California Criminal Justice FAQ: Who is in prison?

Demographics of the Prison Population
	2007
		Prison Population	California Adult Population
	Total Population	172,508	27,648,604
	Gender
	Male	93%	49%
	Female	7	51
	Ethnicity
	Black	29%	6%
	Hispanic	39	31
	White	27	48
	Other	6	15
	Age
	18‑19	1%	4%
	20‑29	30	19
	30‑39	30	19
	40‑49	26	21
	50‑59	10	17
	60 and older	3	21

	Details may not total due to rounding.

The prison population is predominantly comprised of male blacks and Hispanics age 20 through 39.
By comparison, the California population has significantly higher percentages of women, whites, and older individuals than are in prison.
During the past 20 years, the percentage of inmates who are Hispanic has increased by about 11 percent, while the percentage that is white or black has decreased. Over this period, the percentage of inmates age 50 or older more than doubled. The gender distribution of the prison population has remained stable.
For more information on the inmate population, see Department of Corrections and Rehabilitationï¿½s Prison Census report.