Line chart of the number of adults who are white, black, and of other races in the correctional population from 1986 to 1997 (three lines, one for each status). Throughout the period, the white population has been the largest, followed by the black population, followed by those of other races.

The number of white adults under correctional supervision increased by nearly two-thirds from 1986 to 1997 (2.1 million in 1986 to 3.4 million in 1997), with an overall average annual increase of 4.6% over the 11 year period. From 1986 to 1990, the average annual increase in the number of whites under correctional supervision was 6.3%, with the smallest percentage increase occurring in 1987 (4.9%, or 102,100) and the largest percentage increase in 1989 (7.3% or 172,600). The average annual increase in the white population slowed to 2.5% from 1991 to 1993, with the largest percentage increase in 1992 (3.4%, or 93,500) and the smallest percentage increase in 1993 (1.3% or 36,300). For the period 1993 to 1997, the average annual increase in the number of whites under correctional supervision increased to 4.5%, with the largest percentage increase in 1994 (6.5% or 185,800) and the smallest percentage increase in 1996 (2.3%, or 73,900).

The number of black adults under correctional supervision increased by 92.4% from 1986 to 1997 (1.1 million in 1986 to 2.1 million in 1997), with an average annual increase of 6.1% over the 11 year period. From 1986 to 1993, the average annual increase in the number of blacks under correctional supervision was 8.8%, with increases exceeding 10% in both 1987 and 1989. The smallest percentage increase in the number of blacks under correctional supervision during the 1986 to 1993 time period occurred in 1991 (6.8% or 110,600). The average annual increase in the black population under correctional supervision slowed to 1.7% from 1993 to 1997, with a high of 2.9% (59,500) in 1996 and lows of 0.3% in both 1994 and 1995 (with increases of 6,400 and 6,000, respectively).

The number of adults of other races under correctional supervision increased by two and one-half times from 1986 to 1997 (32,000 in 1986 to almost 114,000 in 1997), with an average annual increase of 12.2% over the 11 year period. Increases of more than 10% occurred in 1995 (38.1%, an increase of 24,900), 1996 (15.9%, an increase of 14,300), 1989 (14.1%, an increase of 5,600), 1987 (13.1%, an increase of 4,200), and 1993 (12.5%, an increase of 6,700). The smallest percentage increase was in 1991 (0.2%, or an increase of 100).

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