New York Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
447,567
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
27.5
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
126,970
28% of total
Year-over-Year
-3.7%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
126,970
Long Gun
190,484
Permit Checks
50,988
In 2022, New York recorded 447,567 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 27.5 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 28% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 43%. Background checks decreased 3.7% compared to 2021.
NICS checks are conducted for firearm purchases, permits, and other transactions. A single check does not necessarily equal one firearm sale.
Background Checks by Year
| Year | Total Checks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 358,614 | — |
| 2019 | 355,374 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 507,940 | +42.9% |
| 2021 | 464,575 | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 447,567 | -3.7% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
New York State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
32,583
2023
Per 100K Residents
200
imprisonment rate
Admissions
10,295
2023
Releases
8,855
2023
Male Prisoners
31,261
96% of total
Female Prisoners
1,322
4% of total
Private Prisons
0.0%
of total prison pop
New York Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 17.2% of New York's population but 49.2% of the prison population (2.9x overrepresented). Hispanic residents are 22.4% of the population vs. 23.7% of prisoners. White residents are 51.0% of the population but 22.6% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
New York had a total prison population of 32,583 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 200 per 100,000 residents. There were 10,295 new admissions and 8,855 releases. 0.0% of prisoners were held in private facilities.
New York County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 58 counties in New York.
Total Jail Population
16,259
2024
Avg Jail Rate
175
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
106,527
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16,259 | 175 | 106,527 | N/A | 58 |
| 2023 | 16,281 | 178 | 106,527 | N/A | 58 |
| 2022 | 16,093 | 177 | 104,930 | 74% | 58 |
| 2021 | 15,057 | 163 | 104,126 | 72% | 58 |
| 2020 | 13,731 | 152 | 115,880 | 68% | 58 |
| 2019 | 18,289 | 199 | 146,481 | 70% | 58 |
| 2018 | 22,581 | 228 | 180,077 | 68% | 58 |
| 2017 | 24,802 | 240 | 197,231 | 66% | 58 |
| 2016 | 22,345 | 243 | 171,906 | 65% | 58 |
| 2015 | 25,540 | 239 | 220,474 | 66% | 58 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, New York's 58 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 16,259 with an average county jail rate of 175 per 100,000 residents. A total of 106,527 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
New York Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 58 counties in New York. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
5,027
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
2,021
40% of total
Suicide Deaths
2,987
59% of total
Rate per 100K
5.2
crude mortality rate
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, New York's 58 counties reported a combined 5,027 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 5.2 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 2,021 (40%) were homicides and 2,987 (59%) were suicides. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.