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Justice

Where the Prison Population Is Rising

Overall, the prison population is decreasing, but in some states, it’s higher than ever. A new report looks at trends state by state.
A man on death row at a prison in San Quentin, California.
A man on death row at a prison in San Quentin, California. Stephen Lam/Reuters

The incarceration rate in America continues to decline overall, but not in every state. While 30 states saw a decline in their prison populations in 2017, as many 20 states saw a rise; in 10, incarceration numbers peaked.

That’s according to a recent report from the Vera Institute of Justice, based on information collected from states and the federal Bureau of Prison.