IMPRISONMENT AT A GLANCE Imprisonment Rate 1977: 72 (37th) Female Imprisonment Rate 1977: 6 (30th) Imprisonment Rate 2004: 390 (26th) Female Imprisonment Rate 2004: 47 (31st) Total Female Sentenced Prisoners 1977: 136 Total Female Sentenced Prisoners 2004: 1,310 Percent Increase 1977-2004: 863% Average Annual Percent Increase 1977-2004: 9% Percent Decrease 1999-2004: 4%

IMPRISONMENT IN WISCONSIN

At year-end 2004, Wisconsin prisons housed 21,540 inmates serving sentences of more than one year. Of these inmates, 20,230 were male and 1,310 were female. Wisconsin ranked 31st in its 2004 female imprisonment rate with 47 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents, and 26th in its 2004 overall imprisonment rate with 390 prisoners per 100,000 residents.

In 1977, Wisconsin prisons housed 136 female inmates; by 2004, the female prison population had reached 1,310. Wisconsin's female prison population was at its lowest with 136 female prisoners in 1977 and peaked at 1,365 female inmates in 1999.

GROWTH IN FEMALE IMPRISONMENT RATE

Between 1977 and 2004, Wisconsin's female prison population grew by 863% with an average annual percent change of 9.4% per year.

Throughout much of the period from 1977 to 2004, Wisconsin's female imprisonment rate was substantially lower than the average female imprisonment rate across the states; however, in the 1990s, Wisconsin's female imprisonment rate began to increase rather quickly and drastically. By 1998, Wisconsin's female imprisonment rate exceeded the average across states before stabilizing. With a female imprisonment rate of 47 female prisoners per 100,000 female residents, Wisconsin ranked 31st in 2004.

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. Wisconsin's 1977 ratio was slightly lower than average with 24 male prisoners for every female prisoner. By 2004, Wisconsin's male to female imprisonment ratio (15:1) was slightly higher than the average across states.

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

According to the 2000 Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, Wisconsin has 30 correctional facilities. Of Wisconsin's 30 correctional facilities, 26 house male prisoners only, three house female prisoners only, and one houses both male and female prisoners.