500). Nearly 4 in 10 parolees served a sentence for a drug offense About 94% of all parolees at yearend 2006 had been sentenced to 1 year or more in Federal or State prison. The largest percentage of parolees had been convicted of a drug offense (37%, down from 40% in 2002). Data on type of offense were first collected in 2002. At yearend 2006 about one in four parolees had been convicted of a violent offense or a property offense. In 2006, 6% of parolees had been convicted of a public order offense and 6% of another type of offense which was not classified. 1 in 6 persons under parole supervision during 2006 were returned to incarceration Of the 1,151,203 adult parolees at-risk of re-incarceration during 2006 in the 46 jurisdictions that provided information, 16% (179,259) were re-incarcerated (table 5). Offenders at risk of re-incarceration were defined as adults on parole on January 1, 2006, and those released to parole supervision during the year. In the 46 jurisdictions that provided information, a total of 665,321 parolees were under supervision on January 1, 2006, and 485,882 were released to parole supervision during the year. An unknown number of the 165,642 parolees at-risk in 7 other jurisdictions during 2006 were re-incarcerated. More than 2 in 5 parolees known to have been returned to incarceration during 2006 were in California (78,721). New York (11,548) and Texas (10,661) each returned more than 10,000 parolees to incarceration. California, New York, and Texas together accounted for more than half of all adult parolees re-incarcerated during 2006 (56%). 6 States returned 20% or more of their at-risk population to incarceration Utah and California each returned to prison or jail more than a quarter (28%) of their offenders who were under parole supervision at some time during 2006. The offenders were returned either as a result of a technical violation of their conditions of supervision or as a result of a new offense. Colorado and Missouri each returned 24% of their at-risk population during 2006; Kentucky and Minnesota each returned 21%. Of the States that provided information, four reported having returned less than 5% of their at-risk population to incarceration during 2006, including North Carolina and Maine (each 3%), Idaho (less than 0.5%), and Virginia (0%). Rates of return to incarceration have remained stable since 1998 From 1998 to 2006, the percentage of offenders under parole supervision who were known to have been returned to incarceration remained relatively stable(figure 2). Data on type of exit from parole collected prior to 1998 are not consistent with 2006. The percentage of the at-risk population returned to incarceration as the result of a revocation also remained stable (11% in each year). In 2006 approximately 5% of the at-risk population had been returned to incarceration for a new offense, unchanged from 1998 (5%). Methodology Beginning in 1980 the Annual Probation Survey and Annual Parole Survey collected data on the total number of persons supervised in the community on January 1 and December 31 of each year and on counts of the number persons entering and exiting supervision during the year. These surveys cover the Federal System, all 50 States, and the District of Columbia. BJS depends entirely upon the voluntary participation of the State central reporters and the separate State, county, and court agencies for the annual probation and parole data. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau served as the Bureau of Justice Statistics' (BJS) collection agent, except for the Federal system. Data for the Federal system were provided directly to BJS through the BJS Federal Justice Statistics Program which obtained data from the Office of Probation and Pretrial Services, Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Because many States update their population counts, the January 1, 2006, numbers may differ from those previously published for December 31, 2005. Probation The 2006 Annual Probation Survey was sent to 463 respondents -- the Federal System, 33 central State reporters, the District of Columbia, and 428 separate State, county, or court agencies. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (3), Arizona (2), Colorado (8), Florida (41), Georgia (5), Idaho (2), Kentucky (3), Michigan (128), Missouri (2), Montana (4), New Mexico (2), Ohio (185), Oklahoma (3), Pennsylvania (2), Tennessee (3), Washington (33), and West Virginia (2). Since 1995 the survey coverage has been expanded to include 175 additional local agencies in Ohio (131), Florida (27), Washington (11), Montana (3), Kentucky (2), and Idaho (1). The majority of agencies (161) were added in 1999. At yearend 2006, 236,014 probationers were under the supervision of the 175 local agencies added since 1995. Parole The 2006 Annual Parole Survey was sent to 54 respondents, including 52 central reporters, the California Youth Authority, and 1 municipal agency. States with multiple reporters were Alabama (2) and California (2). One State, Illinois, did not provide data. See Imputing entries and exits for non-reporting agencies for more details. Federal parole as defined here includes supervised release, parole, military parole, special parole, and mandatory release. Imputing entries and exits for non-reporting agencies Entries were imputed for non-reporting agencies using one of four methods, depending on data availability. The first method estimated entries to probation by applying the ratio of entries to the January 1 population in a recent year to the January 1, 2006, population for the same agency. Exits were estimated by adding the estimated entries to the January 1, 2006, population and subtracting the December 31, 2006, population. This method was used to estimate probation entries and exits for non-reporting agencies in Arizona, Colorado, Florida (four agencies), Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan (the State agency), Montana, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania counties. This method was also used to estimate parole entries and exits for Pennsylvania counties. A second method was used for Illinois which did not report on its parole population for 2006. Both the ratio of entries to the January 1 population and the ratio of exits to the January 1 population were estimated for 2006 from parole data provided by Illinois for 2005. These ratios were applied to the number on parole in Illinois on January 1, 2006, (estimated from the count on December 31, 2005). The December 31, 2006, parole population was estimated by adding the estimated number of entries and subtracting the estimated number of exits from the January 1, 2006, parole population. The third method estimated entries to probation supervision for county and district agencies which did not report entries and exits but which provided an estimate of their December 31, 2006, probation population. The ratio of entries to the January 1, 2006, population among reporting agencies in the same State was used to estimate the number of entries for non-reporting agencies having similar numbers of probationers. Exits from probation supervision were estimated in the same manner as in the first method (above). This method was used to estimate probation entries and exits for non-reporting agencies in Florida (four agencies), Michigan (localities), Ohio, and Washington. The fourth method was used to estimate entries for one State-level agency. The number of entries for a West Virginia agency was estimated using the ratio of entries to January 1, 2006, population among reporting agencies within the same region. Exits for the non-reporting agency in West Virginia were estimated in the same manner as in the first method (above). Estimating the adult resident population Estimates of the adult resident population in each State on January 1, 2007, were generated by applying the July 1, 2006, ratio of persons 18 years or older to the January 1, 2007, resident population estimates within each State. The January 1, 2007, total resident population estimates were provided to BJS by the U.S. Census Bureau. ------------------------------------------------------------- This report in portable document format (includes an appendix table) and in ASCII and its related statistical data are available at the BJS World Wide Web Internet site: ----------------------------------------------------------- The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Jeffrey L. Sedgwick is the director. BJS Bulletins present the first release of findings from permanent data collection programs. This Bulletin was written by Lauren E. Glaze and Thomas P. Bonczar. William J. Sabol and Heather Couture provided statistical verification. Christopher J. Mumola provided statistical review. Tina Dorsey edited the report, under the supervision of Doris J. James. Jayne E. Robinson prepared the report for final printing. December 2007, NCJ 220218 --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- End of file 11/28/2007 JR