The Crime and Justice Institute analyzed national data showing that time served in jail and prison is rising across states with different sentencing systems.
Key Takeaways
- Average time served in state prisons increased 13% between 2000 and 2018, a trend that appears across states and varied sentencing structures.
- The population of people age 55 or older in state prisons increased 47% between 2013 and 2023, and the population serving 10 or more years grew 90% between 2000 and 2019.
- States’ time served policies are driving this increase, despite research and best practices on what works to keep people safe and reduce recidivism upon release.
A National Convening on Time Served
Earlier this month, CJI Deputy Director Maura McNamara presented data analysis at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) meeting on time served in Burlington, Vermont. The June 2–5 convening brought together legislators and policy researchers from across the country to examine sentencing credits, parole eligibility, and prison release policy. Maura presented CJI’s analysis in the opening session alongside NCSL and Arnold Ventures representatives.
What the Data Show
The presentation offered a national overview of time served trends, the sentencing frameworks that shape them, and the research findings that inform how states are responding. Two findings anchored the analysis.
First, average time served is rising across the country regardless of how a state structures its sentencing system. States using indeterminate sentencing, determinate sentencing, and hybrid approaches have all seen time served increase over the past two decades. Between 2000 and 2018, average time served in state prisons increased 13%.
Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics Time Served in State Prison, 2018 & 2016: National Corrections Reporting Program: Time Served in State Prison 2000, 2009
State-level data show larger increases. For example, despite operating under different frameworks, Pennsylvania reported an average of 4.8 years for releases in 2024, up 41% since 2014. Georgia reported an average of 4.2 years in 2025, up 8% since 2020. North Carolina reported an average of 2.6 years for structured sentences in 2024, up 4% since 2014.
Second, as the population incarcerated long-term grows, it is also aging. The number of people serving 10 or more years in state prisons grew 90% between 2000 and 2019. The number of people age 55 or older in state prisons increased 47% between 2013 and 2023.
Sources: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 2023
CJI’s Related Research
The NCSL presentation drew on data from multiple states and sources to establish national time served trends. CJI’s broader body of state-level research including analyses of Mississippi, Utah, and Michigan provides additional depth on how these trends manifest within specific sentencing and policy contexts.
Visit CJI’s Publications page to view full reports.
Forthcoming Analysis
CJI is developing an analysis of time served trends drawing on this presentation and CJI’s state-level research. That analysis will be available this summer at cjinstitute.org.
This analysis was prepared by the CJI Policy Team.
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