(BOP) - The Bureau of Prisons ended Fiscal Year 2016 with 13,553 fewer inmates than it had one year ago. This is the third consecutive year of decreases in the inmate population after 34 successive years of increases.
The population reduction resulted in a decrease in crowding levels, across the federal prison system, from 39% in 2013 to 16% today. Crowding at high security institutions remains a challenge but the situation is improving.
The declining inmate population has reduced the ratio of inmates to staff, increasing the staff's ability to effectively supervise and treat the inmate population. In general, reductions in the size of the federal inmate population improves safety and security and enhances reentry efforts inside federal prisons, thereby furthering the agency's mission to protect public safety and reduce crime.
The federal inmate population is expected to decline by another 1,975 inmates by the end of FY 2017.
