A Look at System Trends

There are approximately 48,000 people incarcerated in 54 prisons across New York State.

To provide effective oversight of this large and complex system, we track key issues of concern and analyze trends through onsite prison monitoring visits, intensive data collection from both government sources and directly from those most affected by incarceration, and through in-depth and regular communication with people in prison. Explore the data below for a look at recent and salient system trends.

 

TREND #1

Recent declines in the number of people in state prisons

Key Takeaways

  • The number of people incarcerated in New York’s prison has fallen by nearly 20% in the last ten years

  • The rate of de-carceration in New York has outpaced other states and contributed to a 13.4% overall decline nationwide

  • Despite recent declines, the number of people in New York’s prisons today is 400% larger than in 1973

  • New York is among the states with the highest number of people in prison

  • New York has the 8th lowest rate of incarceration of all states

TREND #2

Those who are in prison are staying for longer periods of time

Topics of Data Research

  • Decline in Incarceration for Drug Crimes

  • Longer sentences and More Time Spent in Prison

  • An Aging Prison Population

  • Fewer incarcerated individuals from New York City