Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001

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+Table 1. Prevalence of incarceration in a State or Federal prison, by current and former prisoners, 1974-2001+

Current and former prisoners ever incarcerated in a State or Federal prison--

1974 1979 1986 1991 1997 2001

Number incarcerated

Total 1,819,000 2,100,000 2,667,000 3,437,000 4,652,000 5,618,000 Current 216,000 302,000 524,000 788,000 1,171,000 1,319,000 Former 1,603,000 1,798,000 2,143,000 2,649,000 3,481,000 4,299,000

Ever incarcerated rate*

Total 1,251 1,308 1,516 1,828 2,336 2,673 Current 149 188 298 419 588 628 Former 1,102 1,120 1,218 1,409 1,748 2,045

Note: Numbers of current adult prisoners from National Prisoner Statistics data series. Former prisoner statistics based on inmate survey data. Estimates were rounded to the nearest 1,000. See Methodology for estimation procedures.

*The number ever incarcerated per 100,000 adult U