Data Update
These tables provide data on prison and jail litigation. A version in April 2021 accompanied Andrea Fenster & Margo Schlanger, Slamming the Courthouse Door: 25 Years of Evidence for Repealing the Prison Litigation Reform Act, Prison Policy Initiative (April 26, 2021), but we are continuing to update at least annually.
Tables A–F are updated from Margo Schlanger, Trends in Prisoner Litigation, as the PLRA Enters Adulthood, 5 U.C. Irvine L. Rev. 153 (2015)A
Underlying data, excel versions, and replication code for tables are posted here.
Table A: Incarcerated Population and Prison/Jail Civil Rights/Conditions Filings, FY 1970 – FY 2021
Fiscal Year | Incarcerated Population | Prisoner Civil Rights / Conditions Filings in Fed. District Court | ||||||
Total Incar. Pop. | State Prison Pop. | Federal Prison Pop. | Local Jail Pop. | Total Filings | Non-federal Def’ts | Federal Def’ts | Filings / 1,000 Incar. Pop. | |
1970 | 359,419 | 178,654 | 20,038 | 160,727 | 2,244 | 2,091 | 153 | 6.2 |
1971 | 353,740 | 177,113 | 20,948 | 155,679 | 3,179 | 2,969 | 210 | 9.0 |
1972 | 352,326 | 174,379 | 21,713 | 156,234 | 3,635 | 3,393 | 242 | 10.3 |
1973 | 360,999 | 181,396 | 22,815 | 156,788 | 4,665 | 4,257 | 408 | 12.9 |
1974 | 387,063 | 207,360 | 22,361 | 157,342 | 5,574 | 5,186 | 388 | 14.4 |
1975 | 411,712 | 229,685 | 24,131 | 157,896 | 6,527 | 6,020 | 507 | 15.9 |
1976 | 436,451 | 248,883 | 29,117 | 158,451 | 7,095 | 6,701 | 394 | 16.3 |
1977 | 448,568 | 258,643 | 30,920 | 159,005 | 8,348 | 7,843 | 505 | 18.6 |
1978 | 456,877 | 269,765 | 26,285 | 160,827 | 10,087 | 9,520 | 567 | 22.1 |
1979 | 477,154 | 281,233 | 23,356 | 172,565 | 11,713 | 11,149 | 564 | 24.5 |
1980 | 506,082 | 295,819 | 23,779 | 186,484 | 13,079 | 12,496 | 583 | 25.8 |
1981 | 560,431 | 333,251 | 26,778 | 200,402 | 16,333 | 15,544 | 789 | 29.1 |
1982 | 617,235 | 375,603 | 27,311 | 214,321 | 16,809 | 16,075 | 734 | 27.2 |
1983 | 652,725 | 394,953 | 28,945 | 228,827 | 17,517 | 16,793 | 724 | 26.8 |
1984 | 691,538 | 417,389 | 30,875 | 243,274 | 18,340 | 17,471 | 869 | 26.5 |
1985 | 746,870 | 451,812 | 35,781 | 259,277 | 18,489 | 17,662 | 827 | 24.8 |
1986 | 818,383 | 496,834 | 39,781 | 281,768 | 20,366 | 19,657 | 709 | 24.9 |
1987 | 867,040 | 520,336 | 42,478 | 304,226 | 22,073 | 21,415 | 658 | 25.5 |
1988 | 948,971 | 562,605 | 44,205 | 342,161 | 22,657 | 21,879 | 778 | 23.9 |
1989 | 1,070,824 | 629,995 | 53,387 | 387,442 | 23,736 | 22,803 | 933 | 22.2 |
1990 | 1,154,265 | 684,544 | 58,838 | 410,883 | 24,051 | 23,028 | 1,023 | 20.8 |
1991 | 1,220,168 | 728,605 | 63,930 | 427,633 | 24,355 | 23,570 | 785 | 20.0 |
1992 | 1,300,736 | 778,495 | 72,071 | 450,170 | 28,544 | 27,723 | 821 | 21.9 |
1993 | 1,382,523 | 828,566 | 80,815 | 473,142 | 31,692 | 30,841 | 851 | 22.9 |
1994 | 1,478,242 | 904,647 | 85,500 | 488,095 | 36,596 | 35,551 | 1,045 | 24.8 |
1995 | 1,597,044 | 989,004 | 89,538 | 518,502 | 39,053 | 38,022 | 1,031 | 24.5 |
1996 | 1,654,574 | 1,032,676 | 95,088 | 526,810 | 38,262 | 37,126 | 1,136 | 23.1 |
1997 | 1,740,897 | 1,074,809 | 101,755 | 564,333 | 26,095 | 25,226 | 869 | 15.0 |
1998 | 1,816,310 | 1,111,927 | 110,793 | 593,590 | 24,221 | 23,313 | 908 | 13.3 |
1999 | 1,894,857 | 1,155,878 | 125,682 | 613,297 | 23,512 | 22,645 | 867 | 12.4 |
2000 | 1,946,822 | 1,177,240 | 140,064 | 629,518 | 23,357 | 22,399 | 958 | 12.0 |
2001 | 1,971,139 | 1,179,954 | 149,852 | 641,333 | 22,132 | 21,225 | 907 | 11.2 |
2002 | 2,032,723 | 1,209,145 | 158,216 | 665,362 | 21,989 | 21,045 | 944 | 10.8 |
2003 | 2,088,155 | 1,225,971 | 168,144 | 694,040 | 22,062 | 20,915 | 1,147 | 10.6 |
2004 | 2,141,694 | 1,244,216 | 177,600 | 719,878 | 21,554 | 20,338 | 1,216 | 10.1 |
2005 | 2,184,175 | 1,261,071 | 186,364 | 736,740 | 22,484 | 21,317 | 1,167 | 10.3 |
2006 | 2,250,203 | 1,297,536 | 190,844 | 761,823 | 22,464 | 21,438 | 1,026 | 10.0 |
2007 | 2,283,402 | 1,316,105 | 197,285 | 770,012 | 21,966 | 20,814 | 1,152 | 9.6 |
2008 | 2,301,154 | 1,324,539 | 198,414 | 778,201 | 23,547 | 22,387 | 1,160 | 10.2 |
2009 | 2,297,547 | 1,319,563 | 205,087 | 772,897 | 22,656 | 21,510 | 1,146 | 9.9 |
2010 | 2,280,045 | 1,314,445 | 206,968 | 758,632 | 22,651 | 21,548 | 1,103 | 9.9 |
2011 | 2,254,980 | 1,290,212 | 214,774 | 749,994 | 23,292 | 22,011 | 1,281 | 10.3 |
2012 | 2,232,015 | 1,262,102 | 216,915 | 752,998 | 22,636 | 21,627 | 1,009 | 10.1 |
2013 | 2,244,289 | 1,269,828 | 214,989 | 759,472 | 23,989 | 22,535 | 1,454 | 10.7 |
2014 | 2,232,842 | 1,260,159 | 209,561 | 763,122 | 25,270 | 24,082 | 1,188 | 11.3 |
2015 | 2,172,112 | 1,243,520 | 195,622 | 732,970 | 23,443 | 22,547 | 896 | 10.8 |
2016 | 2,150,260 | 1,228,822 | 188,311 | 733,127 | 24,445 | 23,605 | 840 | 11.4 |
2017 | 2,133,606 | 1,210,947 | 182,147 | 740,512 | 26,551 | 25,612 | 939 | 12.4 |
2018 | 2,107,681 | 1,191,342 | 179,213 | 737,126 | 25,528 | 24,423 | 1,105 | 12.1 |
2019 | 2,081,078 | 1,164,737 | 174,391 | 741,950 | 26,241 | 25,244 | 997 | 12.6 |
2020 | 1,789,244 | 978,988 | 152,156 | 658,100 | 26,217 | 25,080 | 1,137 | 14.7 |
2021 | N/A | N/A | 155,826 | N/A | 24,372 | 23,326 | 1,046 | N/A |
Source: Incarcerated population from various Bureau of Justice Statistics publications; lawsuit filings data from the Federal Judicial Center Integrated Database. See Data Notes for details.
Figure A: Incarcerated Population and Prison/Jail Civil Rights/Conditions Filing Rate, FY 1970 – FY 2020
Table B: Pro Se Litigation in U.S. District Courts, by Case Type
Case Category | Prisoner Civ. Rights/ Conditions | Habeas, Quasi-Criminal | Bankr. | Civil Rights (Non-Emp.) | Immig. | Other | Civil Rights, Emp. | Torts (Non-product) | Statutory Actions | Contract | Product Liability | U.S. Plaintiff | Labor & Emp. | Total | Total w/o Prisoner or Habeas Cases |
1996 | 83.3% | 72.2% | 12.8% | 29.6% | 8.6% | 10.2% | 16.3% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 2.3% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.9% | 26.9% | 7.8% |
1997 | 91.6% | 78.2% | 17.6% | 32.8% | 16.0% | 12.4% | 19.4% | 5.4% | 8.0% | 2.3% | 1.0% | 0.9% | 3.1% | 28.1% | 9.1% |
1998 | No Data |
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1999 | 88.6% | 79.1% | 18.1% | 29.3% | 13.6% | 12.7% | 18.5% | 5.9% | 7.4% | 2.6% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 3.4% | 23.5% | 7.8% |
2000 | 95.6% | 84.5% | 18.2% | 30.1% | 29.9% | 15.7% | 20.3% | 5.6% | 7.2% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.4% | 3.8% | 26.2% | 8.6% |
2001 | 96.1% | 84.8% | 17.7% | 30.3% | 47.8% | 12.6% | 20.3% | 6.1% | 6.9% | 2.4% | 3.1% | 0.5% | 3.6% | 27.6% | 9.0% |
2002 | 96.3% | 86.4% | 17.7% | 29.9% | 51.6% | 14.7% | 19.9% | 6.5% | 6.8% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.9% | 3.2% | 26.5% | 8.6% |
2003 | 96.7% | 85.3% | 19.5% | 30.4% | 35.8% | 16.8% | 20.8% | 8.2% | 7.2% | 2.8% | 0.8% | 1.5% | 3.3% | 26.6% | 9.1% |
2004 | 96.9% | 83.8% | 18.7% | 31.2% | 28.2% | 14.8% | 21.2% | 7.6% | 6.1% | 2.9% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 3.1% | 26.0% | 9.1% |
2005 | 96.3% | 83.4% | 18.1% | 31.7% | 19.2% | 17.0% | 20.8% | 4.2% | 6.2% | 3.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 3.0% | 26.0% | 8.6% |
2006 | 96.5% | 85.1% | 19.0% | 32.6% | 18.9% | 19.3% | 19.2% | 8.0% | 7.0% | 3.6% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 3.0% | 25.0% | 8.2% |
2007 | 96.4% | 85.7% | 20.5% | 33.9% | 20.5% | 16.7% | 18.7% | 6.3% | 8.4% | 3.5% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 2.7% | 27.4% | 9.5% |
2008 | 96.2% | 86.2% | 23.9% | 34.7% | 32.4% | 16.4% | 18.9% | 7.6% | 7.5% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 3.0% | 28.5% | 9.8% |
2009 | 95.2% | 87.2% | 22.1% | 34.0% | 32.8% | 20.7% | 18.8% | 10.3% | 7.7% | 5.1% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 3.0% | 25.2% | 8.9% |
2010 | 94.8% | 88.3% | 19.8% | 35.1% | 28.5% | 19.0% | 19.2% | 11.3% | 7.9% | 5.7% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 2.9% | 22.6% | 8.8% |
2011 | 94.9% | 88.5% | 19.2% | 33.4% | 34.8% | 23.8% | 19.9% | 7.4% | 7.7% | 8.5% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.9% | 23.3% | 9.0% |
2012 | 94.9% | 88.8% | 20.5% | 34.5% | 35.4% | 18.8% | 19.8% | 11.7% | 8.5% | 8.6% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 2.9% | 26.0% | 10.5% |
2013 | 94.1% | 89.3% | 21.2% | 34.3% | 36.0% | 18.2% | 18.6% | 11.7% | 7.6% | 7.9% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 2.8% | 28.2% | 11.1% |
2014 | 92.1% | 89.9% | 14.5% | 33.0% | 36.0% | 18.4% | 18.3% | 10.4% | 7.4% | 6.7% | 2.7% | 1.9% | 2.9% | 28.2% | 10.7% |
2015 | 93.2% | 89.3% | 24.1% | 33.0% | 31.0% | 17.1% | 17.9% | 8.9% | 7.3% | 6.4% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 3.2% | 25.4% | 9.7% |
2016 | 93.0% | 84.1% | 29.1% | 30.6% | 29.3% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 10.2% | 7.0% | 6.5% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 26.2% | 9.8% |
2017 | 92.9% | 80.2% | 30.6% | 30.6% | 31.7% | 18.9% | 17.4% | 10.2% | 7.3% | 6.8% | 1.0% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 26.4% | 9.6% |
2018 | 92.7% | 85.0% | 32.5% | 30.3% | 33.2% | 20.6% | 17.5% | 10.2% | 7.3% | 6.9% | 1.5% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 25.7% | 10.2% |
2019 | 92.3% | 85.7% | 27.5% | 27.1% | 24.3% | 21.9% | 17.9% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 6.3% | 1.0% | 4.1% | 2.9% | 22.5% | 8.6% |
2020 | 92.4% | 87.2% | 34.3% | 28.7% | 20.2% | 20.0% | 17.3% | 8.1% | 7.0% | 5.6% | 5.0% | 3.8% | 2.8% | 25.8% | 10.2% |
2021 | 91.4% | 86.6% | 30.5% | 26.7% | 17.9% | 14.7% | 15.7% | 8.3% | 6.7% | 4.7% | 28.8% | 4.0% | 2.6% | 29.2% | 15.0% |
Table C: Outcomes in Prisoner Civil Rights Cases in Federal District Court, by Fiscal Year of Termination, FY 1988 – FY 2021
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| Outcomes, as % of Judgment Dispositions |
| Timing of Settlements, as % of Settlements, per Vol. Dismissals |
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| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j) | (k) | (l) |
Fiscal Year | Filings | Terminations | Judgments, as % of Terminations | Pretrial Decisions for Deft. | Pretrial Decisions for Plaint. | Settled | Vol. Dismissals | Trials | Plain. Trial Vict., as % of Trials | Before Issue Joined | After Issue Joined | All Plaint. Successes, as % of Judgments |
1988 | 22,657 | 24,077 | 96.1% | 83.6% | 1.1% | 7.1% | 4.0% | 3.5% | 13.8% | 58.5% | 41.5% | 12.7% |
1989 | 23,736 | 24,714 | 96.2% | 82.4% | 1.0% | 7.3% | 5.1% | 3.7% | 13.8% | 52.3% | 47.7% | 13.9% |
1990 | 24,051 | 24,864 | 95.9% | 82.8% | 1.1% | 7.6% | 5.0% | 3.4% | 15.3% | 48.8% | 51.2% | 14.3% |
1991 | 24,355 | 24,877 | 94.9% | 82.1% | 0.9% | 7.7% | 6.1% | 3.1% | 14.5% | 52.1% | 47.9% | 15.2% |
1992 | 28,544 | 28,357 | 94.7% | 80.3% | 1.2% | 7.6% | 7.5% | 3.3% | 11.7% | 60.2% | 39.8% | 16.8% |
1993 | 31,692 | 31,893 | 94.8% | 81.4% | 1.0% | 6.8% | 8.0% | 2.8% | 14.8% | 60.0% | 40.0% | 16.2% |
1994 | 36,596 | 36,098 | 94.1% | 81.7% | 0.8% | 7.3% | 7.2% | 3.0% | 12.3% | 53.8% | 46.2% | 15.7% |
1995 | 39,053 | 41,201 | 94.4% | 83.9% | 0.7% | 6.3% | 6.6% | 2.5% | 10.4% | 61.3% | 38.7% | 13.8% |
1996 | 38,262 | 42,522 | 94.6% | 84.9% | 0.6% | 5.6% | 6.4% | 2.6% | 8.9% | 61.8% | 38.2% | 12.8% |
1997 | 26,095 | 34,981 | 95.6% | 84.2% | 0.7% | 5.4% | 6.9% | 2.8% | 10.4% | 61.2% | 38.8% | 13.3% |
1998 | 24,221 | 29,938 | 95.4% | 85.7% | 0.5% | 5.2% | 6.1% | 2.5% | 8.5% | 60.7% | 39.3% | 12.0% |
1999 | 23,512 | 26,561 | 94.0% | 87.1% | 0.5% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 2.4% | 11.4% | 56.7% | 43.3% | 10.8% |
2000 | 23,357 | 25,177 | 92.8% | 87.1% | 0.4% | 4.2% | 5.8% | 2.4% | 13.3% | 54.0% | 46.0% | 10.8% |
2001 | 22,132 | 24,572 | 93.1% | 87.8% | 0.4% | 3.9% | 5.8% | 2.1% | 13.7% | 53.9% | 46.1% | 10.4% |
2002 | 21,989 | 24,245 | 93.3% | 88.5% | 0.4% | 3.7% | 5.6% | 1.8% | 8.4% | 55.2% | 44.8% | 9.9% |
2003 | 22,062 | 23,653 | 92.6% | 89.0% | 0.6% | 3.9% | 5.2% | 1.4% | 13.9% | 53.2% | 46.8% | 9.8% |
2004 | 21,554 | 23,181 | 89.4% | 89.4% | 0.4% | 3.9% | 5.0% | 1.3% | 14.0% | 55.4% | 44.6% | 9.5% |
2005 | 22,484 | 23,712 | 87.4% | 89.9% | 0.4% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 1.1% | 11.0% | 53.4% | 46.6% | 9.1% |
2006 | 22,464 | 24,846 | 86.4% | 90.1% | 0.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 1.0% | 16.9% | 54.3% | 45.7% | 9.1% |
2007 | 21,966 | 23,630 | 84.8% | 89.4% | 0.3% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 1.0% | 13.5% | 56.7% | 43.3% | 9.7% |
2008 | 23,547 | 25,125 | 88.0% | 89.3% | 0.5% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 1.2% | 16.4% | 53.2% | 46.8% | 9.4% |
2009 | 22,656 | 24,437 | 91.8% | 87.1% | 0.5% | 4.2% | 5.3% | 1.3% | 13.1% | 51.2% | 48.8% | 10.2% |
2010 | 22,651 | 24,702 | 91.1% | 86.0% | 0.5% | 4.9% | 5.3% | 1.3% | 14.4% | 47.6% | 52.4% | 10.8% |
2011 | 23,292 | 24,712 | 90.4% | 85.8% | 0.4% | 5.0% | 5.4% | 1.2% | 11.6% | 49.5% | 50.5% | 11.0% |
2012 | 22,636 | 24,605 | 90.8% | 84.9% | 0.6% | 5.0% | 5.4% | 1.4% | 11.9% | 50.6% | 49.4% | 11.1% |
2013 | 23,989 | 26,294 | 90.9% | 83.3% | 0.4% | 7.1% | 5.3% | 1.3% | 12.8% | 50.6% | 49.4% | 13.0% |
2014 | 25,270 | 27,167 | 90.8% | 81.6% | 0.8% | 8.2% | 5.6% | 1.2% | 12.7% | 50.1% | 49.9% | 14.7% |
2015 | 23,443 | 26,365 | 90.6% | 83.4% | 0.4% | 6.5% | 5.5% | 1.4% | 12.2% | 45.5% | 54.5% | 12.6% |
2016 | 24,445 | 26,042 | 90.8% | 82.5% | 0.5% | 6.4% | 6.1% | 1.2% | 15.8% | 44.8% | 55.2% | 13.2% |
2017 | 26,551 | 29,194 | 89.9% | 81.1% | 0.5% | 7.5% | 5.8% | 1.0% | 16.3% | 41.1% | 58.9% | 14.0% |
2018 | 25,528 | 27,499 | 90.8% | 79.5% | 0.5% | 7.5% | 6.3% | 1.1% | 18.5% | 45.6% | 54.4% | 14.6% |
2019 | 26,241 | 28,148 | 91.6% | 80.6% | 0.5% | 7.0% | 6.3% | 1.0% | 16.7% | 43.9% | 56.1% | 14.0% |
2020 | 26,217 | 27,686 | 91.6% | 81.6% | 0.5% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 0.6% | 12.1% | 42.1% | 57.9% | 12.8% |
2021 | 24,372 | 28,982 | 92.4% | 79.9% | 0.6% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 0.5% | 12.0% | 42.4% | 57.6% | 13.4% |
Table D: Outcomes in Federal District Court Cases by Case Type,
Cases Terminated FY 2021
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| Outcomes, as % of Judgment Dispositions |
| Timing of Settlements, as % of Settlements, per Vol. Dismissals |
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| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j) | (k) | (l) |
| Filings | Terminations | Judgments, as % of Terminations | Pretrial Decisions for Deft. | Pretrial Decisions for Plaint. | Settled | Vol. Dismissals | Trials | Plain. Trial Vict., as % of Trials | Before Issue Joined | After Issue Joined | All Plaint. Successes, as % of Judgments |
All | 212,970 | 271,625 | 86.2% | 41.6% | 4.0% | 30.7% | 21.6% | 0.5% | 44.1% | 38.5% | 61.5% | 56.5% |
Habeas, Quasi-Criminal | 17,102 | 22,993 | 88.5% | 88.4% | 2.0% | 0.7% | 3.8% | 0.3% | 5.7% | 68.5% | 31.5% | 6.5% |
Prisoner Civ. Rights | 24,372 | 28,982 | 92.4% | 79.9% | 0.6% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 0.5% | 12.0% | 42.4% | 57.6% | 13.4% |
Bankr. | 1,792 | 1,853 | 70.4% | 74.8% | 2.4% | 10.4% | 11.4% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 55.3% | 44.7% | 24.2% |
Immig. | 5,226 | 5,716 | 92.9% | 39.2% | 3.9% | 8.2% | 47.3% | 0.2% | 66.7% | 78.1% | 21.9% | 59.5% |
Civil Rights | 28,093 | 28,633 | 93.7% | 40.2% | 2.0% | 31.5% | 24.8% | 0.6% | 40.7% | 54.2% | 45.8% | 58.5% |
Stat. Actions | 51,133 | 54,327 | 70.6% | 28.4% | 8.6% | 30.5% | 31.6% | 0.4% | 47.6% | 49.5% | 50.5% | 70.9% |
Other | 3,557 | 3,391 | 81.2% | 39.1% | 11.8% | 21.9% | 24.0% | 0.5% | 23.1% | 48.9% | 51.1% | 57.7% |
Civil Rights, Emp. | 13,830 | 13,913 | 92.7% | 34.9% | 1.0% | 46.6% | 16.1% | 0.9% | 37.2% | 15.7% | 84.3% | 64.1% |
Torts (Nonproduct) | 20,495 | 21,760 | 85.6% | 29.3% | 1.8% | 47.7% | 19.4% | 1.2% | 55.3% | 20.7% | 79.3% | 69.5% |
U.S. Plaintiff | 1,736 | 1,810 | 93.5% | 22.8% | 36.6% | 23.8% | 15.1% | 0.4% | 57.1% | 41.6% | 58.4% | 75.7% |
Contract | 25,016 | 25,488 | 88.3% | 25.8% | 8.3% | 41.5% | 22.8% | 0.8% | 63.7% | 28.1% | 71.9% | 73.1% |
Product Liability | 7,815 | 48,154 | 89.6% | 31.6% | 0.1% | 39.4% | 28.8% | 0.1% | 48.8% | 37.5% | 62.5% | 68.3% |
Labor and Emp. | 12,803 | 14,605 | 93.6% | 17.5% | 9.5% | 52.5% | 19.2% | 0.5% | 62.3% | 29.4% | 70.6% | 81.6% |
Table E: Prisoner Civil Rights Litigated Victories, FY 2012
| Trials | Non-trials | All |
Plaintiffs Wins | 36 | 21 | 57 |
Injunctive Matters | 4 | 3 | 7 |
<= $1,000 | 15 | 3 | 18 |
$1,001–13,000 | 8 | 12 | 20 |
25,000–80,000 | 7 | 2 | 9 |
$100,000+ | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Total Damages Awarded | $700,908 | $339,862 | $1,040,770 |
Cases with Damages | 32 | 18 | 50 |
Average Damages per Case | $ 21,903 | $ 18,881 | $ 20,815 |
Median Damages per Case | $ 1,525 | $ 7,000 | $ 4,185 |
Data source: Cases examined via PACER; initial cases for examination selected based on Federal Judicial Center Integrated Database (IDB), https://www.fjc.gov/research/idb (nature of suit == 550 or 555, litigated judgment in plaintiffs’ favor.) | |||
Table F: Incidence of Court Orders, Local Jails and State Prisons, 1983–2006, 2019
| Year | (a) Total Facilities | (b) Facilities with Orders | (c) Total Population | (d) Population Housed in Facilities with Orders |
Local Jails | 1983 | 3,338 | 18% | 227,541 | 51% |
1988 | 3,316 | 18% | 336,017 | 50% | |
1993 | 3,268 | 18% | 466,155 | 46% | |
1999 | 3,365 | 17% | 607,978 | 32% | |
2006 | 3,282 | 11% | 756,839 | 20% | |
2019 | 2,924 | 5% | 706,205 | 12% | |
State Prisons | 1984 | 694 | 27% | 377,036 | 43% |
1990 | 957 | 28% | 617,859 | 36% | |
1995 | 1,084 | 32% | 879,766 | 40% | |
2000 | 1,042 | 28% | 1,042,637 | 40% | |
2005 | 1,067 | 18% | 1,096,755 | 22% | |
2019* | 1,050 | 22–24% | 1,156,379 | 22–23% |
* Calculated from Census of State and Federal Adult Correctional Facilities, 2019 – Statistical Tables NCJ 301366 (Nov. 2021) Tbls. 1 & 2. See data notes for some important caveats with respect to the 2019 prison figures.
Table G: Change in Prisoner Civil Rights Filings in U.S. District Court and Filing Rates, by State, Fiscal Years 1995 vs. 2012, 2012 vs. 2019, and 1995 vs. 2019
Part 1:
| 1995 | 2012 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Incar. Pop. | Pris. Civ. Rights/ Cond. Filings | Filings/ 1,000 Incar. Pop. | State Ranking by Filing Rate | Incar. Pop. | Pris. Civ. Rights/ Cond. Filings | Filings/ 1,000 Incar. Pop. | State Ranking by Filing Rate | Incar. Pop. | Pris. Civ. Rights/ Cond. Filings | Filings/ 1,000 Incar. Pop. | State Ranking by Filing Rate | ||
All U.S. | 1,597,044 | 39,053 | 24.5 |
| 2,232,015 | 22,636 | 10.1 |
| 2,081,078 | 26,241 | 12.6 |
| |
Iowa | 8,001 | 815 | 101.9 | 1 | 13,025 | 161 | 12.4 | 14 | 14,391 | 183 | 12.7 | 18 | |
Arkansas | 11,947 | 967 | 80.9 | 2 | 25,577 | 650 | 25.4 | 1 | 28,047 | 991 | 35.3 | 1 | |
Mississippi | 16,156 | 1,035 | 64.1 | 3 | 34,922 | 432 | 12.4 | 13 | 31,489 | 290 | 9.2 | 32 | |
Nebraska | 5,046 | 297 | 58.9 | 4 | 8,050 | 84 | 10.4 | 20 | 9,787 | 76 | 7.8 | 38 | |
Missouri | 25,953 | 1,523 | 58.7 | 5 | 44,077 | 392 | 8.9 | 29 | 39,362 | 562 | 14.3 | 15 | |
Virginia | 41,267 | 2,166 | 52.5 | 6 | 64,989 | 673 | 10.4 | 21 | 61,673 | 997 | 16.2 | 11 | |
Alabama | 31,402 | 1,403 | 44.7 | 7 | 45,626 | 684 | 15 | 7 | 41,178 | 614 | 14.9 | 14 | |
Delaware | 4,799 | 205 | 42.7 | 8 | 6,730 | 153 | 22.7 | 2 | 5,049 | 101 | 20 | 8 | |
Louisiana | 37,600 | 1,548 | 41.2 | 9 | 54,243 | 659 | 12.1 | 15 | 50,700 | 570 | 11.2 | 24 | |
Nevada | 11,970 | 475 | 39.7 | 10 | 19,338 | 288 | 14.9 | 8 | 19,564 | 523 | 26.7 | 3 | |
Arizona | 32,811 | 1,247 | 38 | 11 | 58,542 | 533 | 9.1 | 27 | 59,626 | 1,374 | 23 | 6 | |
Maine | 2,328 | 87 | 37.4 | 12 | 3,757 | 34 | 9 | 28 | 3,832 | 28 | 7.3 | 40 | |
Tennessee | 29,260 | 1,076 | 36.8 | 13 | 50,448 | 576 | 11.4 | 16 | 51,739 | 580 | 11.2 | 25 | |
Indiana | 27,044 | 967 | 35.8 | 14 | 48,739 | 376 | 7.7 | 35 | 49,892 | 1,309 | 26.2 | 4 | |
Pennsylvania | 62,657 | 2,114 | 33.7 | 15 | 103,438 | 1,284 | 12.4 | 12 | 88,924 | 1,063 | 12 | 22 | |
Kentucky | 24,435 | 824 | 33.7 | 16 | 41,265 | 230 | 5.6 | 42 | 45,022 | 374 | 8.3 | 36 | |
Montana | 2,464 | 76 | 30.8 | 17 | 5,241 | 93 | 17.7 | 5 | 6,667 | 91 | 13.6 | 16 | |
Colorado | 20,895 | 634 | 30.3 | 18 | 36,388 | 351 | 9.6 | 24 | 36,250 | 490 | 13.5 | 17 | |
Wyoming | 1,955 | 57 | 29.2 | 19 | 3,689 | 18 | 4.9 | 44 | 3,991 | 13 | 3.3 | 50 | |
Vermont | 1,245 | 35 | 28.1 | 20 | 2,034 | 19 | 9.3 | 26 | 1,664 | 11 | 6.6 | 43 | |
Hawaii | 2,812 | 76 | 27 | 21 | 5,993 | 83 | 13.8 | 9 | 5,280 | 63 | 11.9 | 23 | |
Kansas | 12,508 | 333 | 26.6 | 22 | 18,724 | 136 | 7.3 | 38 | 19,659 | 147 | 7.5 | 39 | |
Wisconsin | 21,306 | 559 | 26.2 | 23 | 36,898 | 298 | 8.1 | 33 | 37,944 | 863 | 22.7 | 7 | |
Utah | 6,623 | 169 | 25.5 | 24 | 12,699 | 93 | 7.3 | 37 | 12,432 | 53 | 4.3 | 46 | |
West Virginia | 6,989 | 169 | 24.2 | 25 | 20,713 | 135 | 6.5 | 40 | 20,162 | 301 | 14.9 | 13 | |
South Carolina | 27,173 | 648 | 23.8 | 26 | 41,268 | 649 | 15.7 | 6 | 35,865 | 665 | 18.5 | 9 | |
Connecticut | 15,740 | 370 | 23.5 | 27 | 18,497 | 154 | 8.3 | 32 | 13,296 | 332 | 25 | 5 | |
Washington | 20,471 | 481 | 23.5 | 28 | 29,925 | 373 | 12.5 | 11 | 30,780 | 391 | 12.7 | 19 | |
Georgia | 66,131 | 1,496 | 22.6 | 29 | 103,464 | 1,000 | 9.7 | 23 | 101,068 | 984 | 9.7 | 31 | |
Illinois | 58,398 | 1,270 | 21.7 | 30 | 76,126 | 1,445 | 19 | 4 | 60,026 | 1,827 | 30.4 | 2 | |
Michigan | 56,452 | 1,217 | 21.6 | 31 | 62,144 | 801 | 12.9 | 10 | 55,837 | 561 | 10 | 30 | |
Maryland | 33,703 | 708 | 21 | 32 | 35,469 | 392 | 11.1 | 19 | 28,782 | 447 | 15.5 | 12 | |
Oklahoma | 21,767 | 437 | 20.1 | 33 | 38,515 | 180 | 4.7 | 46 | 40,740 | 170 | 4.2 | 48 | |
North Carolina | 39,000 | 760 | 19.5 | 34 | 62,488 | 529 | 8.5 | 31 | 60,904 | 670 | 11 | 27 | |
Rhode Island | 2,854 | 54 | 18.9 | 35 | 3,042 | 30 | 9.9 | 22 | 2,587 | 31 | 12 | 21 | |
Texas | 192,977 | 3,597 | 18.6 | 36 | 257,431 | 1,486 | 5.8 | 41 | 240,864 | 1,962 | 8.1 | 37 | |
New York | 104,509 | 1,860 | 17.8 | 37 | 88,851 | 1,722 | 19.4 | 3 | 69,353 | 1,143 | 16.5 | 10 | |
Florida | 111,113 | 1,968 | 17.7 | 38 | 170,850 | 1,234 | 7.2 | 39 | 161,823 | 1,406 | 8.7 | 34 | |
South Dakota | 3,263 | 57 | 17.5 | 39 | 6,271 | 48 | 7.7 | 36 | 6,260 | 54 | 8.6 | 35 | |
Alaska | 2,864 | 50 | 17.5 | 40 | 6,388 | 7 | 1.1 | 50 | 4,406 | 45 | 10.2 | 29 | |
Oregon | 13,988 | 227 | 16.2 | 41 | 21,856 | 189 | 8.6 | 30 | 22,183 | 238 | 10.7 | 28 | |
New Hampshire | 3,122 | 47 | 15.1 | 42 | 4,612 | 36 | 7.8 | 34 | 4,710 | 43 | 9.1 | 33 | |
Idaho | 5,097 | 75 | 14.7 | 43 | 11,321 | 106 | 9.4 | 25 | 12,559 | 85 | 6.8 | 41 | |
New Jersey | 43,435 | 639 | 14.7 | 44 | 45,301 | 503 | 11.1 | 18 | 33,225 | 220 | 6.6 | 42 | |
New Mexico | 8,984 | 124 | 13.8 | 45 | 17,131 | 93 | 5.4 | 43 | 12,962 | 157 | 12.1 | 20 | |
Ohio | 57,630 | 746 | 12.9 | 46 | 73,454 | 249 | 3.4 | 49 | 73,761 | 310 | 4.2 | 47 | |
California | 216,289 | 2,575 | 11.9 | 47 | 229,253 | 2,586 | 11.3 | 17 | 212,720 | 2,361 | 11.1 | 26 | |
Minnesota | 11,449 | 124 | 10.8 | 48 | 20,267 | 93 | 4.6 | 47 | 18,866 | 75 | 4 | 49 | |
Massachusetts | 20,009 | 153 | 7.6 | 49 | 24,425 | 109 | 4.5 | 48 | 18,456 | 116 | 6.3 | 45 | |
North Dakota | 1,135 | 8 | 7 | 50 | 2,695 | 13 | 4.8 | 45 | 3,187 | 21 | 6.6 | 44 | |
Part 2:
| 1995-2012 | 2012-2019 | 1995-2019 | ||||||
Rate Change | Rank Change | Rate Change | Rank Change | Rate Change | Rank Change | ||||
N | % | N | % | N | % | ||||
All U.S. | -14.3 | -58.5% |
| 2.5 | 24.7% |
| -11.8 | -48.3% |
|
Iowa | -89.5 | -87.9 | 13 | 0.4 | 3.2 | 4 | -89.1 | -87.5 | 17 |
Arkansas | -55.5 | -68.6 | -1 | 9.9 | 39 | 0 | -45.6 | -56.3 | -1 |
Mississippi | -51.7 | -80.7 | 10 | -3.2 | -25.9 | 19 | -54.9 | -85.7 | 29 |
Nebraska | -48.4 | -82.2 | 16 | -2.7 | -25.9 | 18 | -51.1 | -86.8 | 34 |
Missouri | -49.8 | -84.9 | 24 | 5.4 | 60.7 | -14 | -44.4 | -75.7 | 10 |
Virginia | -42.1 | -80.2 | 15 | 5.8 | 56 | -10 | -36.3 | -69.2 | 5 |
Alabama | -29.7 | -66.5 | 0 | -0.1 | -0.7 | 7 | -29.8 | -66.7 | 7 |
Delaware | -20 | -46.8 | -6 | -2.7 | -11.9 | 6 | -22.7 | -53.1 | 0 |
Louisiana | -29 | -70.4 | 6 | -0.9 | -7.4 | 9 | -29.9 | -72.6 | 15 |
Nevada | -24.8 | -62.5 | -2 | 11.8 | 79.2 | -5 | -12.9 | -32.5 | -7 |
Arizona | -28.9 | -76 | 16 | 13.9 | 152.7 | -21 | -15 | -39.5 | -5 |
Maine | -28.3 | -75.7 | 16 | -1.7 | -18.8 | 12 | -30.1 | -80.5 | 28 |
Tennessee | -25.4 | -69.1 | 3 | -0.2 | -1.8 | 9 | -25.6 | -69.6 | 12 |
Indiana | -28 | -78.3 | 21 | 18.5 | 239.8 | -31 | -9.5 | -26.6 | -10 |
Pennsylvania | -21.3 | -63.1 | -3 | -0.5 | -4 | 10 | -21.8 | -64.6 | 7 |
Kentucky | -28.1 | -83.3 | 26 | 2.7 | 48.4 | -6 | -25.4 | -75.3 | 20 |
Montana | -13.1 | -42.5 | -12 | -4.1 | -23.1 | 11 | -17.2 | -55.8 | -1 |
Colorado | -20.7 | -68.2 | 6 | 3.9 | 40.4 | -7 | -16.8 | -55.4 | -1 |
Wyoming | -24.3 | -83.3 | 25 | -1.6 | -32.8 | 6 | -25.9 | -88.8 | 31 |
Vermont | -18.8 | -66.9 | 6 | -2.7 | -28.9 | 17 | -21.5 | -76.5 | 23 |
Hawaii | -13.2 | -48.8 | -12 | -1.9 | -13.7 | 14 | -15.1 | -55.9 | 2 |
Kansas | -19.4 | -72.9 | 16 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 1 | -19.1 | -71.7 | 17 |
Wisconsin | -18.2 | -69.4 | 10 | 14.7 | 182 | -26 | -3.5 | -13.3 | -16 |
Utah | -18.2 | -71.3 | 13 | -3.1 | -42.3 | 9 | -21.3 | -83.5 | 22 |
West Virginia | -17.7 | -73.2 | 15 | 8.4 | 128.9 | -27 | -9.3 | -38.5 | -12 |
South Carolina | -8.1 | -34 | -20 | 2.8 | 17.8 | 3 | -5.3 | -22.2 | -17 |
Connecticut | -15.2 | -64.7 | 5 | 16.6 | 199.4 | -27 | 1.5 | 6.4 | -22 |
Washington | -11 | -46.8 | -17 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 8 | -10.8 | -46 | -9 |
Georgia | -13 | -57.5 | -6 | 0.1 | 1 | 8 | -12.9 | -57 | 2 |
Illinois | -2.8 | -12.9 | -26 | 11.5 | 60.6 | -2 | 8.7 | 40 | -28 |
Michigan | -8.7 | -40.4 | -21 | -2.8 | -21.7 | 20 | -11.5 | -53.3 | -1 |
Maryland | -10 | -47.6 | -13 | 4.5 | 40.7 | -7 | -5.5 | -26.2 | -20 |
Oklahoma | -15.4 | -76.7 | 13 | -0.5 | -10.7 | 2 | -15.9 | -79.2 | 15 |
North Carolina | -11 | -56.4 | -3 | 2.5 | 29.5 | -4 | -8.5 | -43.6 | -7 |
Rhode Island | -9.1 | -48.1 | -13 | 2.1 | 21.3 | -1 | -6.9 | -36.5 | -14 |
Texas | -12.9 | -69.2 | 5 | 2.4 | 41.6 | -4 | -10.5 | -56.3 | 1 |
New York | 1.6 | 9 | -34 | -2.9 | -15 | 7 | -1.3 | -7.3 | -27 |
Florida | -10.5 | -59.3 | 1 | 1.5 | 20.8 | -5 | -9 | -50.8 | -4 |
South Dakota | -9.8 | -56.1 | -3 | 1 | 13.1 | -1 | -8.8 | -50.4 | -4 |
Alaska | -16.4 | -93.9 | 10 | 9.1 | 830.4 | -21 | -7.2 | -41.2 | -11 |
Oregon | -7.6 | -46.8 | -11 | 2.1 | 24.3 | -2 | -5.5 | -33.9 | -13 |
New Hampshire | -7.2 | -47.8 | -8 | 1.3 | 16.7 | -1 | -5.9 | -39.2 | -9 |
Idaho | -5.4 | -36.7 | -18 | -2.6 | -27.8 | 16 | -7.9 | -53.7 | -2 |
New Jersey | -3.6 | -24.5 | -26 | -4.5 | -40.5 | 24 | -8.1 | -55.1 | -2 |
New Mexico | -8.4 | -60.9 | -2 | 6.7 | 123.4 | -23 | -1.7 | -12.3 | -25 |
Ohio | -9.6 | -74.2 | 3 | 0.8 | 23.6 | -2 | -8.7 | -67.2 | 1 |
California | -0.6 | -5 | -30 | -0.2 | -1.8 | 9 | -0.8 | -6.7 | -21 |
Minnesota | -6.2 | -57.2 | -1 | -0.6 | -13.1 | 2 | -6.9 | -63.7 | 1 |
Massachusetts | -3.2 | -41.8 | -1 | 1.8 | 40.3 | -3 | -1.4 | -18.3 | -4 |
North Dakota | -2.2 | -31.2 | -5 | 1.8 | 37.3 | -1 | -0.5 | -7.1 | -6 |
Table H: Days to Disposition, District Court Cases by Fiscal Year of Filing, 1988–2021
| Prisoner Civil Rights/Conditions Cases | “Other” Civil Rights Cases | All Cases Except Prisoner Civil Rights/ Conditions | ||||||
Fiscal Year | 25th Percentile of Docket | 50th Percentile of Docket | 75th Percentile of Docket | 25th Percentile of Docket | 50th Percentile of Docket | 75th Percentile of Docket | 25th Percentile of Docket | 50th Percentile of Docket | 75th Percentile of Docket |
1988 | 49 days | 171 days | 421 days | 125 days | 301 days | 575 days | 104 days | 233 days | 483 days |
1989 | 42 days | 162 days | 424 days | 119 days | 294 days | 566 days | 106 days | 241 days | 501 days |
1990 | 48 days | 174 days | 437 days | 116 days | 277 days | 546 days | 112 days | 253 days | 473 days |
1991 | 57 days | 191 days | 448 days | 121 days | 294 days | 553.5 days | 108 days | 236 days | 448 days |
1992 | 51 days | 182 days | 426 days | 119 days | 282 days | 531 days | 98 days | 216 days | 428 days |
1993 | 49 days | 176 days | 408 days | 95 days | 261 days | 501 days | 95 days | 224 days | 434 days |
1994 | 44 days | 173 days | 395 days | 86 days | 253 days | 492 days | 102 days | 230 days | 440 days |
1995 | 37 days | 146 days | 364 days | 110 days | 280 days | 504 days | 105 days | 226 days | 433 days |
1996 | 36 days | 126 days | 327 days | 113 days | 280 days | 501 days | 103 days | 238 days | 463 days |
1997 | 42 days | 125 days | 316 days | 115 days | 280 days | 518 days | 99 days | 235 days | 437 days |
1998 | 40 days | 115 days | 304 days | 119 days | 286 days | 510 days | 97 days | 222 days | 423 days |
1999 | 40 days | 114 days | 330 days | 118 days | 282 days | 510 days | 98 days | 219 days | 421 days |
2000 | 42 days | 118 days | 344 days | 118 days | 279 days | 498 days | 95 days | 218 days | 424 days |
2001 | 42 days | 115 days | 334 days | 117 days | 276 days | 497 days | 100 days | 234 days | 442 days |
2002 | 42 days | 115 days | 347 days | 113 days | 272 days | 504 days | 100 days | 243 days | 426 days |
2003 | 43 days | 126 days | 371 days | 115 days | 270 days | 504 days | 109 days | 245 days | 449 days |
2004 | 43 days | 126 days | 364 days | 114 days | 264 days | 487 days | 112 days | 259 days | 407 days |
2005 | 43 days | 130 days | 352.5 days | 113 days | 273 days | 512 days | 94 days | 222 days | 432 days |
2006 | 43 days | 128 days | 344 days | 113 days | 278.5 days | 518 days | 99 days | 234 days | 449 days |
2007 | 42 days | 115 days | 368 days | 104 days | 272 days | 517 days | 104 days | 250 days | 489 days |
2008 | 35 days | 105 days | 352 days | 104 days | 270 days | 523 days | 97 days | 232 days | 458 days |
2009 | 39 days | 120 days | 372 days | 105 days | 275 days | 537 days | 96 days | 228 days | 441 days |
2010 | 39 days | 119 days | 382 days | 99 days | 266 days | 516 days | 97 days | 234 days | 452 days |
2011 | 41 days | 130 days | 406 days | 101 days | 267 days | 510 days | 98 days | 236 days | 456 days |
2012 | 43 days | 126 days | 388 days | 87 days | 253 days | 498 days | 100 days | 249 days | 493 days |
2013 | 42 days | 123 days | 384 days | 91 days | 250 days | 496 days | 120 days | 303 days | 691 days |
2014 | 42 days | 126 days | 393 days | 85 days | 245 days | 494 days | 124 days | 323 days | 730 days |
2015 | 49 days | 140 days | 421 days | 77 days | 238 days | 503 days | 105 days | 264 days | 543 days |
2016 | 48 days | 142 days | 419 days | 86 days | 259 days | 529 days | 109 days | 272 days | 545 days |
2017 | 52 days | 137 days | 422 days | 76 days | 241 days | 521 days | 93 days | 225 days | 434 days |
2018 | 51 days | 148 days | 448 days | 71 days | 226 days | 510 days | 91 days | 222 days | 434 days |
2019 | 56 days | 161 days | 477 days | 79 days | 245 days | 567 days | 88 days | 218 days | 447 days |
2020 | 57 days | 161 days | 483 days | 81 days | 258 days | Pending | 94 days | 243 days | 503 days |
2021 | 55 days | 259 days | Pending | 96 days | Pending | Pending | 108 days | Pending | Pending |