How does the Census count incarcerated people?
The Census sends forms to every American household with the question “How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment or mobile home on April 1, 2010?” The form instructs respondents to exclude certain residents, including household members incarcerated in correctional facilities. To count incarcerated people, census takers visit prisons and distribute forms or collect the necessary data from administrators. Regardless of how their forms are filled out, the Census assigns prisoners to the address of the prison.
