How many people are currently serving time in jail or prison in the United States?*
More than 2 million people are currently behind bars in America.
The combined populations of the California, Texas and federal prison systems accounted for more than a third of the entire prison population in late 2000.
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Sources: CNN.com article, "Rate of Growth of U.S. Prison Population Slows," Aug. 10, 2000; in addition to U.S. Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics |
How does San Francisco County [featured in Presumed Guilty] compare with the rest of the state of California?
- In 1999, San Francisco County contributed 1.3 percent of the statewide felon population, while the nine-county Bay Area contributed 12.7 percent to the total statewide felon population. The county of Los Angeles contributed more than 33 percent (more than a third) of the state's felon population.
- The incarceration rate of San Francisco County for felonies is half that of the state -- 89 people per 100,000 versus 191 people per 100,000.
How much faith do Americans have in the justice system? Do opinions vary depending upon race, gender and location?*
Attitudes by Gender:
-- When asked how much confidence they have in the U.S. criminal justice system, 28 percent of men reported a great deal of confidence, 38 percent some confidence and 32 percent very little confidence. In comparison, 21 percent of women felt a great deal of confidence in the criminal justice system, 45 percent some confidence and 28 percent very little confidence.
Attitudes by Race:
-- 25 percent of White respondents expressed a great deal of confidence in our justice system, 42 percent some confidence and 29 percent very little confidence. By comparison, 18 percent of Black respondents reported a great deal of confidence, 43 percent some confidence and 28 percent very little confidence.
Attitudes by Region:
-- More respondents in the Midwest had "very little" confidence in our criminal justice system than respondents on the East Coast: 35 percent and 27 percent, respectively. By comparison, 28 percent of respondents in the South expressed a "great deal" of confidence in our justice, whereas just 20 percent of respondents in the West shared a similar sentiment.
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Sources: Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000; "Public Attitudes Toward Uses of Criminal History Information," in addition to U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics |
Did you know that the widespread use of public defenders for accused individuals who cannot afford legal counsel is a relatively new feature of our criminal justice system?
It was secured through a decision ruling by the Supreme Court on Gideon v. Wainwright in 1963.
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