Inmate Populations and Crime Rates Have Declined Over the Past Decade

• As of March 2018, approximately 72,732 inmates were held in 134 State and local correctional facilities, which include:
  • 54 State correctional facilities;
  • 63 county jail and correctional facilities; and
  • 17 New York City correctional facilities.

• Since March 2009, the total inmate population has declined by 16,840 (18.8 percent), with the majority of the decline occurring from State correctional facilities, followed by New York City correctional facilities.
• Over the last ten years, the proportion of inmates aged 50 and over in State correctional facilities increased by 59.2 percent.

• From 2008 to 2017, the total number of crimes reported annually in New York State declined by 104,063 (22.4 percent). This trend reflects falling crime rates across most major categories of crimes.

• The rate of decline in reported crimes from 2008 to 2017 has been greater in areas outside of New York City than in the City itself. 
  • Crimes reported in New York City declined by 13.7 percent, from 198,419 in 2008 to 171,248 in 2017; and
  • Crimes reported in areas outside of New York City declined by 28.9 percent, from 266,272 in 2008 to 189,380 in 2017.

Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility to 18

• Legislation included in the SFY 2017-18 Enacted Budget will raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 16 to 17 years on October 1, 2018 and from 17 to 18 years on October 1, 2019.
• As a result, individuals aged 16 and 17 years committing non-violent crimes will no longer be processed as adults in the State’s criminal justice system and will instead receive rehabilitation services in age-appropriate facilities.
• Statewide, arrests of 16- and 17-year-olds for misdemeanors and non-violent felonies totaled 18,156 in 2017, of which:
  • 9,708 (53.5 percent) were made in New York City; and
  • 8,448 (46.5 percent) were made in areas outside of New York City.