Table 1

Number of persons in prison in the United States, 2000–2004, by race and gender, age 18–44

Year
Total*
Caucasian n (%)
African American n (%)
Hispanic n (%)

Female

2000
141,100
56,300 (39.9)
64,200 (45.5)
17,600 (12.5)
2001
146,500
60,100 (41.0)
64,200 (43.8)
18,100 (12.4)
2002
146,600
59,700 (40.7)
58,500 (39.9)
22,800 (15.6)
2003
152,500
65,100 (42.7)
58,100 (38.1)
24,800 (16.3)
2004
157,900
69,700 (44.1)
58,400 (37.0)
25,300 (16.0)
2000–2004
148,920
62,180 (41.7)
60,680 (40.9)
21,720 (14.5)

Male

2000
1,559,900
556,300 (35.7)
716,100 (45.9)
260,900 (16.7)
2001
1,592,200
578,000 (36.3)
729,600 (45.8)
257,500 (16.2)
2002
1,614,200
526,600 (32.6)
731,700 (45.3)
308,200 (19.1)
2003
1,612,000
534,800 (33.2)
719,700 (44.7)
322,000 (20.0)
2004
1,638,100
555,400 (33.9)
722,100 (44.1)
324,000 (19.8)
2000–2004
1,603,280
550,220 (34.3)
723,840 (45.2)
294,520 (18.4)

SOURCE: AJ Beck, JC Karberg. Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.

*Includes Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders; totals for Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic will not equal to 100 percent.

Hogg et al. Harm Reduction Journal 2008 5:4   doi:10.1186/1477-7517-5-4