Information on Inmates in California Prisons
There are approximately 170,000 inmates in California's prisons. The prison population peaked at 173,479 in 2006, and fell to 166,000 in June 2010. California's prison inmates are typically Hispanic male repeat offenders in their late 20s or early 30s. In 2008, half of the inmates were incarcerated because of parole violations. About one-third of the inmates are in prison because of crimes committed in Los Angeles County.
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California Prisons
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California's prisons include adult facilities, youth facilities and conservation camps. There are 33 adult facilities, which include traditional state prisons, as well as specialized women's prisons and substance abuse facilities. California has eight youth correctional facilities. There are also 44 adult and two Division of Juvenile Justice conservation camps in California. The conservation camps operate 200 crews of minimum-security inmates who provide trained manpower to public agencies dealing with fire suppression, floods, earthquakes and conservation projects.
California Prison Demographics
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As of June 2010, 155,821 of California's inmates were male and 10,098 were female. Hispanic inmates accounted for 65,472 of these inmates; 48,482 were black; 41,802 were white; and 10,163 were other ethnicities. Most of the inmates were between 20 and 40 years old, with the largest single age groups being 25-29 (27,251 inmates) and 30-34 (25,805 inmates). Inmates over 60 years old accounted for 3.6 percent, or 6,034.
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California Prison Offenses
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Of the total inmate population, 94,413 were incarcerated for crimes against persons; 31,707 for property crimes; 26,657 for drug crimes; and 13,142 for other offenses. The leading individual offense was robbery, with 21,664, although 25,145 were in jail for either first- or second-degree murder. Hashish possession was the crime responsible for the least amount of inmates, 45. Close to 14 percent of inmates were required to register as sex offenders.
California Prison Sentences
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California has a mandatory sentencing law, where judges are required to enforce the sentences determined by the legislature for particular offenses. As of June 2010, there were 93,632 (56.4% of the total population) inmates serving mandatory sentences; 24,143 (14.6%) serving life sentences; and 4,085 (2.5%) serving life without parole. There were 687 on death row; 34,499 serving their second sentence; and 8,584 serving their third.
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