How many adults are in California’s state and county correctional systems and how has this changed over time?

• About 388,800 adults were under correctional supervision at the state or county level in 2023. This included 256,600 people (66 percent) at the county level and 132,200 (34 percent) at the state level.

• At the county level, 197,200 (77 percent) were supervised in the community while on probation for a felony or misdemeanor (152,800), Post-Release Community Supervision (36,500), or mandatory supervision (7,900). The remainder, 59,300 (23 percent), were held in county jails.

• At the state level, 96,000 (73 percent) were held in state prison, while 36,200 (27 percent) were supervised in the community on parole.

• For details on what makes people eligible for prison, parole, jail, probation, Post-Release Community Supervision, and mandatory supervision, please see the definition of these terms in Key Criminal Justice Terms.

• As shown above, populations at both the state and county level have been declining largely due to various changes in law, including the 2011 public safety realignment, Proposition 47 (2014), Proposition 57 (2016), as well as various changes made during the pandemic. For more on some of these changes, please see What are some significant changes in law to the criminal justice and judiciary systems?

Last Updated: December 2024