Most people consider America a global technological leader with employment opportunities and high living standards. But did you know that the United States is also a worldwide leader in incarceration? This may be a critical barrier to your entrepreneurship journey.

According to the records of the Bureau of Prisons, there were 159,357 federal inmates as of May 18, 2023, of whom about 50% were detained for federal narcotics offenses.

Here are some startling US criminal record statistics if you want to learn more. 📈

Content

Disturbing US Criminal Record Statistics

The following are some mind-blowing statistics that you need to know:

• Over 80 million (1 in every 3) US adults have a criminal record.

• There are 2.068 million people in prison in the US, a 500% increase over the last four decades.

• 27% of ex-convicts in the US are unemployed.

• Less than half of all crimes are reported. 

• People of color only make up 42% of the total US population but 67% of the US prison population.

• 5.17 million Americans are forbidden to vote in the 2020 election because they have a felony record. 

• 33% of US adults hold a criminal record as of 2023.

• The incarceration rate in the United States is the sixth highest globally, at 505 per 100,000 people, as of January 2023.

• The average bail bond in the US is $10,000.

General US Criminal Record Statistics

A criminal record can damage one’s reputation and ability to find employment. Here are some general criminal record statistics for US citizens:

1. Authorities recorded over 6,657 new convictions in the US in February 2023. (Trac Reports)

This number is 11.7% lower than the previous month and 24.1% higher than the past year.

2. One in three US adults holds a criminal record. (CBS News)

According to the latest criminal conviction statistics, over 80 million Americans hold a criminal record, making up roughly one out of every three US adults. Around 10% of them (8.0 million) have been imprisoned at least once in their lifetime. 

3. Only half of the FBI’s criminal records are updated. (WSJ)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation maintains a nationwide record of all arrests. But just half of those records are up-to-date. Many are not removed or updated in the master criminal records databases once cases are thrown out locally.

4. By age 23, nearly 50% of black males had been detained at least once. (Source: University of South Carolina)

The University of South Carolina put together a study with the data from a 16-year US Bureau of Labor Statistics survey to look at US crime statistics. The research showed that almost half of black American males (49%) were arrested at least once before their 23rd birthday. This number was 40% for white males and 44% for Hispanic males.

US Crime Statistics by States

Violent crimes affect families, communities, and entire neighborhoods, which can have lasting consequences. The following are some crime statistics by state in the US:

1. Out of all states, Mississippi has the highest number of homicides. (Source: World Population Review)

US crime statistics show that Mississippi currently has the highest murder rate. It records 20.5 murders per 100,000 residents. You are twice as likely to witness a murder in Mississippi as anywhere else in the US.

The state with the second-highest murder rate is Louisiana. It also has the most gun violence, with 19.9 murders per 100,000 people, followed by Alabama, with 14.2 homicides per 100,000 people

2. Maine has the lowest violent crime rate in the US. (Consumer Affairs)

Looking at the crime rates per state, Maine has the lowest violent crime rate of any state: it ranks 2nd lowest in murder, 19th in rape, first in aggravated assault, and 4th in robbery. Of the three property offenses, it is also among the top 10.

US Criminal Justice Statistics for 2023

The FBI and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) are the primary sources of government crime statistics in the United States. Here are the statistics of the prevalent crimes in the US, which include crimes against property and crimes against persons. 

1. Property crime is more common compared to violent crime. (Legal Jobs)

Property crime is the most common type. It includes theft, robbery, car and vehicle theft, etc. It is most common in countries like Trinidad and Tobago, El Salvador, and Guyana, where tourists are robbed and assaulted.

2. Only 1 in 3 property crimes in the US are reported. (Legal Jobs)

According to the latest available criminal record statistics, the Bureau of Justice can only record 35% of the property crimes committed in the US. These crimes are challenging to solve, so it is unsurprising that only 19% of reported property crimes are solved and closed.

3. There were 76 reported aggravated assaults in February 2023. (Rockymount Telegram)

Over the past couple of years, aggravated assault cases have been the most reported type of crime in the US. There were 76 aggravated assaults this year as of the end of February, compared to 40 aggravated assaults in February 2022, showing a 90% increase.

4. Homicides are the most frequently solved type of crime. (Pew Research)

According to crime conviction statistics, the police solved 61.4% of murders in 2019. When looking at other types of crimes, the number is much lower. Out of all reported aggravated assaults, only 52.3% were solved, and the number is only 32.9% for rape cases and 30.5% for robberies.

Wrongful Conviction Stats in US for 2023

Not only can a wrongful conviction destroy one’s life, but it can also have a ripple effect that lasts long after the conviction is lifted or the penalty is completed. Here are some mind-boggling statistics on wrongful convictions:

1. African-American convicted murderers are 80% more likely to be innocent than others. (Death Penalty Info) 

Unfortunately, race plays a role in wrongful convictions. African-American prisoners convicted of murder are 80% more likely to be innocent than other convicted murderers. The number is even higher if these people are convicted of killing white victims. In the United States, blacks are nearly 7½  times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder than whites.

2. Out of the 417 exonerations, more than 268 occurred in 2022. (NRE Newspaper)

According to the National Registry of Exonerations, 268 exonerations were recorded in 2022. Those people were reported to have lost 11.5 years to wrongful convictions.

3. A black prisoner serving time for sexual assault is 3½ times more likely to be innocent than a white convict. (University of Michigan) 

Criminal justice statistics show that African-American males serving time for sexual assault are up to 3½ times more likely to be innocent than white males convicted of the same crime.

US Criminal Record Employment Statistics

A criminal background can significantly make it harder to get a job in the US. Many previous convicts remain jobless or restricted to blue-collar employment options. Let’s take a look at some criminal record employment statistics.

1. 27% of ex-convicts in the US are unemployed. (Prison Policy) 

Statistics show that more than a quarter of formerly incarcerated people in the US failed to find a job after they were released. This number exceeds the nation’s unemployment rate during the Great Depression (25%). These statistics demonstrate how challenging it can be to be employed if you have been previously convicted.

2. Substance-related felonies and misdemeanors are more likely to be overlooked by employers than other crimes. (SHRM)

An SHRM survey showed that 65% of managers and 78% of HR professionals are willing to overlook substance-related felonies when hiring new employees, while 67% of managers and 70% of HR professionals are prepared to hire job seekers with previous records of misdemeanors such as shoplifting.

3. Criminal records that include sexual offenses are least likely to be overlooked by employers. (Russell Webster)

According to statistics, criminal records that include sexual offenses are the least likely to be overlooked by employers. Only 11% of managers and 9% of HR professionals are willing to hire someone with a criminal history, including sexual offenses. 

4. 12 states offer rehabilitation certificates to those with a criminal history. (NCSL) 

Employers in 12 US states—California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Tennessee—offer rehabilitation certifications for potential criminal record employees. 

US Felony Statistics

A felony is a crime that is considered more severe as compared to a misdemeanor. Crimes include murder, kidnapping, rape, arson, and burglary. Here are some shocking felony statistics:

1. 64% of unemployed males in their 30s have a criminal record. (CNBC)

Recent criminal record statistics show that about 6% of men who are 35 years old are unemployed. Of this number, 64% have a criminal record. 46% have been convicted of a crime, while 27% have been imprisoned.

2. Overall, index crime increased by 38.5% in January 2022. (NYC Gov)

As of January 2022, New York City authorities reported a 38.5% increase in overall index crime. The 9,566 index crime is a massive increase from the 6,905 in 2021. There were 940 reported robberies in 2021 and 1,251 in 2022. Shootings rose from 76 to 100, while grand theft increased from 2,559 to 2,047. Murder experienced a welcomed decline from 33 to 28 in 2022.

3. 15% of the African-American male population has served time. (UGA Today)

The University of Georgia's study shows that around 15% of African-American males have served time in the US.

US Incarceration Statistics 

In the United States, incarceration is considered the primary form of punishment. The following are some mass incarceration statistics in the United States:

1. In 2022, Oklahoma had the highest incarceration rate. (World Population Review) 

The US has the largest prison population in the world, with 2 million people in prison as of January 2022. Regarding percentage ratios, roughly 0.7% of Americans are in jail, with Oklahoma having the highest incarceration rate. 

2. In 2021, there were 1,240 reported black prisoners for every 100,000 black US adults. (US News)   

While the average number of prisoners per 100,000 adults in the US is 698, the number is much higher when looking at African-Americans. For every 100,000 black US adults, there are 1,240 black prisoners. In contrast, there are only 261 white prisoners for every 100,000 white US adults, whereas Latino Americans are imprisoned at 349 per 100,000 residents.

3. The average bail bond is $10,000 in the US. (Prison Policy Initiative) 

According to statistics, the median bail amount for a felony in the US is $10,000. This is more than eight months' income for the typical prisoner.

Criminal Records in the Digital Age: A Review of Current Practices and Recommendations for Reform in Texas (University of Texas School of Law)

Across the United States criminal records are increasingly available to the public through government repositories and commercial vendors alike

The opportunities and benefits lost as a result of a criminal record create lifelong barriers for anyone attempting to overcome a criminal past. 

• Easy access to records means that most employers and landlords routinely request criminal history information when screening applicants. 

• A criminal record severely restricts most employment opportunities and can entirely eliminate the opportunity to work in hundreds of licensed professions. 

• A criminal record makes it significantly harder to find housing, whether with private landlords or in publicly subsidized housing, with some offenses requiring lifetime bans. 

• Government benefits, including, cash assistance, food stamps, and student loans, may be denied or restricted because of a criminal history. 

More than 65 million adults nationwide have a criminal history; the numbers in Texas are equally alarming, with an estimated 4.7 million adults possessing a criminal record 

These numbers continue to increase as more people are arrested and drawn into the criminal justice system. In Texas alone, law enforcement makes more than 1 million new arrests annually. All of these individuals are at risk for the long term negative collateral consequences that flow from a criminal record. 

With the rise of the Internet and the emergence of electronic databases, more than 40 million criminal background checks are performed annually for non-criminal justice purposes

But despite the technological advances that make criminal records so easy and cheap to access, little oversight exists to ensure that the information being reported is accurate and legally compliant. Equally problematic is that efforts to minimize collateral consequences by limiting access to the criminal records are undermined by the absence of uniform statewide release procedures. 

Widespread access to criminal records has serious long-term societal implications 

• Employment and housing are determinant factors in assessing recidivism risks, with the first year following release being the most critical time for reentry. 

• Collateral consequences affect everyone in contact with the individual, including families and children. 

• Many communities most affected already contend with high rates of unemployment, homelessness, and crime.

• The overrepresentation of African Americans and Latinos at every level of the criminal justice system puts these individuals at greater risk of harm. 

The risk of recidivism and danger to public safety are the most common concerns voiced by those advocating for increased access to criminal records, but such fears are overstated

Few, if any, contend that criminal history information is never a relevant factor to be considered. Problems arise, however, when policies and practices allow searches to include any past criminal involvement or law enforcement contact, regardless of offense, circumstance, and time passed. Restricting all opportunity for those living with a criminal record does not enhance public safety. 

A review of legislative efforts from across the US illustrates the complex nature of these problems

Lawmakers must combine many small solutions to create comprehensive system-wide reform to better control access to and use of criminal records and to minimize downstream reentry barriers. It is time for Texas to engage in this same process. 

Wrap-Up

Criminal record statistics are essential to the state, the citizen, and society in general. The legal system also used these numbers to determine the resources needed for studying and comprehending the criminal justice system. 

There you have it, then. To improve your knowledge, you must know some essential information regarding criminal records—make sure you get the numbers right!

THE TRAVIS COUNTY RE-ENTRY RESOURCE GUIDE

The Travis County Justice Planning Workforce Development (JPWD) Reentry Resource Guide Distributed by the Travis County Sherriff's Office was last updated in 2021 and created for the benefit of those in need of information regarding resources that may be available for those affected by the justice system and their families during the reentry process after incarceration. 

The Travis County Justice Planning Reentry Resource Guide should be updated and distributed on an ongoing basis. Every effort should be made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within the guide is correct. For more information, please get in touch with:

DISCLAIMER: The Travis County Justice Planning Department does not endorse any of the organizations or facilities that are included in this Re-Entry Guide. The agencies in this listing does not constitute an endorsement. We make every effort to give you the most up-to-date information. Please phone ahead to ensure these organizations are available to assist you. Be sure to put together an action plan for your success. 

Back to top