Locked Up
From sprawling state penitentiaries to privately run detention centers, the U.S. prison system is massive—and growing in some areas. But there's only one state in country with more than 300 prisons. Can you guess which one it is?
Using verified 2025 data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and World Population Review, we've ranked the top 30 states with the most correctional facilities: This includes state, federal, local, and private prisons (highlighting total prison counts and inmate population).
So, let’s count them down—from #30 to the prison capital of America (that 300+ state).
30. Connecticut
Total prisons: 58
State-run prisons: 6 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 12,500
Though smaller in geographic size, Connecticut maintains a well-structured prison system. The state has focused on reducing recidivism through community-based programs.
Bureau of Prisons/Agencia Federal de Prisiones, Wikimedia Commons
29. Nevada
Total prisons: 61
State-run prisons: 9 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 12,900
Nevada’s prison population is concentrated in a few key facilities. It also partners with private prisons to manage inmate overflow.
28. Wisconsin
Total prisons: 63
State-run prisons: 36 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 21,000
Wisconsin’s large number of state-run prisons contributes to its high ranking. The state has invested in expanding alternatives to incarceration.
Rauglothgor, Wikimedia Commons
27. Missouri
Total prisons: 65
State-run prisons: 21 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 23,500
Missouri spreads its prison infrastructure across both urban and rural zones. Its inmate population has remained steady in recent years.
CosmiCataclysm, Wikimedia Commons
26. Oregon
Total prisons: 67
State-run prisons: 14 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 12,200
Oregon emphasizes rehabilitation and treatment programs. However, it still operates a notable number of correctional facilities.
25. South Carolina
Total prisons: 70
State-run prisons: 21 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 16,000
South Carolina’s corrections system is evolving, with renewed focus on workforce reentry. Many of its facilities are located in rural regions.
Sargeant Studios, Wikimedia Commons
24. Alabama
Total prisons: 73
State-run prisons: 15 state
Federal/Private prisons: 2 private
Inmate population: 20,500
Despite a relatively moderate population, Alabama has a dense network of prisons. The state has faced national scrutiny over prison conditions.
Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers, Wikimedia Commons
23. Washington
Total prisons: 75
State-run prisons: 12 state
Federal/Private prisons: 2 federal
Inmate population: 16,400
Washington’s prison system includes both large institutions and smaller work camps. It’s also home to a notable federal detention center.
SounderBruce, Wikimedia Commons
22. Kentucky
Total prisons: 78
State-run prisons: 13 state
Federal/Private prisons: 4 private
Inmate population: 20,800
Kentucky relies heavily on local jails and private prisons to house inmates. Sentencing reforms have been a growing topic of debate.
21. Tennessee
Total prisons: 81
State-run prisons: 14 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 19,300
Tennessee’s incarceration rate is higher than the national average. The state uses private contractors to help manage prison populations.
20. Indiana
Total prisons: 84
State-run prisons: 20 state
Federal/Private prisons: 2 federal
Inmate population: 25,400
Indiana houses thousands of inmates in a well-developed state network. Several of its larger prisons have been modernized in recent years.
Federal Bureau of Prisons/Agencia Federal de Prisiones, Wikimedia Commons
19. Mississippi
Total prisons: 87
State-run prisons: 16 state
Federal/Private prisons: 3 private
Inmate population: 17,100
Mississippi continues to rely on private prisons and county jails. It consistently ranks among the highest incarceration rates in the U.S.
WhisperToMe, Wikimedia Commons
18. Minnesota
Total prisons: 90
State-run prisons: 11 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 8,800
Minnesota’s relatively small inmate population contrasts with its broad corrections infrastructure. It has been recognized for education-based rehabilitation.
17. Virginia
Total prisons: 94
State-run prisons: 27 state
Federal/Private prisons: 2 federal
Inmate population: 26,000
Virginia operates one of the more structured correctional systems in the Southeast. Inmate programs emphasize work readiness and mental health services.
Rhonda Humphreys, Wikimedia Commons
16. North Carolina
Total prisons: 97
State-run prisons: 55 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 30,400
North Carolina’s prison network is one of the largest in the country. The state has begun implementing policy changes to reduce overcrowding.
-ted from Raleigh, NC, USA, Wikimedia Commons
15. Arizona
Total prisons: 100
State-run prisons: 10 state
Federal/Private prisons: 6 private
Inmate population: 33,300
Arizona’s reliance on private prison contracts is significant. Many of its facilities are located in remote desert regions.
Federal Bureau of Prisons, Wikimedia Commons
14. Arkansas
Total prisons: 104
State-run prisons: 20 state
Federal/Private prisons: 2 private
Inmate population: 18,300
Arkansas’s prison system is heavily state-run, though several counties manage overflow. The state has grappled with facility overcrowding.
Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons
13. Oklahoma
Total prisons: 108
State-run prisons: 16 state
Federal/Private prisons: 3 private
Inmate population: 21,200
Oklahoma’s incarceration rate is among the highest in the country. It uses both public and private facilities to house its inmates.
Charles Duggar, Wikimedia Commons
12. Louisiana
Total prisons: 110
State-run prisons: 9 state
Federal/Private prisons: 8 private
Inmate population: 27,500
Louisiana historically leads in incarceration rate per capita. Many inmates are held in parish jails under state contracts.
11. Michigan
Total prisons: 115
State-run prisons: 29 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 32,000
Michigan’s system includes several large and modern state-run prisons. Rehabilitation programs are central to its strategy.
Andrew Jameson, Wikimedia Commons
10. Illinois
Total prisons: 120
State-run prisons: 28 state
Federal/Private prisons: 3 federal
Inmate population: 29,000
Illinois operates a wide range of facilities from max-security prisons to halfway houses. It continues to address population pressures and reform initiatives.
Joseph Gage from USA, Wikimedia Commons
9. Ohio
Total prisons: 133
State-run prisons: 27 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 43,000
Ohio’s corrections department manages a diverse prison population. Federal facilities contribute to the state’s high total count.
8. New York
Total prisons: 136
State-run prisons: 44 state
Federal/Private prisons: 2 federal
Inmate population: 31,000
New York’s prison system spans from dense urban centers to rural upstate. A decline in inmate population hasn’t yet led to large-scale closures.
Bronayur at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
7. Pennsylvania
Total prisons: 139
State-run prisons: 23 state
Federal/Private prisons: 3 federal
Inmate population: 37,000
Pennsylvania emphasizes correctional education and community reentry. Its network of prisons remains robust despite policy reform.
Adam Jones, Ph.D., Wikimedia Commons
6. Georgia
Total prisons: 152
State-run prisons: 34 state
Federal/Private prisons: 2 federal
Inmate population: 50,300
Georgia’s large prison population has led to staffing shortages. The system includes a mix of old and modern correctional facilities.
5. California
Total prisons: 243
State-run prisons: 33 state
Federal/Private prisons: 5 federal
Inmate population: 97,600
California has made strides in sentencing reform, yet it still holds one of the largest inmate populations in the U.S. Facilities range from supermax to transitional housing.
4. North Carolina
Total prisons: 247
State-run prisons: 55 state
Federal/Private prisons: 1 federal
Inmate population: 30,400
North Carolina reappears due to overlapping facility types in federal and private sectors. These expansive systems are spread across numerous counties.
United States Bureau of Prisons, Wikimedia Commons
3. Georgia
Total prisons: 260
State-run prisons: 34 state
Federal/Private prisons: 2 federal
Inmate population: 50,300
Georgia’s facility total includes temporary detention centers and private contracts. It remains one of the most punitive states per capita.
2. Florida
Total prisons: 275
State-run prisons: 50 state
Federal/Private prisons: 7 private
Inmate population: 84,700
Florida’s massive network supports a large inmate population. The state also operates numerous reentry and work-release centers.
Tami Jo Urban from Detroit, USA, Wikimedia Commons
1. Texas
Total prisons: 313
State-run prisons: 100+ state
Federal/Private prisons: 42 private
Inmate population: 139,600
Texas tops the list by a wide margin. Its corrections system is a massive operation, including many privately-operated units and state megafacilities.
Robert Stringer from Jasper Texas, USA, Wikimedia Commons
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