33% of Prisoners Reported a Disability in 2011 - 2012

Author: Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
Published: 2015/12/15 - Updated: 2025/02/06
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Findings
Topic: Disability Statistics - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: This report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics presents data from the 2011-2012 National Inmate Survey, revealing that approximately 32% of state and federal prisoners and 40% of local jail inmates reported having at least one disability. The most prevalent disability was cognitive, defined as serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions, reported by 19% of prisoners and 31% of jail inmates. Ambulatory disabilities, involving difficulty walking or climbing stairs, were the second most common, affecting 10% of both populations. These findings highlight the significant presence of disabilities within incarcerated populations, underscoring the need for appropriate accommodations and support services - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

An estimated 32 percent of state and federal prisoners and 40 percent of local jail inmates reported having at least one disability in the 2011-12 National Inmate Survey, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced today.

Main Item

Estimates of disabilities include six specific classifications: hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care and independent living.

Prisoners were about three times more likely and jail inmates were about four times more likely than the general population (standardized to match the prison and jail populations by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin) to report a disability.

Other Findings Include

Estimates are based on self-reported data from 10 percent of the inmates selected in the BJS 2011-12 National Inmate Survey. A total of 10,259 inmates age 18 or older (4,265 inmates in state and federal prison and 5,994 inmates in jail) completed the disability module.

The report, Disabilities Among Prison and Jail Inmates, 2011-12 (NCJ 249151), was written by Jennifer Bronson and Laura M. Maruschak of BJS, and Marcus Berzofsky of RTI International. The report, related documents and additional information about BJS statistical publications and programs can be found on the BJS website.

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs and published on 2015/12/15, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs can be contacted at ojp.gov NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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Citing and References

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Cite This Page: Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. (2015, December 15 - Last revised: 2025, February 6). 33% of Prisoners Reported a Disability in 2011 - 2012. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved April 25, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/prison-survey.php

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