Location:
DRUGS; PRISONS AND PRISONERS - STATISTICS;

OLR Research Report


February 5, 2010

 

2010-R-0084

INCARCERATED POPULATION—TOP OFFENSES AND DRUG CRIMES

By: Christopher Reinhart, Senior Attorney

You asked about the top 10 offenses committed by people in prison and the number of people incarcerated for drug crimes.

The Department of Correction (DOC) tracks inmates by the most serious offense they are sentenced for or charged with or convicted of while awaiting sentencing. On January 1, 2010, the total incarcerated population was 18,052. The highest number of inmates on that date were incarcerated for a violation of probation or conditional discharge: 2,171 inmates or 12.0% of the total incarcerated population. Overall, the top 10 offenses accounted for 50.1% of the total incarcerated population or 9,042 inmates. Table 1 shows the top 10 offenses of inmates on January 1, 2010, the number of sentenced and unsentenced inmates for each offense, and their percent of the total prison population.

Table 1: Top 10 Offenses in the Prison Population, January 1, 2010

CGS §

Offense

Sentenced

Unsentenced

Total

Percent of Prison Population

53a-32

Violation of Probation or Conditional Discharge

1,868

303

2,171

12.0%

21a-277(a)

Sale of Hallucinogen or Narcotic

1,409

34

1,443

8.0%

53a-134

Robbery, 1st Degree

852

210

1,062

5.9%

21a-279a

Possession of Narcotics

467

328

795

4.4%

53a-54a

Murder*

603

92

695

3.8%

53a-103

Burglary, 3rd Degree

504

149

653

3.6%

53a-59

Assault, 1st Degree

528

124

652

3.6%

53a-70

Sexual Assault, 1st Degree

456

116

572

3.2%

53a-49

Criminal Attempt

416

87

503

2.8%

53a-48

Conspiracy

460

36

496

2.7%

Total

7,563

1,479

9,042

50.1%

*Includes 34 inmates sentenced under prior murder statutes: CGS §§ 53-9, 53-10, 53-11, and 53a-54.

Source: DOC

On January 1, 2010, 3,132 inmates were incarcerated for drug offenses. This amounts to 17.35% of the total incarcerated population. Table 2 shows the number of inmates incarcerated for each drug offense, the number sentenced and unsentenced for each offence, and their percent of the total prison population.

Table 2: Inmates Incarcerated for Drug Offenses, January 1, 2010

CGS §

Offense

Sentenced

Unsentenced

Total

Percent of Prison Population

21a-257

Failure to Keep Narcotic in Original Container

3

3

6

0.03%

21a-266

Prohibited Acts Regarding Controlled Substances

2

0

2

0.01%

21a-267

Prohibited Acts Regarding Drug Paraphernalia

3

10

13

0.07%

21a-267(c)

Prohibited Acts Regarding Drug Paraphernalia by Non-Enrolled Student Near School

1

4

5

0.03%

21a-268

Misrepresentation of Substance as Controlled Substance

4

3

7

0.04%

21a-277(a)

Sale of Hallucinogen or Narcotic

1,409

34

1,443

7.99%

21a-277(b)

Sale of Controlled Substance Other Than Hallucinogen or Narcotic

193

37

230

1.27%

21a-277(c)

Drug Paraphernalia in Drug Factory

11

7

18

0.10%

21a-278

Illegal Manufacture or Sale of Drugs

0

3

3

0.02%

21a-278(a)

Manufacture or Sale of Heroin, Methadone, Cocaine, or Crack by Non-Dependent Person

61

22

83

0.46%

21a-278(b)

Manufacture or Sale of Narcotic, Hallucinogen, Amphetamine, or at Least 1 Kg Marijuana by Non-Dependent Person

334

82

416

2.30%

21a-279(a)

Possession of Narcotics

467

328

795

4.40%

21a-279(b)

Possession of Hallucinogen or More Than Four Ounces Marijuana

22

15

37

0.20%

21a-279(c)

Possession of Controlled Substance or Less Than Four Ounces Marijuana

53

10

63

0.35%

21a-279(d)

Possession of Narcotic, Hallucinogen, or Controlled Substance Near School or Day Care Center

5

6

11

0.06%

Total

2,568

564

3,132

17.35%

Source: DOC

CR:sd