The July 13, 2012 population figures for the Federal Bureau of Prisons continues the recent trends of disproportionate numbers of minorities and drug offenders being incarcerated.
Almost half of all federal prisoners, or 48.2%, are categorized as drug offenders, the vast majority of which are nonviolent. More violent crimes, including weapons violations, explosives, arson, homicide, kidnapping and sex offenses comprise only 29 per cent.
Interestingly, 12% of those incarcerated are confined for immigration crimes, generally illegal re-entry. Why are these people in federal prison they are subject to immediate deportation, after notice and a hearing?
Blacks still comprise almost 38% of those in federal detention, three times greater than their percentage of the U.S. population, although those of Hispanic descent are closing in fast, with 34.7% of all prisoners of that ethnicity.
Approximately 40,000 prisoners are currently in private contract facilities, which includes halfway house residents, who are technically subject to the BOP but not under their direct custody or control.
