Among
persons admitted to state prison in 2014 across 34 states, 77% had five
or more prior arrests in their criminal history, including the arrest
that resulted in their prison sentence. A similar proportion (76%) of
persons admitted to state prison in 29 states in 2009 had five or more
prior arrests.
The
369,200 persons admitted to state prison in 34 states in 2014 had an
estimated 4.2 million prior arrests in their criminal histories,
including the arrest that resulted in their prison sentence. In both
2009 and 2014, persons admitted to state prison had a median of nine
prior arrests in their criminal histories. About 1 in 10 persons
admitted in 2014 at age 24 or younger had at least one prior arrest
outside of the state where they were admitted, and about 1 in 4 persons
admitted at age 40 or older had at least one such arrest.
Arrest History of Persons Admitted to State Prison in 2009 and 2014
(NCJ 305022) was written by BJS Statistician Matthew R. Durose and
former BJS Statistician Leonardo Antenangeli, PhD. The report, related
documents, and additional information about BJS’s statistical
publications and programs are available on the BJS website at bjs.ojp.gov.
