WASHINGTON CRIME NEWS SERVICES ISSN 0010-9045 - Corrections Professional - Vol. 21 No. 23 - BJS Reports: Number of Probationers, Parolees Sets New Record - Riot Impact Still Being Felt at Camp Hill Prison

Sep 29, 2026

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Corrections Professional issue reports national record growth in probationers and parolees, citing U.S. Justice Department Bureau of Justice Statistics figures for 1989 and long-term increases since 1980. It highlights community supervision expansion versus incarceration rates and breaks out state and regional changes, noting federal probation declines. The issue also covers Camp Hill riot fallout, including legal action, inmate transfers, staff injuries, leadership changes, ongoing investigations, and continuing infrastructure shortcomings, alongside a separate court dispute about closing Virginia’s State Penitentiary.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages11

Reading Time28 min

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BJS Reports: Number of Probationers, Parolees Sets New Record

Camp Hill: Riot Impact Still Being Felt

U.S. Judge Refuses to Order Virginia Prison Closed

WASHINGTON CRIME NEWS SERVICES'ISSN 0010-9045CORRECTIDNS TAZ ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS SERVICE FOR THE CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONAL Vol.21 No.23 BJS Reports: NUMBER OF PROBATIONERS,PAROLEES SETS NEW RECORD The nation's Federal,state and local proba-tion populations increased 5.6 percent last yearand reached a record 2,520,479 adults as of lastDecember 31,the U.S.Justice Department'sBureau of Justice Statistics(BJS)announced Nov. 4. The Bureau also released figures indicatingthat the nation's parole population increased 12.1percent during 1989 and reached a record456,797 parolees. “From Dec.31,1980,through last Dec.31,the nation's probation population increased 126percent,its parole population grew 107 percentand its jail and prison populations grew 114 per-cent,"noted Bureau Director Steven D.Dilling-ham."The growth experienced in the probationand parole populations is particularly noteworthy,as approximately three-fourths of all convictedoffenders are being supervised in the com-munity,not within prisons or jails.” Fifteen states reported growth of more than10 percent last year in the number of probationersunder supervision in the community.Rhode Islandhad the largest increase,24.5 percent.Oregonwas up by 16.7 percent and Florida by 16.3 per-cent.Six states had decreases. Western states reported a probation popula-tion increase of 9.4 percent,compared to 6.4 per-cent in the Midwest,6.1 percent in the South and 1.2 percent in the Northeast.The Federal proba-tion population declined 3.1 percent. (See PROBATIONERS,PAROLEES,page seven) November 14,1990 IN THIS ISSUE PROBATIONERS,PAROLEES:Set New Record……1MILITARY BASES:None Given To Corrections Yet.…1CAMPHILL:Riot Impact Still Felt… ……2VIRGINIA:Judge Won't Close Prison…… …2MICHIGAN:Inmates Run Recycling Center. …3LASD:Opens Boot Camp……… … …3JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP:Focuses On Community..…4FLORIDA:Reclassification Creates Problems… ……5WASHINGTON JAIL:Racket Foils Escape…………5MCA:Honors Corrections Employees… …6TB:Booklet Available… … 6JOB LISTINGS… ………10 COMMISSION FAILS TO IDENTIFYMILITARY BASES FOR CONVERSIONTO PRISONS,REPORT CHARGES Senator Sam Nunn(D-Ga.),chairman of theSenate Permanent Subcommittee on Inves-tigations,on Nov.1 released a U.S.GeneralAccounting Office(GAO)report that criticizes theCommission on Alternative Utilization of MilitaryFacilities for failing to take appropriate actions toensure that excess military property is consideredfor conversion to new prisons.According to theGAO report,which was requested by Sen.Nunn,the Commission has so far failed to identify anyDoD property that will be converted to prison use. In releasing the report,Sen.Nunn stated:"The Commission was established in the NationalDefense Authorization Act of 1989 to identify (See MILITARY BASES,page seven) # RIOT IMPACT STILL BEING FELTAT CAMPHILL PRISON One year after the riot,the impact of the Oct.25-27,1989,riots is still being felt not only in theState Correctional Institution at Camp Hill,butthroughout the Pennsylvania prison system.Someexamples: ● The American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU)filed a suit on behalf of inmates who saidthey were being mistreated.A Federal judge inHarrisburg ordered the Department of Correctionsto unshackle inmates,who were handcuffed inpairs and housed four to a cell for days after theriot.The state also was told to provide showers,bedding,new clothes and toiletries.That suit wasdismissed in late September. ● 800 Camp Hill inmates were sent todozens of Federal prisons around the country.Although the duration was supposed to be for onlysix months,400 are still in the Federal Prison Sys-tem and are being returned to Pennsylvania at therate of 15 a week.The state has paid $10 millionin rent. Camp Hill Superintendent Robert Free-man was fired almost immediately and CorrectionsCommissioner David Owens resigned severalmonths later,after he failed to turn over

FAQs

What did the Bureau of Justice Statistics report about probation and parole populations?

It reported that the nation’s federal, state, and local probation populations increased 5.6% to a record 2,520,479 adults as of December 31, and that the parole population rose 12.1% to a record 456,797 parolees.

How did the Camp Hill riots continue to affect the prison system a year later?

The issue describes ongoing impacts including litigation over inmate mistreatment, transfers of Camp Hill inmates to federal prisons with continued returns, staff injuries preventing a full return to work, leadership changes after the riot, and continuing investigations into alleged abuse.

Why did a U.S. judge refuse to shut down Virginia’s aging prison?

The judge refused to close Virginia’s State Penitentiary in Richmond at that time, stating he would not move prisoners and would instead ensure inmates’ safety until the facility closure decision proceeded.

Sep 29, 2026

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