Latest BJS census of correctional facilities

A new report just released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, titled "Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 2005" provides an accounting of nationwide facilities locking up individuals in the Unites States.  The new BJS report is available online at this link, where these highlights are noted:

• The number of prisoners held in custody in state and federal correctional facilities increased 10% from 1,305,253 in 2000 to 1,430,208 in 2005.
• Between the 2000 and the 2005 censuses, the number of correctional employees rose 3%, resulting in a higher inmate-to-staff ratio in the latter year.
• While the stock of minimum security facilities grew by 155 and maximum security facilities rose by 40 between 2000 and 2005, the number of medium security facilities declined by 42.