Incarceration serves to remove offenders from a community, but also creates hardships on families, including the loss of an income or a caregiver, in addition to long-term effects on mental health for all involved. After incarceration, people often encounter challenges in obtaining meaningful employment, leading to reductions in long-term productivity, recidivism and widespread effects on a community's social, health and educational systems.

In 2021, 10 of every 10,000 residents in our region was incarcerated in local jails, similar to the state (excluding NYC) rate. The regional incarceration rate decreased 29% from 2005 to 2021, while the state (excluding NYC) rate decreased by 33%. Monroe County's rate of 10 of every 10,000 residents was a decrease of 26% from 2005, similar to the surrounding counties rate of 10. Of the surrounding counties, only Livingston, Seneca and Yates counties had a higher incarceration rate than Monroe. Livingston County had an increase of 19% in the same 2005 to 2021 time period while all other counties saw a decrease in incarceration rates.

New York City started reporting jail population data through Jails Daily Population Reporting System (JDPRS) starting in 2016. Comparable national data is not available.