Data Source: Compiled by the Prison Policy Initiative from Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Prisoner Statistics data showing the total change in the population under state or federal prison jurisdiction that is sentenced to more than 1 year, by sex, since 1978. (Graph: Wendy Sawyer, 2026)
This graph originally appeared in Updated data and charts: Women’s incarceration, national prison population counts, psychological distress behind bars, and more.
Events
- July 1, 2026:
On July 1, 2026 at 1 p.m. EST, join the Prison Policy Initiative and guests Jodi Hocking, Executive Director of Return Strong Nevada, and Taj Mahon-Haft PhD, Director of The Humanization Project, as they discuss the importance of family connections, highlight the ways they are under attack, and share strategies to help families fight back.
Register here - July 9, 2026:
Join the Prison Policy Initiative, Latino Justice, and the MacArthur Justice Center for a powerful webinar focused on the parole board process and the case for the presumption of release. It will begin with a firsthand account from Frank Silva and his interview for freedom followed by Clinical Professor of Law Heidi Rummel and the legality of “presumption of release,” and how California’s framework has shifted the burden of proof.
Register here
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