Nevada prison sentencing data
As of October 22, 2026, according to Nevada Department of Corrections records, 10,829 people were held in Nevada state prisons. Their median sentence is 7 years (the longest sentence from each person's most recent sentencing, not counting life or death sentences). 33% are serving 20 years or more, and 2,293 are serving life. Nevada sentences have a minimum and a maximum term; figures here use the maximum.
Race: prison population vs. state population
| Group | People | Share of prison | Share of state (U.S. Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 3,603 | 33% | 42% |
| Black | 3,416 | 32% | 11% |
| Hispanic | 2,878 | 27% | 31% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 393 | 3.6% | 12% |
| Indigenous | 351 | 3.2% | 2.7% |
| Other | 188 | 1.7% | – |
Most common offenses
By the longest sentence from each person's most recent sentencing. Life and death sentences are not included in the median.
| Offense | People | Median sentence (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Robbery | 772 | 10 |
| Murder 2Nd Degree | 285 | 25 |
| Ex Felon/Prohibited Person Poss Firearm | 269 | 5 |
| Voluntary Manslaughter | 197 | 10 |
| Att Sex Asslt | 182 | 15 |
| Att Murder | 177 | 18 |
| Traff Sch I-Ii C/S,Flnt/Ghb,100-400G | 177 | 10 |
| Battery W/ Deadly Weapon | 174 | 8 |
| Dui Causing Death Or Sbh | 174 | 17.5 |
| Att Lewdness W/ A Minor | 163 | 15 |
| Habitual Criminal (Lesser) | 159 | 20 |
| Battery Causing Subst Harm | 148 | 5 |
| Assault W/ A Deadly Weapon | 145 | 5 |
| Battery W/ Deadly Wpn / Sbh | 134 | 12 |
| Fail To Stop On Signal From Officer | 134 | 5 |
Sentencing by county
County where the person's longest sentence was imposed. Counties with 20+ people have their own page.
| County | People | Median sentence (years) | Serving 20+ years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark | 6,951 | 8 | 34% |
| Washoe | 2,314 | 6 | 33% |
| Elko | 260 | 5 | 24% |
| Lyon | 227 | 6 | 32% |
| Nye | 219 | 6 | 38% |
| Carson City | 205 | 6 | 33% |
| Churchill | 151 | 5 | 20% |
| Douglas | 147 | 7 | 27% |
| Humboldt | 70 | 6 | 36% |
| White Pine | 58 | 8.5 | 34% |
| Mineral | 37 | 6 | 30% |
| Pershing | 24 | 5 | 33% |
| Lincoln | 22 | 5.5 | 32% |
| Storey | 19 | 4 | 32% |
| Lander | 17 | 6 | 12% |
| Eureka | fewer than 10 | – | – |
| Esmeralda | fewer than 10 | – | – |
About this data
Source: Nevada Department of Corrections public inmate records. Counts are people currently in state prison custody, one record per person, using the longest sentence from each person's most recent sentencing. Nevada sentences have a minimum and a maximum term; figures here use the maximum. People on parole, probation or in local jails are not included. Criminal history is not in the data. Search individual records in Justice Audit.