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Sentencing Law and Policy
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The newest (not-so-new) data from BJS on parole and probation populations throughout the United States

By Douglas Berman

The Bureau of Justice Statistics just released this 40+-page report, titled “Probation and Parole in the United States, 2017-2018,” providing its latest official data on offenders under community supervision throughout the nation.  Though already a bit dated, the report still provides a notable view on the largest group of persons subject to criminal justice control in the US.  Here are data from the “Highlights” section at the start of the report:

  • The total number of adults on probation or parole decreased by an estimated 109,900 offenders (down 2%) from 2017 to 2018, and by 694,400 (down 14%) from 2008 to 2018.

  • The total community-supervision population in 2018 was at its lowest level since 1998.

  • The portion of adults on community supervision fell 1.5% from 2016 to 2017, 3% from 2017 to 2018, and 22% from 2008 to 2018.

  • In 2018, the portion of adults on community supervision was at its lowest level since 1990.

  • An estimated 1 in 58 adults in the U.S. were under community supervision at the end of 2018, down from 1 in 45 in 2008.

  • The adult probation population declined 3% from 2017 to 2018 and 17% from 2008 to 2018, while the adult parole population increased 0.3% from 2017 to 2018 and 6% from 2008 to 2018.

  • The adult probation rate fell 25% from 2008 to 2018, while the adult parole rate fell 4%.

  • In 2018, probation exits outpaced entries for the tenth consecutive year, while parole exits in 2017 exceeded entries for the first time since 2009.