Research Note: A State-Level Analysis of Sentencing Policies and Inmate Crowding in State Prisons

Sentencing policies focused on “getting tough” with felons may contribute to prison crowding by increasing the numbers of prison inmates serving more than I year, thereby slowing prison population turnover. However, empirical relationships between sentencing policies and inmate crowding have not been established firmly. The study presented here indicates that the number of inmates serving more than 1 year in state prisons is significantly larger in states with higher minimum sentences, larger numbers of mandatory prison terms, and structured parole guidelines. Larger numbers of long-term inmates, in turn, correspond with higher levels of prison crowding across states.