How many people are in prisons in New York?
Updated annually
About 32,600 thousand at the end of 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. This number is up 4.6% from 2022 and includes anyone held under state jurisdiction that has been sentenced to one or more years, usually for a felony conviction.
32.6K
prisoners (Dec. 31, 2023)
+4.6%
change in the prison population from 2022 to 2023
In 2023, the New York prison population was 39.9% lower than the 2012 peak. The biggest annual changes since 2012 were a 4.6% increase in 2023 and a 21.5% decrease in 2020.
The prison population in New York has decreased by 39.9% since its peak in 2012.
Prison population on Dec. 31, 2012-2023
Between 2019 and 2020, the prison population in the US declined sharply, falling 14.6% — a trend that may be visible in some states. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) attributed some of this to COVID-19, pointing to the deaths of nearly 2,500 state and federal prisoners between March 2020 and February 2021 as well as the 37,700 prisoners across 24 states who were released early from custody.
What is the incarceration rate in New York and how does it compare to other states?
In New York, there were 167 people per 100,000 residents serving prison sentences. That was 53.6% lower than the US rate of 360 prisoners per 100,000 residents.
In 2023, New York had 167 people in prison per 100,000 residents.
Sentenced prisoners under state jurisdiction per 100K residents, 2023
New York ranked #42 among states in terms of highest incarceration rates. Across the US, the rate was highest in Mississippi (652 per 100,000) and lowest in Massachusetts (96 per 100,000).
Is the incarceration rate in New York increasing or decreasing?
Compared to a decade ago, incarceration rates decreased in New York by 37%. Over the same period, rates decreased in 44 other states and increased in 5.
Over the last decade, incarceration rates in New York have decreased by 37%.
Sentenced prisoners per 100K residents vs. US rate on Dec. 31, 2014–2023
Are more prisoners in New York held in state-run facilities, private prisons, or local jails?
In New York, state-run facilities housed all prisoners. Unlike some states or the federal prison system, New York does not house prisoners in local jails or private prisons.
100% of prisoners in New York were housed in state-run facilities.
As of Dec. 31, 2023
Among states, Montana relied the most on private prisons, which housed 48.7% of its prisoners. Louisiana held 52.7% of its prisoners in local jails, the largest share of any state.
Are prisons in New York overcrowded?
Every state operates its own prisons. Forty-seven states housed the majority of prisoners in state-run facilities, and these held more than 99% of the total prison population in 15 states. These facilities are built to house a specific number of people but sometimes, the number of prisoners can exceed maximum capacity.
In 2023, eight states fit this description, but not New York. Connecticut, Ohio, and Missouri did not report capacity metrics.
In 2023, the state-run prison system in New York was operating at 24.4% below maximum capacity.
Prison occupancy vs. maximum capacity
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
