PUBLICATION ADVISORY

BJS Releases Juveniles Incarcerated in U.S. Adult Jails and Prisons, 2002–2021

The Bureau of Justice Statistics, a division of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, today released Juveniles Incarcerated in U.S. Adult Jails and Prisons, 2002–2021. This brief Just the Stats report presents data on juveniles (persons age 17 or younger) who are held in adult correctional facilities.

“These data show that the number of juveniles incarcerated in adult jails and prisons decreased by 78% between 2008 and 2021, reaching their lowest number in over a decade at 2,250,” said BJS Director Dr. Alexis Piquero.

This web report shows changes in the number of juveniles held in adult prisons and jails between 2002 and 2021. It also provides data on juveniles by sex and by whether they were held in federal prisons, state prisons, or local jails.

About the Bureau of Justice Statistics

The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice is the principal federal agency responsible for collecting, analyzing and disseminating reliable statistics on crime and criminal justice in the United States. Alexis R. Piquero, PhD, is the director. More information about BJS and criminal justice statistics can be found at bjs.ojp.gov.

About the Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

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OFFICE: bjs.ojp.gov
CONTACT: OJP Media at [email protected]