1974 1986 1991 1997 2001
145,356,000 175,886,630 187,982,751 199,121,734 210,207,901
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+Prevalence rates up sharply among persons under age 50+
Between 1974 and 2001, the rise in first incarceration rates had the
largest effects on younger age groups. The percent of persons ever
incarcerated tripled among persons ages 25 to 29 (from 1.0% in 1974 to
3.1% in 2001)and more than doubled among persons ages 30 to 34 (from
1.3% to 3.7%) and persons ages 35 to 39 (from 1.4% to 3.8%) (table 3).
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+Table 3. Percent of adult population ever incarcerated in a State or
Federal prison, by age, 1974-2001+
Percent of adult population ever incarcerated in a State
or Federal prison