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North Dakota Report

North Dakota

IMPRISONMENT IN NORTH DAKOTA

At year-end 2004, North Dakota prisons housed 1,238 inmates serving sentences of more than one year. Of these inmates, 1,109 were male and 129 were female. North Dakota ranked 38th in its 2004 female imprisonment rate with 41 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents, and 46th in its 2004 overall imprisonment rate with 195 prisoners per 100,000 residents.

In 1977, North Dakota prisons housed only two female inmates; by 2004, the female prison population had reached 129. North Dakota's female prison population was at its lowest with two female prisoners in 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980 and peaked at 129 female inmates in 2004.

GROWTH IN FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATE

Between 1977 and 2004, North Dakota's female prison population grew by 6,350% with an average annual percent change of 28.4% per year. The excessively high percent change can be explained by the very low beginning count (in 1977, North Dakota had only two female prisoners).

Throughout the period from 1977 to 2004, North Dakota's female imprisonment rate was substantially lower than the average female imprisonment rate across the states. With a female imprisonment rate of 41 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents, North Dakota is among the 15 least punitive states in its imprisonment of female offenders (ranked 38th). While still somewhat less punitive relative to other states, North Dakota became increasingly punitive in its imprisonment of female offenders through the 1990s. The trend toward a higher imprisonment rate in North Dakota is more pronounced in its imprisonment of females than it is in its overall imprisonment.

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. North Dakota's male to female ratio appears quite erratic, largely because of the low base number of female prisoners. North Dakota's 1977 ratio was substantially higher than average with 80 male prisoners for every female prisoner. By 2004, North Dakota's male to female imprisonment ratio (9:1) was lower than the average across states.

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

According to the 2000 Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, North Dakota has three correctional facilities. Of North Dakota's three correctional facilities, one houses male prisoners only and two house both male and female prisoners. No facility houses only female inmates.