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Alabama has an incarceration rate of 898 per 100,000 people (including prisons, jails, immigration detention, and juvenile justice facilities), meaning that it locks up a higher percentage of its people than any independent democratic country on earth. Read on to learn more about who is incarcerated in Alabama and why.

43,000 people from Alabama are behind bars

Additionally, the number of people impacted by county and city jails in Alabama is much larger than the graph above would suggest, because people cycle through local jails relatively quickly. Each year, at least 90,000 different people are booked into local jails in Alabama.

Rates of imprisonment have grown dramatically in the last 40 years

Also see these Alabama graphs:

• total numbers rather than rates.
• Women’s prisons: Incarceration Rates | Total Population
• Men’s prisons: Incarceration Rates | Total Population

Today, Alabama’s incarceration rates stand out internationally

In the U.S., incarceration extends beyond prisons and local jails to include other systems of confinement. The U.S. and state incarceration rates in this graph include people held by these other parts of the justice system, so they may be slightly higher than the commonly reported incarceration rates that only include prisons and jails. Details on the data are available in States of Incarceration: The Global Context. We also have a version of this graph focusing on the incarceration of women.

People of color are overrepresented in prisons and jails

Alabama's criminal justice system is more than just its prisons and jails

See detailed data on incarceration and supervision numbers and rates by state.

Reports and briefings about Alabama's criminal legal system:

Filter to show Most recent All Big picture Collateral consequences Communication Exploitation Health Jails & bail Parole and probation Policing Poverty Racial justice Women, gender, & families

• People on probation in Alabama are saddled with onerous rules and conditions they must follow every day or risk incarceration.
• Prisons in Alabama have tablets, but they may be being used to restrict incarcerated people’s access to books and sap them of the little money they have.
• With an incarceration rate of 898 per 100,000 residents, Alabama locks up a higher percentage of its people than any independent democratic country on earth.
• After the Dobbs’ decision, striking down Roe v. Wade, Alabama totally banned abortion, putting access to the service effectively out of reach for the 810 women on parole in the state who also face travel restrictions.
• Prisons in Alabama force incarcerated people and their families — some of the most vulnerable members of society — to subsidize mass incarceration.
• 74% of people in Alabama jails have not been convicted of a crime, meaning they're legally innocent. There are simple steps the state can take to reduce this number. Why isn't it?
• Alabama releases roughly 220,279 men and 78,247 women from its prisons and jails each year. What is it doing to support them upon reentry?
• In Alabama prisons, breaking even minor rules can come with monetary fines — including up to $500 for having a social networking account
• Alabama is one of a handful of states reviving harsh drug laws straight out of the '90s
• The parole board in Alabama is releasing 70% fewer people and holding 10% fewer hearings since the pandemic started
• Black people in Alabama are incarcerated at a rate 2.9 times higher than white people.
• Alabama's choice to criminalize "failure to appear" may be hurting public safety
• The cost of incarcerating older people is incredibly high, and their risk of reincarceration is incredibly low, yet 15% of people in Alabama prisons are over the age of 55. Why is the state keeping so many older people locked up?
• Alabama makes it difficult or even risky for incarcerated journalists to tell their stories.
• In Alabama, 43,000 people are incarcerated and another 49,500 are on probation or parole.
• Jails in Alabama charge up to $3.75 for a 15-minute phone call, reaping profits for companies, while prisons charge 75¢ for a 15-minute call.
• Bail companies in Alabama have a track record of avoiding accountability, our report All Profit, No Risk and review of state-by-state evidence show
• Alabama prisons charge people $4 to see a healthcare provider.
• If a person in Alabama prisons has more than $15 in their commissary. account they may not qualify for assistance to purchase essentials like hygiene items and postage.
• Alabama prisons charge families up to a 15% fee to transfer money to an incarcerated loved one.
• We gave Alabama a failing grade in September 2021 for its response to the coronavirus in prisons.
• How many COVID-19 cases in Alabama communities can be linked to outbreaks in correctional facilities? (data from our report Mass Incarceration, COVID-19, and Community Spread)
• Alabama hinders jury diversity by excluding people with certain felony records
• Cruel and unusual punishment: When Alabama prisons don't provide air conditioning
• Alabama incarcerates women at a rate of 187 per 100,000 residents — higher than any democratic country on earth.
• People in Alabama prisons sometimes earn nothing for their work.
• We graded the parole release systems of all 50 states - Alabama gets an F
• Alabama is 1 of only 8 states still suspending driver's licenses for drug offenses unrelated to driving

Other resources

• Research on Alabama in our Research Library