Data Source: Compiled by the Prison Policy Initiative from Bureau of Justice Statistics data. For detailed sourcing, see: www.prisonpolicy.org/data/incarceration_counts_and_rates_by_type_over_time.xlsx. (Graph: Wendy Sawyer and Peter Wagner, 2026)
This graph originally appeared in Updated data and charts: Women’s incarceration, national prison population counts, psychological distress behind bars, and more.
The original version of the charts showing how state policy drives mass incarceration was published in Tracking State Prison Growth in 50 States.
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
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