# n 2002, State and Federal courts convicted a combined total of nearly 1,114,000 adults of felonies -- State courts convicted an estimated 1,051,000 adults and Federal courts convicted 63,217 adults (accounting for 6% of the national total.)
# In 2002, 69% of all felons convicted in State courts were sentenced to a period of confinement - 41% to State prisons and 28% to local jails. Jail sentences are for short-term confinement (usually for a year or less) in a county or city facility, while prison sentences are for long-term confinement (usually for over a year) in a State facility.
# State courts sentenced 31% of convicted felons to straight probation with no jail or prison time to serve.
# Felons sentenced to a State prison in 2002 had an average sentence of 4 1/2 years but were likely to serve 51% of that sentence - or just 2 1/4 years - before release, assuming that 2002 release policies continue in effect.
Go go longer sentences!
