Federal and state prisons hold about 1.4 million inmates, while district and city jails hold approximately 700,000 people. In 2003, the number of those serving conditional sentences and on probation was 4.8 million. Compared with 2002, the number of people for whom such a preventive measure was chosen increased by 73,000. Meanwhile, 38% of criminals who were released early from prison again broke the law and returned behind bars. Among those given probation, African Americans accounted for 41%, while whites accounted for 40%. Interestingly, this measure is most popular in Texas and California.
According to experts, the number of prisoners has increased due to a series of strict laws adopted in the 1990s, the entry into force of which led to more frequent and longer prison sentences. And although the crime rate remains relatively stable, and some states are trying to adopt more lenient laws to reduce budget spending on prisons, this has no effect.