NCJ Number
171885
Date Published
1997
Length
167 pages
Annotation
This report presents 1996 statistics on the inmate population in England and Wales.
Abstract
The total prison population is broken down into remand prisoners; young offenders, adult male prisoners, and adult female prisoners under sentence; noncriminal prisoners; fine defaulters; and life sentence prisoners. Data are also provided on ethnic origin and nationality of the prison population, restraints and special cells, and offenses and punishments. The average inmate population during 1996 was 55,300, 4,200 more than in 1995, and the largest inmate population in British history. The seasonally adjusted population at the end of 1996 was 59,000, 13 percent higher than the previous year. The average remand population for 1996 was 11,600, 200 greater than the average for 1995. The sentenced population increased by 10 percent, from an average 39,100 in 1995 to 43,000 in 1996. Female inmates increased by 14 percent, from an average 2,000 in 1995 to 2,300 in 1996. Male prisoners increased by 14 percent, from an average 2,000 in 1995 to 2,300 in 1996. Between 1995 and 1996, the greatest increase in the number of sentenced prisoners was among those sentenced for drug offenses. The proportion of the male sentenced population under 21 years old remained at the 1995 level of approximately 13.5 percent. Extensive tables and figures