How many people are in prisons in North Carolina?
Updated annually
About 30,700 at the end of 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. This number is up 3.6% from 2022 and includes anyone held under state jurisdiction. Prisoners sentenced to one or more years — usually for a felony conviction — make up 97.7% of this group, and the remainder includes people who are serving shorter sentences or awaiting sentencing.
30.7K
prisoners (Dec. 31, 2023)
+3.6%
change in the prison population from 2022 to 2023
In 2023, the North Carolina prison population was 17.4% lower than the 2012 peak. The biggest annual changes since 2012 were a 3.6% increase in 2023 and a 13.6% decrease in 2020.
The prison population in North Carolina has decreased by 17.4% 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 North Carolina and how does it compare to other states?
In North Carolina, there were 275 people per 100,000 residents serving prison sentences. That was 23.6% lower than the US rate of 360 prisoners per 100,000 residents.
In 2023, North Carolina had 275 people in prison per 100,000 residents.
Sentenced prisoners under state jurisdiction per 100K residents, 2023
North Carolina ranked #30 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 North Carolina increasing or decreasing?
Compared to a decade ago, incarceration rates decreased in North Carolina by 23.2%. Over the same period, rates decreased in 44 other states and increased in 5.
Over the last decade, incarceration rates in North Carolina have decreased by 23%.
Sentenced prisoners per 100K residents vs. US rate on Dec. 31, 2014–2023
Are more prisoners in North Carolina held in state-run facilities, private prisons, or local jails?
In North Carolina, state-run facilities housed 99.9% of people, and 0.1% were held in private prisons. Unlike some states or the federal prison system, North Carolina does not house prisoners in local jails.
99.9% of prisoners in North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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, 8 states fit this description, but not North Carolina. Connecticut, Ohio, and Missouri did not report capacity metrics.
In 2023, the state-run prison system in North Carolina was operating at 12.5% 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.
