1974 1986 1991 1997 2001
145,356,000 175,886,630 187,982,751 199,121,734 210,207,901
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Persons ages 35 to 44 comprised the largest age group, accounting for 3
out of 10 former prisoners at yearend 2001 (1,280,000). Former
prisoners were older than those currently in State or Federal prison,
with 49% of former prisoners age 45 or older compared to 13% of persons
confined on December 31, 2001. Current prisoners outnumbered former
prisoners only among those ages 18 to 24 (254,000 compared with
155,000).
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