Prison Population by State

Map

Table

Introduction

Even though its prison population is the lowest it has been in the previous twenty years, the United States remains the nation with the highest incarceration rate in the world. The United States currently houses about 2.19 million prisoners, approximately 25% of the world’s total number of people in prison. 

The United States has had the highest incarceration rate in the world since 2002, at about 100 prisoners for every 100,000 in the population, or 2.2 million adults as of 2018. Most of these inmates are housed in state and local prisons, not federal prisons. At the same time, over 600,000 people are held by local jails while awaiting a conviction.

Mass incarceration is a recurring issue in the country and is due to a wide variety of factors, including policymaking. Mass incarceration leads to overcrowded prisons, sanitation issues, dehumanization, marginalization, and important state costs –  the U.S. spends over $80 billion each year on incarceration. 

See for yourself how prison populations differ by state by analyzing the data in the charts.

#StatePrison PopulationRecidivism RatePrison ReleasesReturned To Incarceration With New Sentence
1Texas135,90666,7265,149
2California97,32839,673
3Florida81,02725.4%2,872331
4Georgia47,1411,646271
5Ohio45,03632.7%20,0522,242
6Pennsylvania39,35747.1%15,5915,395
7Arizona37,73136.3%13,93819
8New York34,12843%16,2491,327
9Michigan33,61726.6%10,478985
10Virginia31,83823.3%12,904124
11Illinois29,72938.5%20,5891,247
12North Carolina29,4611,5961,161
13Louisiana26,96429.6%14,0191,809
14Alabama25,32828.7%11,178717
15Indiana23,94438.2%9,893363
16Missouri23,06237.2%14,643970
17Tennessee22,68513,484719
18Oklahoma22,46222.6%81
19Wisconsin20,29838.1%6,023
20Kentucky18,55246.4%16,531343
21Mississippi17,57736.8%6,655709
22Colorado16,16844.9%9,5681,200
23South Carolina16,15721%5,65924
24Arkansas16,09447.5%976567
25Washington15,72430.7%17,014853
26Maryland15,62340.5%5,933413
27New Jersey12,83030.4%9,711105
28Oregon12,7535,139942
29Nevada11,42224.6%5,753356
30Connecticut9,55949%4,387
31Kansas8,77934.7%4,693184
32Iowa8,30738.7%4,767715
33Idaho8,17136.3%4,001392
34Minnesota8,14825%5,876381
35Massachusetts6,76233%2,21264
36West Virginia6,04429.3%3,42913
37New Mexico5,50049.1%30941
38Utah5,4464,156500
39Nebraska5,30630.2%2,453
40Delaware4,71060.2%1,7381
41Alaska4,57861.6%1,626
42Hawaii4,1711,1262
43Montana3,92738.6%2,51729
44South Dakota3,25044%3,873178
45New Hampshire2,35241.5%1,246
46Rhode Island2,22750%66015
47Wyoming2,08733.8%1,09430
48Maine1,71426.3%9740
49North Dakota1,40141.2%122142
50Vermont1,28443.8%1,182

Prison Population by State

Alabama

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Prison Population

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25,328

Ranked in the US

#14

Ranked in the US

#9

Prison Releases

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11,178

Ranked in the US

#14

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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717

Ranked in the US

#14

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Alaska

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Prison Population

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4,578

Ranked in the US

#41

Ranked in the US

#42

Prison Releases

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1,626

Ranked in the US

#39

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Arizona

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37,731

Ranked in the US

#7

Ranked in the US

#19

Prison Releases

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13,938

Ranked in the US

#11

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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19

Ranked in the US

#37

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Arkansas

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Prison Population

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16,094

Ranked in the US

#24

Ranked in the US

#37

Prison Releases

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976

Ranked in the US

#45

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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567

Ranked in the US

#17

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

California

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Prison Population

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97,328

Ranked in the US

#2

Prison Releases

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39,673

Ranked in the US

#2

Prison Population

Prison Releases

Colorado

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Prison Population

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16,168

Ranked in the US

#22

Ranked in the US

#34

Prison Releases

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9,568

Ranked in the US

#18

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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1,200

Ranked in the US

#7

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Connecticut

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9,559

Ranked in the US

#30

Ranked in the US

#38

Prison Releases

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4,387

Ranked in the US

#28

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Delaware

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Prison Population

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4,710

Ranked in the US

#40

Ranked in the US

#41

Prison Releases

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1,738

Ranked in the US

#37

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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1

Ranked in the US

#41

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Florida

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Prison Population

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81,027

Ranked in the US

#3

Ranked in the US

#6

Prison Releases

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2,872

Ranked in the US

#33

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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331

Ranked in the US

#25

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Georgia

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Prison Population

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47,141

Ranked in the US

#4

Prison Releases

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1,646

Ranked in the US

#38

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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271

Ranked in the US

#26

Prison Population

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Hawaii

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Prison Population

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4,171

Ranked in the US

#42

Prison Releases

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1,126

Ranked in the US

#43

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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2

Ranked in the US

#40

Prison Population

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Idaho

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Prison Population

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8,171

Ranked in the US

#33

Ranked in the US

#20

Prison Releases

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4,001

Ranked in the US

#30

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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392

Ranked in the US

#20

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Illinois

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Prison Population

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29,729

Ranked in the US

#11

Ranked in the US

#25

Prison Releases

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20,589

Ranked in the US

#3

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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1,247

Ranked in the US

#6

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Indiana

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Prison Population

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23,944

Ranked in the US

#15

Ranked in the US

#24

Prison Releases

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9,893

Ranked in the US

#16

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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363

Ranked in the US

#22

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Iowa

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Prison Population

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8,307

Ranked in the US

#32

Ranked in the US

#27

Prison Releases

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4,767

Ranked in the US

#26

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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715

Ranked in the US

#15

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Kansas

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Prison Population

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8,779

Ranked in the US

#31

Ranked in the US

#18

Prison Releases

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4,693

Ranked in the US

#27

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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184

Ranked in the US

#27

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Kentucky

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18,552

Ranked in the US

#20

Ranked in the US

#35

Prison Releases

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16,531

Ranked in the US

#6

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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343

Ranked in the US

#24

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Louisiana

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Prison Population

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26,964

Ranked in the US

#13

Ranked in the US

#11

Prison Releases

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14,019

Ranked in the US

#10

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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1,809

Ranked in the US

#4

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Maine

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Prison Population

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1,714

Ranked in the US

#48

Ranked in the US

#7

Prison Releases

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974

Ranked in the US

#46

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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0

Ranked in the US

#43

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Maryland

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Prison Population

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15,623

Ranked in the US

#26

Ranked in the US

#28

Prison Releases

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5,933

Ranked in the US

#21

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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413

Ranked in the US

#19

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Massachusetts

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6,762

Ranked in the US

#35

Ranked in the US

#16

Prison Releases

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2,212

Ranked in the US

#36

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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64

Ranked in the US

#32

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Michigan

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Prison Population

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33,617

Ranked in the US

#9

Ranked in the US

#8

Prison Releases

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10,478

Ranked in the US

#15

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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985

Ranked in the US

#9

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Minnesota

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Prison Population

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8,148

Ranked in the US

#34

Ranked in the US

#5

Prison Releases

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5,876

Ranked in the US

#22

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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381

Ranked in the US

#21

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Mississippi

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Prison Population

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17,577

Ranked in the US

#21

Ranked in the US

#21

Prison Releases

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6,655

Ranked in the US

#19

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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709

Ranked in the US

#16

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Missouri

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Prison Population

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23,062

Ranked in the US

#16

Ranked in the US

#22

Prison Releases

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14,643

Ranked in the US

#9

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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970

Ranked in the US

#10

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Montana

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Prison Population

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3,927

Ranked in the US

#43

Ranked in the US

#26

Prison Releases

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2,517

Ranked in the US

#34

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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29

Ranked in the US

#35

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Nebraska

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Prison Population

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5,306

Ranked in the US

#39

Ranked in the US

#12

Prison Releases

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2,453

Ranked in the US

#35

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Nevada

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Prison Population

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11,422

Ranked in the US

#29

Ranked in the US

#4

Prison Releases

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5,753

Ranked in the US

#23

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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356

Ranked in the US

#23

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

New Hampshire

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Prison Population

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2,352

Ranked in the US

#45

Ranked in the US

#30

Prison Releases

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1,246

Ranked in the US

#41

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

New Jersey

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Prison Population

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12,830

Ranked in the US

#27

Ranked in the US

#13

Prison Releases

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9,711

Ranked in the US

#17

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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105

Ranked in the US

#31

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

New Mexico

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Prison Population

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5,500

Ranked in the US

#37

Ranked in the US

#39

Prison Releases

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309

Ranked in the US

#48

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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41

Ranked in the US

#33

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

New York

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Prison Population

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34,128

Ranked in the US

#8

Ranked in the US

#31

Prison Releases

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16,249

Ranked in the US

#7

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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1,327

Ranked in the US

#5

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

North Carolina

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Prison Population

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29,461

Ranked in the US

#12

Prison Releases

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1,596

Ranked in the US

#40

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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1,161

Ranked in the US

#8

Prison Population

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

North Dakota

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Prison Population

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1,401

Ranked in the US

#49

Ranked in the US

#29

Prison Releases

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122

Ranked in the US

#49

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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142

Ranked in the US

#29

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Ohio

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Prison Population

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45,036

Ranked in the US

#5

Ranked in the US

#15

Prison Releases

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20,052

Ranked in the US

#4

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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2,242

Ranked in the US

#3

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Oklahoma

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Prison Population

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22,462

Ranked in the US

#18

Ranked in the US

#2

Prison Releases

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81

Ranked in the US

#50

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Oregon

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Prison Population

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12,753

Ranked in the US

#28

Prison Releases

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5,139

Ranked in the US

#25

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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942

Ranked in the US

#11

Prison Population

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Pennsylvania

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Prison Population

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39,357

Ranked in the US

#6

Ranked in the US

#36

Prison Releases

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15,591

Ranked in the US

#8

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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5,395

Ranked in the US

#1

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Rhode Island

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Prison Population

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2,227

Ranked in the US

#46

Ranked in the US

#40

Prison Releases

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660

Ranked in the US

#47

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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15

Ranked in the US

#38

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

South Carolina

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Prison Population

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16,157

Ranked in the US

#23

Ranked in the US

#1

Prison Releases

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5,659

Ranked in the US

#24

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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24

Ranked in the US

#36

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

South Dakota

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Prison Population

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3,250

Ranked in the US

#44

Ranked in the US

#33

Prison Releases

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3,873

Ranked in the US

#31

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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178

Ranked in the US

#28

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Tennessee

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Prison Population

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22,685

Ranked in the US

#17

Prison Releases

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13,484

Ranked in the US

#12

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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719

Ranked in the US

#13

Prison Population

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Texas

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Prison Population

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135,906

Ranked in the US

#1

Prison Releases

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66,726

Ranked in the US

#1

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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5,149

Ranked in the US

#2

Prison Population

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Utah

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Prison Population

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5,446

Ranked in the US

#38

Prison Releases

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4,156

Ranked in the US

#29

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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500

Ranked in the US

#18

Prison Population

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Vermont

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Prison Population

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1,284

Ranked in the US

#50

Ranked in the US

#32

Prison Releases

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1,182

Ranked in the US

#42

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Virginia

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Prison Population

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31,838

Ranked in the US

#10

Ranked in the US

#3

Prison Releases

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12,904

Ranked in the US

#13

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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124

Ranked in the US

#30

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Washington

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Prison Population

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15,724

Ranked in the US

#25

Ranked in the US

#14

Prison Releases

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17,014

Ranked in the US

#5

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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853

Ranked in the US

#12

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

West Virginia

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Prison Population

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6,044

Ranked in the US

#36

Ranked in the US

#10

Prison Releases

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3,429

Ranked in the US

#32

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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13

Ranked in the US

#39

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

Wisconsin

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Prison Population

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20,298

Ranked in the US

#19

Ranked in the US

#23

Prison Releases

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6,023

Ranked in the US

#20

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Wyoming

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Prison Population

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2,087

Ranked in the US

#47

Ranked in the US

#17

Prison Releases

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1,094

Ranked in the US

#44

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence

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30

Ranked in the US

#34

Prison Population

Recidivism Rate

Prison Releases

Returned To Incarceration With New Sentence