Criminal Sentencing Statistics
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Summary Findings
- In 2002, State and Federal courts convicted a combined total of nearly 1,051,000 adults of felonies -- State courts convicted an estimated 1,114,000 adults and Federal courts convicted 63,217 adults (accounting for 6% of the national total.)
- In 2002, 69% of all felons convicted in State courts were sentenced to a period of confinement - 41% to State prisons and 28% to local jails. Jail sentences are for short-term confinement (usually for a year or less) in a county or city facility, while prison sentences are for long-term confinement (usually for over a year) in a State facility.
- State courts sentenced 31% of convicted felons to straight probation with no jail or prison time to serve.
- Felons sentenced to a State prison in 2002 had an average sentence of 4 1/2 years but were likely to serve 51% of that sentence - or just 2 1/4 years - before release, assuming that 2002 release policies continue in effect.
- The average sentence to local jail was 7 months. The average probation sentence was about 3 years.
- Besides being sentenced to incarceration or probation, 36% or more of convicted felons also were ordered to pay a fine, pay victim restitution, receive treatment, perform community service, or comply with some other additional penalty. A fine was imposed on at least 25% of convicted felons.
- In 2001, an estimated 2.7% of adults in the U.S. had served time in prison, up from 1.8% in 1991 and 1.3% in 1974.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice