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Idaho Report

Idaho

IMPRISONMENT IN IDAHO

At year-end 2004, Idaho prisons housed 6,375 inmates serving sentences of more than one year. Of these inmates, 5,728 were male and 647 were female. Idaho's 2004 female imprisonment rate of 93 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents is the 6th highest in the country. Idaho's 2004 overall imprisonment rate of 454 prisoners per 100,000 residents is the 17th highest overall imprisonment rate.

In 1977, Idaho prisons housed 28 female inmates; by 2004, the female prison population had reached 647. Idaho's female prison population was at its lowest with 25 female prisoners in both 1980 and 1981 and peaked at 647 female inmates in 2004.

GROWTH IN FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATE

Between 1977 and 2004, Idaho's female prison population grew by 2,211% with an average annual percent change of 13.2% per year.

From 1977 through the mid 1990s, Idaho's female imprisonment rate hovered slightly below the average across states. In the mid 1990s, Idaho's female prison population began to grow quite rapidly. By 2004, Idaho's female imprisonment rate of 93 female prisoners per 100,000 was exceptionally high relative to other states. Although quite average in its overall imprisonment rate (ranked 17th), Idaho currently ranks as the 6th most punitive state with reference to female imprisonment rates.

MALE TO FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATIO

The male to female imprisonment ratio indicates the number of male inmates for every female inmate. Although both female and male imprisonment rates have increased over the period of study, a shrinking ratio suggests that the number of female prisoners has increased at a faster pace. In 1977, across the states, there were an average of 26 male prisoners for every female prisoner; by 2004, this ratio had fallen to 13 male prisoners for every female prisoner. Idaho's 1977 ratio was equal to the average across states with 26 male prisoners for every female prisoner. In 2004, Idaho's male to female imprisonment ratio (9:1) was substantially lower than the average across states.

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

According to the 2000 Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, Idaho has 13 correctional facilities. Of Idaho's 13 correctional facilities, 11 house male prisoners only and two house female prisoners only. No facilities house both male and female prisoners.