How many persons are in prison or jail in the United States?
As of mid year 1994, State and Federal prisons held 1,012,851 inmates, and local jails as of midyear 1993 held 454,620. Over 1.5 million people are incarcerated at present. Prisons usually are reserved for more serious offenders who are serving more than a year. Jails are usually operated by localities and hold persons awaiting trial or transfer to prison and offenders serving less severe sentences. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, “State and Federal Prison Population Tops One Million,” (NCJ 151168), Press Release, October 1994.
