Historical Prison Data

Abstract

Reforms often are alterations made to correct a problem with a system. They are difficult to achieve and the outcome can be that the system fails to operate correctly in a different way. This is a common feature of complex adaptive systems. Another feature of complex adaptive systems are heavy tailed distributions. This report uses several characteristics of Iowa prison inmates to study their distributions with respect length of confinement to see if any have heavy tailed distributions. It was found that some of them did have such distributions.

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Abstract

The process that can result in a convict being committed to prison to serve a sentence is adaptive, adversarial and complex. One way to study a complex process is to study the smaller component parts. In Iowa the smallest components where data is available for study are the 99 counties. This study uses data collected by the Iowa Department of Corrections on county commitments to prison in 2016.

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Abstract

Growth curves for 36 state female and male prisons were compared to each other and the standard growth curve. The frequently used standard growth curve is the combined state and federal growth curves for both genders. Very few state curves were similar to the standard curve. Most states were able to stop the growth and some were able to establish and maintain negative growth at moderate rates. However, the prison populations of other states are continuing to increase.

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Abstract

Admission to a state prison is a possible outcome of a complex, adaptive and adversarial process that depends a a very large number of factors including age and gender. Only adult female and male prisons are considered in this report.

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Abstract

In order to accommodate the growth in the state prison population the capacity of the prisons was increased by nearly 1 million beds. It is estimated that 95% of the construction cost was paid by the states and all increased operating cost as well.

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Abstract

Historical data by gender for state prisons in general and Iowa prisons in particular are presented and their historical norms determined.

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Abstract

The report gives the sources of historical data on Black imprisonment and a brief review of the terms “Mass Imprisonment” and “Historic Norms”. It shows that Blacks were imprisoned at a high rate as early as 1842. The legal historians said that was the case before 1842. In addition there is a discussion of the dips in the prison populations caused by major wars.

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