State Trends

The following information was assembled by compiling and analyzing available data from multiple sources on a state-by-state basis, drawing on information published on state websites as well as records obtained through public information requests.  

Due to inconsistency between how states define and report on various metrics, the information presented below should only be used to broadly understand state and national trends.

‍Nothing presented here should be used to rank or compare states directly to one another.

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Why this data matters  

Each of these findings sheds light on how the corrections system is functioning in this state. Staffing levels, turnover, and overtime shape the daily experience of corrections staff and incarcerated people.

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What more data could tell us

Collecting the measures shown here are only the start. With more reliable information, corrections directors could analyze the data over time to answer key questions such as:

  1. How many corrections officer positions are currently vacant — and how has that number changed over time?
  2. What is the average length of service for new hires? How does it compare to past cohorts?
  3. What are the top reasons employees give for leaving — and how do those reasons vary by facility or role?
  4. How much is the agency spending on overtime — and how is that overtime distributed across facilities?
  5. How long does it take to fill a vacancy, and how often do recruits complete training and stay at least one year on the job?

Better data would allow leaders to see where risks are growing and identify what strategies can lead to lasting improvement.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-23-GK-05377-MUMU awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.  The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office.  Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Additional support for this effort has been provided by Arnold Ventures and is conducted in partnership with the Correctional Leaders Association.

Photography and images courtesy of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC), North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC), and Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), unless otherwise noted.