SACRAMENTO - (INT) - After falling sharply in the first year of the pandemic, California’s prison population is now at a 30-year low.

Meanwhile, the average annual cost of imprisoning a person has risen almost 50% since 2019.

The male-female disparity in imprisonment rates grew from 22:1 in 2019 to 25:1 in 2023.

At 46%, Latinos are the most prevalent racial/ethnic group in California prisons. Black, white, and people of other races are 28%, 20%, and 6%, respectively.

Most of those in California prisons have been convicted of violent crimes. Some racial groups are imprisoned at disproportionate rates. Half of people in California prisons in 2023 were convicted of homicide or assault—up from 45% in 2019. Another 17% were convicted of sex crimes.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has closed three prisons since 2021 and will close another in 2025, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Story Date: September 29, 2024