Parolees include those adults conditionally released to community supervision whether by parole board decision or by mandatory conditional release after serving a prison term. They are subject to being returned to jail or prison for rule violations or other offenses.

At yearend 2002, over 4.7 million adult men and women were under Federal, State, or local probation or parole jurisdiction; approximately 3,995,200 on probation and 753,100 on parole.

The 1.8% growth in the probation and parole population during 2002 -- an increase of almost 84,242 during the year -- was about half the average annual growth of 3.4% since 1995.

At the end of 2002 --

-- Among offenders on probation, half (50 percent) had been convicted for committing a felony, 49% for a misdemeanor, and 1% for other infractions. Seventy-five percent of probationers were being actively supervised at the end of 2002; 10% were inactive cases and 11% had absconded.

-- Nearly all of the offenders on parole (96%) had been sentenced to incarceration of more than 1 year.

-- Women made up about 23% of the nation's probationers and 14% of the parolees.

-- Approximately 55% of the adults on probation were white, and 31% were black, and 12% were Hispanic. Thirty-nine percent of parolees were white, 42% black, and 18% were Hispanic.

State inmates released from prison as a result of a parole board decision dropped from 50% of all adults entering parole in 1995 to 39% in 2002, while mandatory releases based on a statutory requirement increased from 45% to 52%.

45% of State parole discharges in 2002 successfully completed their term of supervision, relatively unchanged since 1995. 41% were returned to jail or prison, and 9% absconded.

By the end of 2000, 16 States had abolished parole board authority for releasing all offenders, and another 4 States had abolished parole board authority for releasing certain violent offenders.