The U.S. incarceration rate has more than quadrupled since 1970: Approximate number of people in jail or prison per 100,000 population
| Year | Incarceration rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 160 |
| 1980 | 220 |
| 1990 | 460 |
| 2000 | 690 |
| 2008 | 760 |
| 2014 | 690 |
Sources: Justice Policy Institute, U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, and National Academy of Sciences. See note 5 at the end of this report for complete details.