National Prisoner Statistics category definitions

Jurisdiction population, Dec. 31-- Includes all inmates under jurisdiction of State correctional authorities on Dec. 31 regardless of location. Does not include other jurisdictions' inmates (for example, inmates from other States, pretrial detainees) merely housed in prisons.

Custody population, Dec. 31-- Includes all inmates in the State's custody, that is, housed in State correctional facilities on Dec. 31. Does not include State inmates housed outside State prison facilities; does include other jurisdictions' inmates (for example, inmates from other States, the courts, local jails) housed in the State's facilities.

Overcrowding, Dec. 31--Includes all State prison inmates housed in local jails on Dec. 31 and as a direct result of State prison overcrowding. Does not include State prison inmates held in local jails for other reasons (for example, work release, court appearance, etc.).

Admissions

New court commitments--Includes all inmates who were admitted with new sentences, that is, these inmates were not readmitted for any sentences for which they had already served some prison time. This category includes probation violators entering prison for the first time on the probated offenses. Does not include parole violators with new sentences.

Parole violators with new sentences--Includes all parolees returned with new sentences.

Other conditional release violators with new sentences--Includes all individuals on conditional release (other than parole) who are returned with new sentences, for example, returns from supervised mandatory release, from shock probation, etc.

Parole violators only, no new sentences--Includes all parolees returned only for formal revocations of parole that were not accompanied by new sentences. If the parole was not formally revoked, that is, the parolee was held only temporarily pending a hearing, no admission occurred for NPS purposes.

Other conditional release violators only, no new sentences--Same as above, substituting conditional release violator for parole violator.

Transfers from other jurisdictions--Includes all inmates transferred to a State's jurisdiction to continue sentences already in force. Does not include admissions if State does not acquire jurisdiction. Does not include movements from prison to prison within State.

Absent without leave (AWOL) returns, with or without sentences--Includes all returns from AWOL, that is, failures to return from authorized temporary absences such as work furlough, study release, mercy furlough, or other authorized temporary absence.

Escapee returns, with or without new sentences--Includes all returns from escape, that is, unlawful departures from a State correctional facility or from the custody of State correctional personnel.

Returns from appeal/bond--Includes all inmates reinstated to correctional jurisdiction from long-term jurisdictional absences on appeal or bond. Does not include returns from short-term movements (less than 30 days) to court (that is, where the State retains jurisdiction).

Other admissions--Includes all other admissions not covered by the above categories.

Releases

Unconditional--An unconditional release occurs only if the released inmate cannot be imprisoned for any sentence for which he/she was in prison.

Expirations of sentence--Includes all inmates whose maximum court sentences minus credits have been served.

Commutations--Includes all inmates whose maximum sentences have been changed (lowered) to time served to allow immediate unconditional release.

Other unconditional releases--Includes all other unconditional releases not covered by the above categories.

Conditional--A conditional release occurs if the released inmate, upon violating the conditions of release, can be imprisoned again for any of the sentences for which he/she was in prison.

Probations--Includes all inmates who have been placed under probation supervision and conditionally released; includes all shock probation (split sentence) releases.

Supervised mandatory releases--Includes all inmates who must, by law, be conditionally released. This type of release may also be called mandatory conditional release.

Paroles--Includes all inmates conditionally released to parole.

Other conditional releases--Includes all other conditional releases not covered by the above categories.

Death:

Executions--Self-explanatory.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)--The immediate cause of death in AIDS mortalities may be Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia, Kaposi's Sarcoma, or other diseases related to HIV infection.

Illness/natural causes--Self-explanatory. AIDS-related deaths not included in this category.

Suicides--Self-explanatory.

Accidental injury to self--Includes all inmates who accidentally cause their own deaths (for example, a fall from a ladder, mishandling electrical equipment).

Death caused by another person--Includes all inmates whose deaths were caused accidentally or intentionally by another inmate or prison personnel.

Other deaths--Includes all other deaths not covered by the above categories.

Other releases:

Absent without leave (AWOL)--Includes all failures to return from an authorized temporary absence such as work furlough, study release, mercy furlough, or other authorized temporary absence.

Escapes from confinement--Includes all unlawful departures from a State correctional facility or from the custody of State correctional personnel.

Transfers to other jurisdictions--Includes all inmates who were transferred from one State's jurisdiction to another to continue sentences already in force. Does not include the release if State does not relinquish jurisdiction. Does not include movements from prison to prison within State.

Releases to appeal/bond--Includes all inmates released from correctional jurisdiction to long-term jurisdictional absences on appeal or bond. Does not include short-term movements (less than 30 days) to court (that is, where the State correctional system retains jurisdiction).

Other releases--Includes all other releases not covered by the above categories.

Race

Classification by race often depends on the reporting program and the State. A few States reported two categories: white and nonwhite. A few others categorized Hispanic offenders as belonging to "Other race." The number of persons with certain racial backgrounds were sometimes estimated.

White--A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East.

Black--A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

American Indian or Alaska Native--A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.

Asian or Pacific Islander--A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands. This area includes, for example, China, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, and Samoa.

Other--Any other race not covered by the above categories.

Not known--Any inmate whose racial origin is unknown.

Ethnic origin

A person of Hispanic origin may be of any race; however, a few States treat the ethnic category as a racial one. Reporting officials usually rely on self-definition, but some States classify according to surname.

Hispanic--A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

Not Hispanic--A person not covered by the above category.

Not known--Any inmate whose ethnic origin is unknown.

Explanatory notes for 1996 and 1997 prisoner data by jurisdiction

Alaska--Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations.

Arizona--Population counts are based on custody data.

Connecticut--Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations. Population counts were based on jurisdiction data for the first time in 1997. Counts for 1996 were revised.

Delaware--Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations.

District of Columbia--Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations.

Florida--Population counts are based on custody data.

Georgia--Population counts are based on custody data.

Hawaii--Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations.

Illinois--Population counts are based on custody data. Population counts of inmates with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number of inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less.

Iowa--Population counts are based on custody data. Population counts of inmates with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number of inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less.

Kansas--Population counts of inmates with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number of inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less.

Massachusetts--Population counts are for Jan. 5, 1998. By law, offenders may be sentenced to terms of up to 2 1/2 years in locally-operated jails. Such offenders are included in counts and rates for local jails. About 6,200 inmates with sentences of more than 1 year were held in local jails in 1997.

Michigan--Population counts are based on custody data. Counts include adults housed in institutions, camps, and community correction centers and on electronic monitoring.

New Jersey--Population counts of inmates with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number of inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less.

Ohio--Population counts of inmates with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number of inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less.

Oklahoma--For the first time in 1997 population counts based on jurisdiction data include jail backlogs. Population counts of inmates with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number of inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less.

Oregon--Under a new law, inmates with a maximum sentence less than 1 year remain under the control of local counties. Offenders in this category are being phased out of the inmate counts.

Rhode Island--Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations.

South Carolina--Population counts include unsentenced inmates on Youthful Offender Act observation status.

Tennessee--Population counts of inmates with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number of inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less.

Texas--Population counts of inmates with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year include an undetermined number of inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less.

Vermont--Prisons and jails form one integrated system. All NPS data include jail and prison populations. Population counts are based on custody data. Population counts exclude inmates on furlough or intermediate sanctions.

Virginia--Population counts for inmates with a sentence of 1 year or less were affected by a new law on January 1, 1995, making the State responsible for felons with a sentence of 6 months or more, and a subsequent change, effective July 1, 1997, limiting responsibility to those with a sentence of 1 year or more.

Explanatory notes for 1995 prisoner data by jurisdiction

Federal prisons--Population, admissions, and releases: Movement data were provided; however, when admissions are added to the January 1 population and releases are subtracted, the total does not equal the Dec. 31, 1995, population. Inmates with 1 year or less sentence: Jurisdiction and custody counts include inmates whose sentence length is unknown.

Alabama--Other conditional release violators with new sentences: Includes inmates returned from supervised release under Alabama Act 754 and split sentence/probation with and without new sentences. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other admissions: Unspecified in the Alabama data system. Cause of death: Can specify only executions.

Alaska--Population, admissions, and releases: Includes some inmates whose movements were unreported. Total inmate population: Jurisdiction and custody counts include inmates in prisons and jails, which form an integrated system in Alaska. Other releases, unconditional and conditional: Court-ordered releases. Other releases: Includes extraditions to Federal jurisdiction. Other race: Alaska's "Hispanic" race category.

Arizona--Population, admissions, and releases: Based on custody data. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Other conditional releases: Includes supervised early releases, provisional releases, supervised work furloughs, earned credit releases, and releases to the home arrest program. Cause of death: Pending investigation at time of data collection. Other releases: Includes early releases to detainer, persons returned to prison pending revocation hearing where no revocation occurred, and persons who were returned to supervision. Total jurisdiction population: Excludes 322 males housed in local jails solely to ease prison crowding.

Arkansas--Arkansas revised its Dec. 31, 1994, jurisdiction counts. Other admissions: Returns from the Department of Community Punishment, a separate agency. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Other conditional releases: Persons released under the provisions of Arkansas' Acts 378 and 814 and Boot Camp to some form of supervision. Jurisdiction population, inmates with 1 year or less sentence: Includes 345 males being held in the county jail awaiting transfer to the Department of Corrections for whom the sentence is unknown. Custody population, inmates with 1 year or less sentence: Includes 387 males being held in the county jail awaiting transfer to Department of Corrections for whom the sentence is unknown. Other race: Includes Cuban inmates.

California--California revised Dec. 31, 1995, data to include jurisdiction counts. State previously reported only custody counts. Other conditional release violators with new sentences: May include some parole violators and returns from supervised mandatory releases with new sentences. Other conditional release violators only, no new sentences: May include some parole violators without new sentences and some supervised mandatory or parole releases returned pending a revocation hearing. Other admissions: Returns from appeal/bond reported in "Other admissions" category. Unconditional releases, expirations of sentence: Includes some court-ordered releases. Conditional releases, supervised mandatory releases: Includes some court-ordered releases and paroles. Cause of death: Not specified or pending an autopsy. Other releases: Contains the net difference between total admissions and the Dec. 31, 1995, jurisdiction population. These are most likely temporary releases to courts, jail, and hospitals, who have not been returned to prison as of Dec. 31, 1995. Jurisdiction population, unsentenced inmates: Includes civil narcotic addict commitments and county diagnostic cases. Other race and not known Hispanic origin: Includes some Asian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic inmates admitted to California prisons prior to January 1990 (when these categories were added to the California computer system). Also includes the California "Hispanic/Mexican" category.

Colorado--Sentencing information: Reported populations with sentences of more than 1 year include a small number of inmates with a maximum sentence of 1 year or less. Transfers from other jurisdictions: Includes admissions of inmates through interstate compacts. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Numbers are estimates. Other releases: Court-ordered releases not classified as conditional or unconditional. State inmates housed in other facilities to ease overcrowding: Includes 325 males housed in a facility owned and operated by the County of Bent; and 219 males and 5 females housed in county correctional facilities. Race and Hispanic origin: Numbers are estimates.

Connecticut--Connecticut revised its Dec. 31, 1994, jurisdiction population counts. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered discharges and inadvertent releases (release coding errors). Other conditional releases: Release to home jurisdiction, community releases, and an undetermined number of unknown release types. Total inmate population: Jurisdiction and custody counts include inmates in prisons and jails, which form an integrated system. Other race: The Connecticut "Hispanic" category.

Delaware--Sentencing information, partially suspended sentences: Prisoners with partially suspended sentences (part served in prison, part served under probation) are included with the "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" only when the prison portion of the sentence exceeded 12 months. As a result, the population and movement counts of "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" are understated, and the counts of "Inmates with 1 year or less maximum sentence" are overstated. Parole and other conditional release violators with new sentences: Includes violators with and without new sentences. Other admissions and releases: Includes admissions from and releases to State and local hospitals, inmates serving weekend sentences, and inmates who were changed from jail sentences of less than 1 year to prison sentences of more than 1 year. Unconditional releases, expirations of sentence: Includes some releases to probation. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Total inmate population: Jurisdiction and custody counts include inmates in prisons and jails, which form an integrated system. Other race: Includes Puerto Rican and Mexican prisoners.

District of Columbia--Sentencing information, partially suspended sentences: Prisoners with partially suspended sentences (part served in prison, part served under probation) are included with the "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" only when the prison portion of the sentence exceeded 12 months. As a result, the population and movement counts of "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" are understated, and the counts of "Inmates with 1 year or less maximum sentence" are overstated. Sentencing information, short sentences: An undetermined number of inmates housed in neither the District of Columbia jail nor the Detention Center and having either no sentence or a minimum sentence of 1 year or less are included in the movement and population counts of inmates with more than 1 year maximum sentences. As a result, the population and movement counts of inmates with maximum sentences of more than 1 year are overstated, and the counts of inmates with 1 year or less maximum sentence are understated. Transfers from and to other jurisdictions: Includes transfers from and to mental hospitals and other State and Federal facilities. Unconditional releases, expirations of sentence: Includes some inmates with partially suspended sentences and releases to probation. Number of deaths: All deaths are reported under "males." As a result, total male releases are slightly overcounted and female releases are slightly undercounted. Cause of death: Unknown at time of data collection. Total jurisdiction population: Includes male and female DC code violators housed in Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities and male inmates housed in other State facilities. Of these inmates, an undetermined number are being housed solely to ease prison overcrowding. Unsentenced inmate populations: Jurisdiction and custody counts include unsentenced inmates held in the District jail or Detention Center. Total inmate population: Jurisdiction and custody counts include inmates in prisons and jails, which form an integrated system in the District of Columbia.

Florida--Population, admissions, and releases counts: Based on custody data. Other conditional release violators with new sentences: Includes violators of control releases, provisional releases, conditional releases, and supervised community releases with new sentences. Other conditional release violators without new sentences: Includes violators of control releases, provisional releases, conditional releases, and supervised community releases with new sentences. Transfers from other jurisdictions: Includes admissions through interstate compact agreements with and without new sentences. Other admissions: Contains the net difference between total admissions and the release movements not classified in other categories. Other unconditional releases: Includes vacated sentences and control releases without supervision. Other conditional releases: Includes control releases with supervision, conditional medical releases, conditional releases, supervised community releases, and reinstatement to control releases. Transfers to other jurisdictions: Includes interstate transfers (inmates who have been sentenced under Florida's jurisdiction but serve their sentence in another State or Federal prison).

Georgia--Population, admissions, and releases: Based on custody data. Parole violators with new sentences: May include a small number of other conditional release violators with new sentences. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other unconditional releases: Includes one inmate who paid a fine. Other conditional releases: Consists of special and supervised reprieves controlled by the Georgia Parole Board. Cause of death: Unknown. Jurisdiction population: Excludes inmates awaiting pick-up from local jails. Other race: Includes inmates who identify racial categories other than those specified.

Hawaii--Category estimates: Jurisdiction and custody counts are actual counts. Admissions, releases, race, and Hispanic origin are estimated based on information from Hawaii's Correctional Information System (CIS). Other unconditional releases: Administrative discharges and emergency releases. Other conditional releases: Type of release unknown at the time of data collection. Total inmate population: Jurisdiction and custody counts include inmates in prisons and jails, which form an integrated system in Hawaii. Other race: Includes "Puerto Ricans," prisoners of "Other Hispanic" origin, and "Other" race categories (inmates who identified more than one racial group). Prisoners of part-Hawaiian ancestry are counted as "Asians/Pacific Islanders." Hispanic origin: The Hawaii "Puerto Rican" category and individuals of the Hawaii "Other" race category with Spanish surnames.

Idaho--Parole violators with new sentences: Count unavailable by gender. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other admissions: Adjustment residuals to balance the movement data not reported in other categories with the Dec. 31, 1995 population. Race and Hispanic origin: Numbers are estimates.

Illinois--Population, admissions, and releases: Based on custody data. Sentencing information: Inmates with sentences of more than 1 year include some inmates with maximum sentences of 1 year. Other conditional release violators with new sentences: Includes some parole violators with new sentences. Other conditional release violators only, no new sentences: Includes some parole violators without new sentences. Escapees: Illinois now reports the movement of escapees by using the Offender Tracking System. All inmates in Community Correctional Centers and Electronic Detention Centers are now included in the counts, which in part accounts for the increase in the number of escapes and returns from escape. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Cause of death: Unknown at time of data collection. Other admissions and releases: Contains the net difference between long-term admissions and release movements not reported in other categories (transfers, writs, and medical furloughs) to balance the December 31 population. The category also includes an undetermined number of transfers to other jurisdictions. Other race: The Illinois "Hispanic" category.

Indiana--New court commitments: Includes probation violators with and without new sentences. Other unconditional releases: Sentences terminated based on Parole Board decisions.

Iowa--Population, admissions, and releases: Based on custody data. Parole violators only, no new sentences: Includes parolees remanded to prison prior to a formal revocation hearing. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Conditional releases, paroles: Includes persons returned to parole following revocation hearings and persons released to parole by Conditional Commutation Orders. Other admissions and releases: Inmates held for safekeeping. Other conditional releases: Releases to work release programs. Other race: The Iowa "Hispanic" category.

Kansas--New court commitments: May include some returns from appeal/bond and a small number of probation violators, both with and without new sentences, who may have previously spent time in prison. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other admissions: Type unknown at time of data collection. Other conditional releases: Conditional releases to supervision, similar to that for parole. Executions: Kansas legalized capital punishment in 1995. Therefore, "Executions" is no longer reported as "Not applicable." Cause of death: Unknown.

Kentucky--Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other admissions: Court-ordered returns to prison. Other releases: Includes court-ordered releases not identifiable as conditional or unconditional. Other race: Includes inmates whose race cannot be classified in the specified categories.

Louisiana--Population, admissions, and releases: Movement and population counts are now based on jurisdiction data. Louisiana previously reported only custody data. Sentencing information: Jurisdiction and custody counts of inmates with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year and with 1 year or less maximum sentence are not comparable to 1992 and previously reported data. Prior to 1993, reported inmates with 1 year or less sentences were actually parole revocations with remaining sentences equal to 1 year or less. The original sentences for these persons were greater than 1 year, but when they returned from parole the remaining time on their sentences had decreased to 1 year or less. Since persons with sentences of 1 year or less are not sentenced to Louisiana prisons, all inmates are now reported as having a maximum sentence greater than or equal to 1 year. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other admissions: Admissions to treatment programs from Probation and Parole Districts. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered and good-time releases. Cause of death: Can specify only for executions. Other releases: Includes inmates released in error. Total custody population: Louisiana revised its Dec. 31, 1994 custody counts. American Indians or Alaska Natives: American Indians only. Asian or Pacific Islanders: Chinese and Japanese only. Other race: Includes Latins and all other persons whose race is unspecified. Hispanic origin: Not included in the Louisiana data system.

Maine--Other conditional release violators with new sentences: Probation violators with new sentences. Other conditional release violators only, no new sentences: Probation violators with no new sentences. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other unconditional releases: Inmates released directly from prison to the community. Other releases: Releases to detainer or warrants and inmates whose release requires victim notifications.

Maryland--Category estimates: The movement and population totals are actual counts. Categories for admissions and releases are estimated by applying percentages from automated data to the totals that are made manually. The automated data system counts only inmates with maximum sentences of more than 1 year, while the detailed categories in the manual data include inmates with maximum sentences of 1 year or less. New court commitments: May include a small number of returns from appeal/bond. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other admissions: Interstate compact admissions. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. May also include a small number of releases to appeal/bond. Other conditional releases: Inmates paroled from the Patuxent Institution to work release. Other releases: Includes 7 to 10 interstate compact releases as well as releases of new admissions that had been double counted with admissions data.

Massachusetts--Massachusetts revised its 1994 population counts. Population, admissions, and releases: Movement and population counts are based on jurisdiction and custody data. These figures include all inmates in Massachusetts custody, including a limited number of county, Federal, and other States' inmates under jurisdiction of another authority, as well as Massachusetts' inmates housed in other States. Total inmate population: Excludes 662 males housed in local facilities and 393 males held in Federal and other State facilities solely to ease prison crowding. Also includes 1,275 males housed in local, State, and Federal facilities not due to prison crowding. Parole violators only, no new sentences: Includes some parole violators with new sentences, other conditional release violators with and without new sentences, and a small number of returns from appeal/ bond. Category estimates: The totals for admissions and releases are actual; the categories are estimates. Unconditional releases, expirations of sentence: Includes some releases to probation. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases and a small number of releases to appeal/bond. Other race: Includes Hispanic inmates whose race is not specified; also includes 1,275 males housed in local, State, or Federal facilities not due to prison crowding, but excludes 662 males housed in local facilities and 393 males held in Federal and other State facilities solely to ease prison crowding. Unknown ethnicity: Includes 1,275 males housed in local, State, and Federal facilities, not due specifically to prison crowding, but excludes 662 males housed in local facilities and 393 males held in Federal and other State facilities solely to ease prison crowding.

Michigan--Michigan revised its Dec. 31, 1994 jurisdiction population counts because of procedural improvements in tracking and reporting. Population, admissions, and releases: Based on custody data. Transfers from and to other jurisdictions: Transfers from and to mental hospitals and facilities of the Federal Government and other States. Escapes: Consists mainly of zero tolerance walkaways from community residential programs. Other admissions: Returns from county jail and from parole status. Returns from and releases to appeal/bond: Contains the net difference of all movements from and to the courts. Cause of death, illnesses/natural causes: Includes unspecified type of deaths, including deaths resulting from AIDS- or HIV-related diseases. Other releases: Includes inmates temporarily housed at a county jail and returns to parole status. Total jurisdiction population: Excludes 393 males housed in local jails solely to ease overcrowding. Population housed in jails: All inmates are reported as males. Other race: Includes Mexican Americans and all other persons whose race is unspecified. Hispanic origin: Mexican Americans only.

Minnesota--Other conditional release violators with new sentences: Includes supervised mandatory release violators and work release violators with new sentences. Other conditional release violators only, no new sentences: Includes supervised mandatory release violators and work release violators with no new sentences. Transfers, escapees, AWOL prisoners, and admissions/returns from appeal/bond: Categories are not considered releases and are not valid in the Minnesota data system. Other unconditional releases: Includes inmates discharged by court or executive orders. May include some commutations and overturned convictions. Other conditional releases: Work releases and intensive community supervision. Asian/Pacific Islanders: Includes persons with Asian surnames. Other race: Includes 240 Hispanic males and 10 Hispanic females because Minnesota classifies "Hispanic" as a race. Also includes 21 males reported in the Minnesota "Other" race category.

Mississippi--New court commitments: Includes some probation violators with and without new sentences. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other admissions: Includes 33 males and 3 females awaiting revocation hearing and returns from appeal/bond, as well as 160 males and 28 females whose admission category was unavailable at the time of data collection. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Other releases: Inmates returned to community supervision following a revocation hearing where no revocation occurred. Also includes releases to appeal/bond. Race: Numbers are estimates. Other race: The Mississippi "Hispanic" category.

Missouri--AWOL returns, with and without new sentences: Include some returns of walkaways from community release centers previously included in escape returns, with or without new sentences. Other admissions: Includes inmates returned from erroneous releases, persons whose commitment was reinstated, and parole board holdovers (offenders arrested by local authorities and returned to prison, instead of to the local jail as customary). Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Other conditional releases: Conditional release to custody/detainer, administrative parole, and credit time releases. Causes of death: Unknown. AWOL from confinement: Walkaways from community release centers residential treatment facilities, previously included in escapes from confinement. Other releases: Erroneous releases.

Montana--Population, movement, and releases: Numbers are estimates based on fiscal year data (July 1, 1994 to June 30, 1995). Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Escapees/AWOL releases/admissions: Montana does not track escapees and AWOL prisoners as admissions and releases. Jurisdiction and custody population: Includes some inmates from other jurisdictions whom Montana housed. Race, white: The Montana "Hispanic" category.

Nebraska--Parole violators only, no new sentences: Includes some parole violators with new sentences. Other unconditional releases: Includes sentences vacated by the court. A court action reversed or overturned the sentences or dismissed the charges. Race and ethnicity: Numbers are estimates.

Nevada--Total admissions and releases: May include some inmates with a 1 year sentence. New court commitments: May include a very small number of returns from appeal/bond. Parole violators only, no new sentences: Includes some parole violators with and without new sentences. Transfers from other jurisdictions: These inmates are considered part of Nevada's out-count and are not counted as admissions. Other admissions: Includes Nevada's "not physically received" inmates who are serving concurrent sentences elsewhere. Inmates are counted as admissions when Nevada begins to monitor their sentences and includes them in their out-count population. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Race: Numbers are estimates. Other race: Includes persons of Hispanic and Cuban origin and all other persons whose race is unspecified.

New Hampshire--Jurisdiction counts: In 1995, New Hampshire began reporting computer-generated counts. Therefore, the Jan. 1, 1995 population counts differ from the Dec. 31, 1994 counts. New court commitments: Includes some returns from appeal/bond. May also include some other conditional release violators with and without new sentences. Parole violators only, no new sentences: Includes parole violators with a new sentence. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases with no supervision. Other releases: Court-ordered releases not identifiable as unconditional or conditional.

New Jersey--Sentencing information: Inmates with sentences of more than 1 year include some inmates with a sentence equal to 1 year. New court commitments: May include some transfers from other jurisdictions and returns from appeal/bond. Other conditional release violators only, no new sentences: Prisoners returned (some with new sentences) from the Intensive Supervision Program, an experimental program operated by the Administrative Office of Courts. Other conditional releases: Prisoners released to the Intensive Supervision Program. Causes of death: Unknown at time of data collection. Other race: "Hispanic" inmates who are not classified as "white" or "black." Unknown race/ethnicity: Inmates for whom the racial category was unspecified.

New Mexico--Parole violators only, no new sentences: Includes parole violators with and without additional sentences. Other conditional release violators only, no new sentences: Includes violators both with and without new sentences. Also includes returns from community corrections programs. Other conditional releases: Releases to community corrections programs. Cause of death: Can specify only executions.

New York--New court commitments: Includes parole and other conditional release violators with new sentences. Transfers from other jurisdictions: Includes 520 males and 49 females previously under the jurisdiction of the Department of Mental Hygiene for psychiatric treatment. Other admissions: Includes 26 males returned from conditional parole deportation to the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization Services, as well as 23 males and 2 females returned following erroneous release. Causes of death: Unknown at time of data collection. Transfers to other jurisdictions: Includes 580 males and 50 females transferred to the jurisdiction of the Department of Mental Hygiene for psychiatric treatment. Other releases: Include erroneous releases of 6 males and 9 females.

North Carolina--Sentencing information, partially suspended sentences: Prisoners with partially suspended sentences (part served in prison, part served under probation) are included with the "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" only when the prison portion of the sentence exceeded 12 months. As a result, the population and movement counts of "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" are understated, and the counts of "Inmates with 1 year or less maximum sentence" are overstated. Category estimates, sentencing: Population totals are actual; populations by sentence length are estimates. Parole violators with new sentences: Includes some parole violators without new sentences and some conditional release violators with and without new sentences. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other admissions: Consists of an adjustment residual to balance movement data with the December 31 population. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Other conditional releases: Includes some supervised mandatory releases. Hispanic origin: Not included in the North Carolina data system.

North Dakota--Parole violators only, no new sentences: Includes some parole violators with new sentences. Other conditional release violators only, no new sentences: Includes some conditional release violators with new sentences. Other conditional releases: Court-ordered releases.

Ohio--Sentencing information: Inmates with maximum sentences of more than 1 year include some inmates with sentences of 1 year or less. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: All unauthorized absences are classified as escapes. Other unconditional releases: Sentences vacated by courts. Other conditional releases: Furloughs and other conditional releases.

Oklahoma--Sentencing information: Inmates with maximum sentences of more than 1 year includes some inmates with sentences of 1 year or less. New court commitments: Includes some conditional release violators with and without new sentences. Other unconditional releases: Legislative CAP releases (Senate Bill 445). Other conditional releases: Conditional commutations and CAP releases to probation supervision. Other deaths: Includes one death under investigation. Total jurisdiction population: Excludes 257 males and 34 females housed in local jails solely to ease prison crowding. Other race: Includes "Other" races not specified. Unknown race: Includes Hispanic inmates.

Oregon--Transfers from and to other jurisdictions: Oregon cannot distinguish transfers from other admissions or release categories. Transfers may be included in any admissions or release category. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: All unauthorized absences are classified as escapes. Other admissions: Type of admission unknown at time of data collection. Other unconditional releases: Type of unconditional release unknown at time of data collection.

Pennsylvania--Other admissions: Type of admissions unknown at time of data collection. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Other deaths: Includes deaths still under investigation. Escapee and AWOL prisoners: Excludes prisoners who absconded while residents of community-based facilities. Other race: The Pennsylvania "Hispanic" category.

Rhode Island--Rhode Island revised its Dec. 31, 1994 jurisdiction population because two persons serving sentences out-of-State were incorrectly reported as male instead of female. Rhode Island revised its Dec. 31, 1994 custody population by moving two men originally reported in the unsentenced category to the sentenced to more than 1 year category. Sentencing information, partially suspended sentences: Prisoners with partially suspended sentences (part served in prison, part served under probation) are included with the "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" only when the prison portion of the sentence exceeded 12 months. As a result, the population and movement counts of "Inmates with over 1 year maximum sentence" are understated, and the counts of "Inmates with 1 year or less maximum sentence" are overstated. Other admissions: Returns from erroneous release. Other conditional releases: Court-ordered releases to drug/alcohol treatment programs. Other deaths: Death from a drug overdose. Other releases: An erroneous discharge. Jurisdiction and custody population, unsentenced inmates: Includes five males held on civil contempt of court for nonpayment of child support. Total inmate population: Jurisdiction and custody counts include inmates in prisons and jails, which form an integrated system in Rhode Island.

South Carolina--Other admissions and releases: Includes resentenced inmates. Other unconditional releases: Releases by court-order and remanded to the county jail to await retrial. Other conditional releases: Inmates released to the jurisdiction of the Department of Parole, Probation, and Pardon Services under the Emergency Powers Act. Illnesses/natural causes deaths: Includes some deaths caused by AIDS. South Carolina does not distinguish deaths caused by illnesses/natural causes and those related to HIV infection.

South Dakota--Unconditional releases, expirations of sentences: Includes commutations. Transfers to other jurisdictions: Transfers to Federal or other State facilities. Race: Numbers are estimates.

Tennessee--Sentencing information: Inmates with maximum sentences of 1 year are included with inmates with maximum sentences of more than 1 year. As a result, the population and movement counts of inmates with maximum sentences of more than 1 year are overstated. Parole violators with new sentences: May include some parole violators with no new sentences. Other conditional release violators with new sentences: Includes some probation and community correction program violators with no new sentences. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Conditional releases, paroles: May include a small number of supervised mandatory releases. Other conditional releases: Releases to community correction programs. Total jurisdiction population: Includes 1,843 males and 214 females housed in local facilities solely to ease prison crowding. Excludes 3,263 felons sentenced to serve their time in local facilities. Other race: Includes Hispanic inmates.

Texas--Jurisdiction population, sentencing information: Includes 3,812 males and 605 females with maximum sentences of 1 year or less who cannot be removed from the appropriate admissions and release categories. Admissions and releases: Numbers are estimates. Parole violators with and without new sentences: The Texas data system does not distinguish parole violators with new sentences from those without new sentences. Other conditional release violators with and without new sentences: The Texas data system does not distinguish other conditional release violators with new sentences from those without new sentences. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other admissions and releases: Include "State jail" felons not counted in other admission and release categories. Race and ethnicity: Numbers are estimates. Other deaths: Cause unknown. Other race: Includes the Texas "Hispanic" category and all persons not specified as "white" or "black."

Utah--Other unconditional releases: Inmates whose sentences were terminated prior to expiration. State prison crowding: Includes some inmates housed in Texas county jails on contract.

Vermont--Parole violators with and without new sentences: May include other conditional release violators with or without new sentences. AWOL: May include some returns from appeal/bond. Total inmate population: Jurisdiction and custody counts include inmates in prisons and jails, which form an integrated system in Vermont. Excludes 317 inmates on intermediate sanctions. Race: Numbers are estimates.

Virginia--Virginia provided counts as of Jan. 1, 1996. Other unconditional releases: Administrative releases and some commutations. Conditional releases, supervised mandatory releases, and paroles: Releases to detainer and transfers to other jurisdictions. Other releases: Inmates released to appeal/bond and other administrative releases. Other race: Includes persons of Hispanic origin and all other persons whose race is unspecified.

Washington--Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other unconditional releases: Vacated sentences. Total population, jurisdiction, and custody: Most inmates with a maximum sentence of 1 year or less are housed in county jails. Other race: Inmates of mixed racial origin.

West Virginia--West Virginia revised its Dec. 31, 1994 jurisdiction count. Jurisdiction population, unsentenced: Includes unsentenced inmates who were previously included in inmates with more than 1 year maximum sentence.

Wisconsin--Admissions and releases counts: An undetermined number of admissions and releases are not reported; therefore, when admissions are added to the January 1 population and releases are subtracted, the total does not equal the December 31 population. Other admissions: Includes 893 males and 116 females temporarily returned to prison without a formal revocation; 79 males and 5 females returned pending revocation hearings; 4 males with no Wisconsin sentence; 11 male sex offenders held under Wisconsin's predator law; and 6 males and 1 female erroneously admitted. Other unconditional releases: Court-ordered releases. Other releases: Includes 645 males and 82 females returned to the community after being held without formal revocations; 2 males with no Wisconsin sentence; 11 males and 3 females who were held pending revocation hearing; 8 males and 1 female erroneously admitted; and 8 males released by court order. Unsentenced inmates, jurisdiction and custody counts: Include inmates whose sentences were unknown at time of data collection.

Wyoming--New court commitments and unconditional releases, expirations of sentence: May include a small number of administrative turnovers (starts and expirations of consecutive sentences). Parole violators only, no new sentence: Include some parole violators with new sentences. Escapees and AWOL prisoners: Counted as a single category. Other race: The Wyoming "Hispanic" category.

Capital punishment explanatory notes

The statistics reported for capital punishment may differ from data collected by other organizations. The differences occur for a variety of reasons:

(1) Inmates under sentence of death are originally added to the National Prisoner Statistics (NPS) counts when they enter correctional facilities rather than when judges pronounce sentence.

(2) Following the year when prisoners are first counted, their admissions or releases as a result of court order are attributed to the year for the sentence or court order. For example, a prisoner sentenced in November 1993 entering prison custody in January 1994 would be counted as an admission in the 1994 report; the 1995 report would count him or her as being under sentence of death at yearend 1993. Similarly, a prisoner whose sentence is overturned in 1993 but who remains in the count until 1995 when the court's decision is reported would be subtracted from the 1993 and 1994 reports.

(3) NPS counts of persons under sentence of death are always for the last day of a calendar year and will differ from more recent counts.

Some figures shown for yearend 1994 are revised from those reported in Correctional Populations in the United States, 1994. The revised figures include 26 inmates who either were reported late to the NPS program or were not in the custody of State correctional authorities at yearend 1994: Alabama (1), Arizona (1), Arkansas (1), California (12), Florida (4), Idaho (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and Texas (2). Eighteen inmates had sentences to death removed in 1994 but were not reported: Arizona (1), California (8), New Mexico (1), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (5), and Washington (1). The data for December 31, 1994 also include seven inmates in Florida who were listed erroneously as being removed from death row.

Survey methodology for probation and parole data