Incarceration Data: Selected Comparisons

Abstract

Incarceration data from various sources was collected and presented in graphical form. Three figures (Figures 2a and b, and Figure 6) from the PEW Center were reprinted with permission. Data was collected from the International Centre for Prison Studies, the PEW Center, the CIA World Factbook, the US Census Bureau, and other sources as indicated. The figures show incarceration rates for selected countries and spending decisions in the United States for education and corrections; world regional incarceration rates; incarceration rates, literacy rates and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for selected countries; prison populations for selected US states and countries of similar size; and the number of incarcerated people in the United States by race, age, and gender.

Figure 1.

Incarceration rates for selected countries (per 100,000 total population). Data from the International Centre for Prison Studies ( http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depstr/law/research/icps/worldbrief/ ).

Figure 2.

Reprinted with permission from Pew Center on the States’ Public Safety Performance Project, One in 100: Behind Bars in America 2008 (Washington, DC: The Pew Charitable Trusts, February 2008).

Figure 3.

(a) Incarceration rates for largest European, African, and Asian countries. (b) Incarceration rates for largest North American, South American, and Oceania countries. Data from the International Centre for Prison Studies ( http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depstr/law/research/icps/worldbrief/ ).

Figure 4.

Prison rate as compared to literacy and GDP for selected countries. Data from the World Factbook, CIA ( https://ww.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html ) and Nationmaster ( http:www.nationmaster.com/ ).

Figure 5.

Prison population in selected U.S. states vs. countries of similar size (per 100,000 total population). Data from State and Country Quick Facts (US Census Bureau, http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/ ), the World Factbook, CIA ( https://ww.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html ), and Christopher Hartney (2006) US Rates of Incarceration: A Global Perspective. National Council on Crime and Delinquency ( http://wwwq.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pubs/2006nov_factsheet_incarceration.pdf ). Note: State populations are from 2006 and country populations are from 2008.

Figure 6.

Reprinted with permission from Pew Center on the States’ Public Safety Performance Project, One in 100: Behind Bars in America 2008 (Washington, DC: The Pew Charitable Trusts, February 2008).