U.S. correctional population. (Crime Data).

The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has announced that the adult U.S. correctional population reached a record of almost 6.6 million men and women at the end of 2001. This was an increase of 147,700 people from December 31, 2000.

At the end of 2001, about 3.1 percent of the nation's adult population, or 1 in every 32 adult residents, were on probation or parole or were held in a prison or jail. The adult probation population grew 2.8 percent during 2001, an increase of 106,542 probationers. The nation's parole population increased by 1 percent in 2001, or by 7,249 men and women.

Approximately 3 out of 4 probationers were under active supervision and were required to regularly report to a probation authority in person or by mail or telephone. An estimated 53 percent of all probationers had been convicted of a felony, 45 percent of a misdemeanor, and 1 percent of other infractions, according to a BJS probation and parole bulletin. Approximately 25 percent were on probation for a drug law violation and 18 percent for driving while intoxicated.

Of the almost 2 million adults discharged from probation in 2001, more than 3 out of 5 successfully met supervision conditions. About 13 percent were reincarcerated because of a violation of parole conditions or a new criminal offense.

The bulletin, Probation and Parole in the United States, 2001 (NCJ 195669) was written by BJS statistician Lauren E. Glaze. Single copies may be obtained by calling the BJS Clearinghouse at 1-800-732-3277 or by accessing http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ppus01.htm.