Data Update
These tables accompany 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). Tables A-E are updated from Margo Schlanger, Trends in Prisoner Litigation, as the PLRA Enters Adulthood, 5 U.C. Irvine L. Rev. 153 (2015).
A pdf version of these tables is posted (via SSRN) here.
Detailed data notes are posted here.
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 2020
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. | |
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 | 24,444 | 23,604 | 840 | 11.4 |
2017 | 2,133,606 | 1,210,947 | 182,147 | 740,512 | 26,550 | 25,611 | 939 | 12.4 |
2018 | 2,107,681 | 1,191,342 | 179,213 | 737,126 | 25,533 | 24,428 | 1,105 | 12.1 |
2019 | N/A | 1,164,726 | 174,391 | N/A | 26,248 | 25,250 | 998 | N/A |
2020 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 26,162 | 25,025 | 1,137 | N/A |
Source: Incarcerated poulation 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
Termination Fiscal Year | Prisoner Civ. Rghts/ 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% |
Table C: Outcomes in Prisoner Civil Rights Cases in Federal District Court,
by Fiscal Year of Termination, FY 1988 – 2020
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| Outcomes, as % of Judgment Dispositions |
| Timing of Settlements, as % of Settlements, per Vol. Dismissals |
| |||||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j) | (k) | (l) |
Fiscal Year | New Filings | Terminations | Judgments, as % of Terminations | Pretrial Decisions for Deft. | Pretrial Decisions for Plaint. | Settled | Vol. Dismissals | Trials | Plaint. 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 | 24,444 | 26,042 | 90.8% | 82.5% | 0.5% | 6.4% | 6.1% | 1.2% | 15.8% | 44.8% | 55.2% | 13.2% |
2017 | 26,550 | 29,194 | 89.9% | 81.1% | 0.5% | 7.5% | 5.8% | 1.0% | 16.3% | 41.1% | 58.9% | 14.0% |
2018 | 25,533 | 27,499 | 90.8% | 79.5% | 0.5% | 7.5% | 6.3% | 1.1% | 18.5% | 45.6% | 54.4% | 14.6% |
2019 | 26,248 | 28,148 | 91.6% | 80.6% | 0.5% | 7.0% | 6.3% | 1.0% | 16.7% | 43.9% | 56.1% | 14.0% |
2020 | 26,162 | 27,686 | 91.6% | 81.6% | 0.5% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 0.6% | 12.1% | 42.1% | 57.9% | 12.8% |
Table D: Outcomes in Federal District Court Cases by Case Type,
Cases Terminated FY 2020
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| Outcomes, as % of Judgment Dispositions |
| Timing of Settlements, as % of Settlements, per Vol. Dismissals |
| ||||||
| (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 | 222,411 | 271,255 | 85.1% | 41.1% | 4.2% | 33.5% | 19.2% | 0.6% | 40.7% | 34.3% | 65.7% | 57.1% |
Habeas, Quasi-Criminal | 22,573 | 25,379 | 87.5% | 88.3% | 2.6% | 0.7% | 3.3% | 0.7% | 8.1% | 70.9% | 29.1% | 6.7% |
Prisoner Civ. Rghts | 26,162 | 27,686 | 91.6% | 81.6% | 0.5% | 5.9% | 6.3% | 0.6% | 12.1% | 42.1% | 57.9% | 12.8% |
Bankr. | 1,777 | 1,826 | 68.8% | 76.9% | 2.2% | 8.0% | 11.5% | 0.2% | 33.3% | 55.5% | 44.5% | 21.8% |
Immig. | 4,611 | 4,103 | 92.3% | 45.7% | 5.3% | 8.1% | 39.5% | 0.1% | 75.0% | 75.9% | 24.1% | 53.0% |
Civil Rights | 26,762 | 26,772 | 93.9% | 42.4% | 2.4% | 32.6% | 21.0% | 0.7% | 33.9% | 47.8% | 52.2% | 56.2% |
Stat. Actions | 52,996 | 52,855 | 71.0% | 29.0% | 8.4% | 31.8% | 29.8% | 0.6% | 48.5% | 48.1% | 51.9% | 70.3% |
Other | 3,423 | 3,809 | 74.6% | 42.2% | 16.3% | 17.2% | 20.9% | 0.3% | 66.7% | 45.3% | 54.7% | 54.7% |
Civil Rights, Emp. | 12,794 | 13,693 | 92.9% | 34.9% | 0.9% | 47.3% | 15.6% | 0.8% | 36.4% | 16.1% | 83.9% | 64.1% |
Torts (Nonproduct) | 20,837 | 24,321 | 83.8% | 30.2% | 1.7% | 42.3% | 24.2% | 1.0% | 54.8% | 20.0% | 80.0% | 68.7% |
U.S. Plaintiff | 1,693 | 1,949 | 93.0% | 21.7% | 36.0% | 22.9% | 17.0% | 0.6% | 72.7% | 49.1% | 50.9% | 76.3% |
Contract | 25,426 | 25,508 | 87.9% | 25.1% | 9.2% | 41.8% | 22.5% | 0.8% | 65.5% | 29.4% | 70.6% | 74.0% |
Product Liability | 8,945 | 48,349 | 85.5% | 24.5% | 0.2% | 55.1% | 20.1% | 0.1% | 32.0% | 27.6% | 72.4% | 75.3% |
Labor & Emp. | 14,412 | 15,005 | 93.5% | 16.4% | 9.4% | 53.4% | 19.5% | 0.5% | 56.9% | 29.6% | 70.4% | 82.5% |
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
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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% |
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1999 |
3,365 |
17% |
607,978 |
32% |
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2006 |
3,282 |
11% |
756,839 |
20% |
|
|
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% |
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. 2018, and 1995
Part 1
| 1995 | 2012 | 2018 | ||||||||||
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 | 2,111,198 | 25,533 | 12.1 | ||||
Iowa | 8,001 | 815 | 101.9 | 1 | 13,025 | 161 | 12.4 | 14 | 13,822 | 121 | 8.8 | 30 | |
Arkansas | 11,947 | 967 | 80.9 | 2 | 25,577 | 650 | 25.4 | 1 | 26,944 | 998 | 37 | 2 | |
Mississippi | 16,156 | 1,035 | 64.1 | 3 | 34,922 | 432 | 12.4 | 13 | 32,419 | 304 | 9.4 | 29 | |
Nebraska | 5,046 | 297 | 58.9 | 4 | 8,050 | 84 | 10.4 | 20 | 9,034 | 94 | 10.4 | 22 | |
Missouri | 25,953 | 1,523 | 58.7 | 5 | 44,077 | 392 | 8.9 | 29 | 43,557 | 595 | 13.7 | 15 | |
Virginia | 41,267 | 2,166 | 52.5 | 6 | 64,989 | 673 | 10.4 | 21 | 64,186 | 757 | 11.8 | 17 | |
Alabama | 31,402 | 1,403 | 44.7 | 7 | 45,626 | 684 | 15 | 7 | 39,846 | 629 | 15.8 | 13 | |
Delaware | 4,799 | 205 | 42.7 | 8 | 6,730 | 153 | 22.7 | 2 | 5,582 | 104 | 18.6 | 5 | |
Louisiana | 37,600 | 1,548 | 41.2 | 9 | 54,243 | 659 | 12.1 | 15 | 49,079 | 514 | 10.5 | 21 | |
Nevada | 11,970 | 475 | 39.7 | 10 | 19,338 | 288 | 14.9 | 8 | 21,044 | 377 | 17.9 | 8 | |
Arizona | 32,811 | 1,247 | 38 | 11 | 58,542 | 533 | 9.1 | 27 | 59,202 | 952 | 16.1 | 12 | |
Maine | 2,328 | 87 | 37.4 | 12 | 3,757 | 34 | 9 | 28 | 4,150 | 17 | 4.1 | 45 | |
Tennessee | 29,260 | 1,076 | 36.8 | 13 | 50,448 | 576 | 11.4 | 16 | 50,264 | 485 | 9.6 | 28 | |
Indiana | 27,044 | 967 | 35.8 | 14 | 48,739 | 376 | 7.7 | 35 | 47,846 | 862 | 18 | 6 | |
Pennsylvania | 62,657 | 2,114 | 33.7 | 15 | 103,438 | 1,284 | 12.4 | 12 | 94,831 | 983 | 10.4 | 23 | |
Kentucky | 24,435 | 824 | 33.7 | 16 | 41,265 | 230 | 5.6 | 42 | 41,767 | 348 | 8.3 | 33 | |
Montana | 2,464 | 76 | 30.8 | 17 | 5,241 | 93 | 17.7 | 5 | 6,808 | 127 | 18.7 | 4 | |
Colorado | 20,895 | 634 | 30.3 | 18 | 36,388 | 351 | 9.6 | 24 | 36,542 | 524 | 14.3 | 14 | |
Wyoming | 1,955 | 57 | 29.2 | 19 | 3,689 | 18 | 4.9 | 44 | 3,984 | 10 | 2.5 | 50 | |
Vermont | 1,245 | 35 | 28.1 | 20 | 2,034 | 19 | 9.3 | 26 | 1,713 | 9 | 5.3 | 42 | |
Hawaii | 2,812 | 76 | 27 | 21 | 5,993 | 83 | 13.8 | 9 | 5,416 | 43 | 7.9 | 35 | |
Kansas | 12,508 | 333 | 26.6 | 22 | 18,724 | 136 | 7.3 | 38 | 18,768 | 210 | 11.2 | 18 | |
Wisconsin | 21,306 | 559 | 26.2 | 23 | 36,898 | 298 | 8.1 | 33 | 37,900 | 751 | 19.8 | 3 | |
Utah | 6,623 | 169 | 25.5 | 24 | 12,699 | 93 | 7.3 | 37 | 13,119 | 47 | 3.6 | 48 | |
West Virginia | 6,989 | 169 | 24.2 | 25 | 20,713 | 135 | 6.5 | 40 | 20,824 | 215 | 10.3 | 25 | |
South Carolina | 27,173 | 648 | 23.8 | 26 | 41,268 | 649 | 15.7 | 6 | 36,094 | 589 | 16.3 | 11 | |
Connecticut | 15,740 | 370 | 23.5 | 27 | 18,497 | 154 | 8.3 | 32 | 14,307 | 257 | 18 | 7 | |
Washington | 20,471 | 481 | 23.5 | 28 | 29,925 | 373 | 12.5 | 11 | 30,869 | 319 | 10.3 | 24 | |
Georgia | 66,131 | 1,496 | 22.6 | 29 | 103,464 | 1,000 | 9.7 | 23 | 98,900 | 1,064 | 10.8 | 19 | |
Illinois | 58,398 | 1,270 | 21.7 | 30 | 76,126 | 1,445 | 19 | 4 | 61,472 | 2,366 | 38.5 | 1 | |
Michigan | 56,452 | 1,217 | 21.6 | 31 | 62,144 | 801 | 12.9 | 10 | 56,748 | 469 | 8.3 | 34 | |
Maryland | 33,703 | 708 | 21 | 32 | 35,469 | 392 | 11.1 | 19 | 30,076 | 506 | 16.8 | 10 | |
Oklahoma | 21,767 | 437 | 20.1 | 33 | 38,515 | 180 | 4.7 | 46 | 43,393 | 174 | 4 | 46 | |
North Carolina | 39,000 | 760 | 19.5 | 34 | 62,488 | 529 | 8.5 | 31 | 60,294 | 604 | 10 | 26 | |
Rhode Island | 2,854 | 54 | 18.9 | 35 | 3,042 | 30 | 9.9 | 22 | 2,580 | 20 | 7.8 | 36 | |
Texas | 192,977 | 3,597 | 18.6 | 36 | 257,431 | 1,486 | 5.8 | 41 | 244,034 | 1,879 | 7.7 | 37 | |
New York | 104,509 | 1,860 | 17.8 | 37 | 88,851 | 1,722 | 19.4 | 3 | 75,183 | 1,282 | 17.1 | 9 | |
Florida | 111,113 | 1,968 | 17.7 | 38 | 170,850 | 1,234 | 7.2 | 39 | 162,304 | 1,596 | 9.8 | 27 | |
South Dakota | 3,263 | 57 | 17.5 | 39 | 6,271 | 48 | 7.7 | 36 | 6,316 | 35 | 5.5 | 41 | |
Alaska | 2,864 | 50 | 17.5 | 40 | 6,388 | 7 | 1.1 | 50 | 4,317 | 29 | 6.7 | 40 | |
Oregon | 13,988 | 227 | 16.2 | 41 | 21,856 | 189 | 8.6 | 30 | 21,874 | 234 | 10.7 | 20 | |
New Hampshire | 3,122 | 47 | 15.1 | 42 | 4,612 | 36 | 7.8 | 34 | 5,381 | 21 | 3.9 | 47 | |
Idaho | 5,097 | 75 | 14.7 | 43 | 11,321 | 106 | 9.4 | 25 | 12,189 | 93 | 7.6 | 38 | |
New Jersey | 43,435 | 639 | 14.7 | 44 | 45,301 | 503 | 11.1 | 18 | 36,290 | 308 | 8.5 | 32 | |
New Mexico | 8,984 | 124 | 13.8 | 45 | 17,131 | 93 | 5.4 | 43 | 14,238 | 124 | 8.7 | 31 | |
Ohio | 57,630 | 746 | 12.9 | 46 | 73,454 | 249 | 3.4 | 49 | 72,655 | 358 | 4.9 | 44 | |
California | 216,289 | 2,575 | 11.9 | 47 | 229,253 | 2,586 | 11.3 | 17 | 219,433 | 2,720 | 12.4 | 16 | |
Minnesota | 11,449 | 124 | 10.8 | 48 | 20,267 | 93 | 4.6 | 47 | 19,396 | 64 | 3.3 | 49 | |
Massachusetts | 20,009 | 153 | 7.6 | 49 | 24,425 | 109 | 4.5 | 48 | 19,707 | 100 | 5.1 | 43 | |
North Dakota | 1,135 | 8 | 7 | 50 | 2,695 | 13 | 4.8 | 45 | 3,179 | 24 | 7.5 | 39 | |
| 1995-2012 | 2012-2018 | 1995-2018 | ||||||
Rate Change | Rank Change | Rate Change | Rank Change | Rate Change | Rank Change | ||||
N | % | N | % | N | % | ||||
All U.S. | -14.3 | -58.5% |
| 2 | 19.7% |
| -12.4 | -50.7% |
|
Iowa | -89.5 | -87.9 | 13 | -3.6 | -29.1 | 16 | -93.1 | -91.4 | 29 |
Arkansas | -55.5 | -68.6 | -1 | 11.6 | 45.6 | 1 | -43.9 | -54.2 | 0 |
Mississippi | -51.7 | -80.7 | 10 | -3 | -24.3 | 16 | -54.7 | -85.4 | 26 |
Nebraska | -48.4 | -82.2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -48.5 | -82.4 | 18 |
Missouri | -49.8 | -84.9 | 24 | 4.8 | 54 | -14 | -45 | -76.7 | 10 |
Virginia | -42.1 | -80.2 | 15 | 1.4 | 13.5 | -4 | -40.7 | -77.5 | 11 |
Alabama | -29.7 | -66.5 | 0 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6 | -28.9 | -64.7 | 6 |
Delaware | -20 | -46.8 | -6 | -4.1 | -18 | 3 | -24.1 | -56.4 | -3 |
Louisiana | -29 | -70.4 | 6 | -1.7 | -14 | 6 | -30.7 | -74.6 | 12 |
Nevada | -24.8 | -62.5 | -2 | 3 | 20.1 | 0 | -21.8 | -54.9 | -2 |
Arizona | -28.9 | -76 | 16 | 7 | 76.9 | -15 | -21.9 | -57.6 | 1 |
Maine | -28.3 | -75.7 | 16 | -5 | -55.2 | 17 | -33.3 | -89.1 | 33 |
Tennessee | -25.4 | -69.1 | 3 | -1.8 | -15.8 | 12 | -27.1 | -73.7 | 15 |
Indiana | -28 | -78.3 | 21 | 10.3 | 133.5 | -29 | -17.7 | -49.5 | -8 |
Pennsylvania | -21.3 | -63.1 | -3 | -2 | -16.1 | 11 | -23.4 | -69.4 | 8 |
Kentucky | -28.1 | -83.3 | 26 | 2.8 | 50.2 | -9 | -25.4 | -75.3 | 17 |
Montana | -13.1 | -42.5 | -12 | 0.9 | 5.1 | -1 | -12.2 | -39.6 | -13 |
Colorado | -20.7 | -68.2 | 6 | 4.7 | 48.7 | -10 | -16 | -52.7 | -4 |
Wyoming | -24.3 | -83.3 | 25 | -2.4 | -49.2 | 6 | -26.6 | -91.2 | 31 |
Vermont | -18.8 | -66.9 | 6 | -4.1 | -43.9 | 16 | -22.9 | -81.5 | 22 |
Hawaii | -13.2 | -48.8 | -12 | -5.9 | -42.6 | 26 | -19.1 | -70.7 | 14 |
Kansas | -19.4 | -72.9 | 16 | 3.9 | 53.7 | -20 | -15.4 | -57.8 | -4 |
Wisconsin | -18.2 | -69.4 | 10 | 11.7 | 144.9 | -30 | -6.4 | -24.4 | -20 |
Utah | -18.2 | -71.3 | 13 | -3.7 | -50.5 | 11 | -21.9 | -85.8 | 24 |
West Virginia | -17.7 | -73.2 | 15 | 3.8 | 58.3 | -15 | -13.9 | -57.5 | 0 |
South Carolina | -8.1 | -34 | -20 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 5 | -7.5 | -31.5 | -15 |
Connecticut | -15.2 | -64.7 | 5 | 9.6 | 115.3 | -25 | -5.5 | -23.4 | -20 |
Washington | -11 | -46.8 | -17 | -2.1 | -16.8 | 13 | -13.2 | -56.2 | -4 |
Georgia | -13 | -57.5 | -6 | 1.1 | 11.4 | -4 | -11.9 | -52.6 | -10 |
Illinois | -2.8 | -12.9 | -26 | 19.5 | 102.7 | -3 | 16.7 | 76.8 | -29 |
Michigan | -8.7 | -40.4 | -21 | -4.6 | -35.7 | 24 | -13.3 | -61.7 | 3 |
Maryland | -10 | -47.6 | -13 | 5.8 | 52.5 | -9 | -4.2 | -20 | -22 |
Oklahoma | -15.4 | -76.7 | 13 | -0.7 | -15 | 0 | -16.1 | -80.2 | 13 |
North Carolina | -11 | -56.4 | -3 | 1.6 | 18.9 | -5 | -9.5 | -48.8 | -8 |
Rhode Island | -9.1 | -48.1 | -13 | -2.1 | -21.3 | 14 | -11.2 | -59.2 | 1 |
Texas | -12.9 | -69.2 | 5 | 1.9 | 32.9 | -4 | -10.9 | -58.5 | 1 |
New York | 1.6 | 9 | -34 | -2.3 | -11.9 | 6 | -0.7 | -3.9 | -28 |
Florida | -10.5 | -59.3 | 1 | 2.6 | 36 | -12 | -7.9 | -44.6 | -11 |
South Dakota | -9.8 | -56.1 | -3 | -2.1 | -27.4 | 5 | -11.9 | -68.1 | 2 |
Alaska | -16.4 | -93.9 | 10 | 5.6 | 511 | -10 | -10.7 | -61.3 | 0 |
Oregon | -7.6 | -46.8 | -11 | 2.1 | 24.3 | -10 | -5.5 | -33.9 | -21 |
New Hampshire | -7.2 | -47.8 | -8 | -3.9 | -50 | 13 | -11.2 | -74.4 | 5 |
Idaho | -5.4 | -36.7 | -18 | -1.7 | -18.2 | 13 | -7.1 | -48.3 | -5 |
New Jersey | -3.6 | -24.5 | -26 | -2.6 | -23.4 | 14 | -6.2 | -42.1 | -12 |
New Mexico | -8.4 | -60.9 | -2 | 3.3 | 60.8 | -12 | -5.1 | -37 | -14 |
Ohio | -9.6 | -74.2 | 3 | 1.5 | 44.2 | -5 | -8 | -61.8 | -2 |
California | -0.6 | -5 | -30 | 1.1 | 9.8 | -1 | 0.5 | 4.2 | -31 |
Minnesota | -6.2 | -57.2 | -1 | -1.3 | -28.3 | 2 | -7.5 | -69.2 | 1 |
Massachusetts | -3.2 | -41.8 | -1 | 0.6 | 13.4 | -5 | -2.6 | -34 | -6 |
North Dakota | -2.2 | -31.2 | -5 | 2.7 | 56 | -6 | 0.5 | 7.1 | -11 |
Table H: Days to Disposition, District Court Cases by Fiscal Year of Filing, 1988–2020
| 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 | 520 days | 93 days | 225 days | 435 days |
2018 | 51 days | 148 days | 449 days | 71 days | 226 days | 511 days | 91 days | 223 days | 434 days |
2019 | 56 days | 161 days | 478 days | 79 days | 245 days | 605 days | 88 days | 218 days | 447 days |
2020 | 57 days | 172 days | Pending | 81 days | Pending | Pending | 94 days | 331 days | Pending |