inmate population

The inmate population refers to the total number of individuals confined in prisons or correctional facilities at a given time. It includes both pre-trial detainees and convicted offenders serving sentences. This number helps measure the capacity and use of correctional resources. Factors influencing inmate populations include crime rates, sentencing laws, and criminal justice policies. Monitoring these figures aids in assessing the criminal justice system's efficiency, planning for facility needs, and understanding broader social and legal trends impacting incarceration.