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 2020, 9 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 38% from 2005 to 2020, while the state (excluding NYC) rate decreased by 45%. Monroe County's rate of 9 of every 10,000 residents was a decrease of 35% from 2005, similar to the surrounding counties rate of 9. Of the surrounding counties, only Livingston, Seneca and Yates counties had a higher incarceration rate than Monroe. Livingston County had an increase of 5% in the same 2005 to 2020 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.