DOJ Report: Jail Population Plummeted Amid Pandemic

The video discusses the impact of the pandemic on jail populations, highlighting a significant reduction in the number of people held in local jails in 2020 compared to the previous year. The Department of Justice reported a 44% drop in misdemeanor jailings and noted that jail populations were at their lowest since 1990. Reform advocates see this as a potential turning point, although figures began to rise again towards the end of 2020.

What was the main focus of the Department of Justice report released during the pandemic?

• New laws for misdemeanors

• Reduction in jail populations

• Rise in prison sentences

• Increase in crime rates

By what percentage did the number of people jailed for misdemeanors drop from 2019 to 2020?

• 44%

• 30%

• 60%

• 50%

When was the last time jail population numbers were as low as they were in 2020?

• 2010

• 1980

• 1990

• 2000

What do reform advocates hope for following the drop in jail populations?

• Stricter laws on misdemeanors

• Increased funding for jails

• A new era of reduced incarceration

• A return to previous incarceration rates

What trend was observed towards the end of 2020 regarding jail populations?

• A continued decrease

• Stabilization at low levels

• An increase in numbers

• No significant change