National federal civil docket · FY2024 · AOUSC Judicial Business C-3

Prisoner petitions

Suits filed by people in prison or jail — habeas corpus challenges to a conviction or sentence, and civil-rights claims about conditions of confinement.

64,791 such civil cases were commenced in the U.S. district courts in fiscal year 2024 — 24% of the entire federal civil docket, the #1 largest of 15 case categories.

64,791

cases commenced

24%

of the civil docket

districts with filings

Who is a party?

How these cases divide between matters where the U.S. government is a party and matters between private parties. The U.S.-vs-private split is AOUSC Judicial Business Table C-3's own party classification — whether the United States is a party to the case (as plaintiff or defendant).

U.S. government — 8,627 (13%) Private parties — 56,164 (87%)

Where these cases concentrate

The U.S. district courts with the most prisoner petitions filings. Some categories cluster heavily (intellectual property, for instance) while others track population.

Northern District of Illinois 3,219

Central District of California 2,438

Eastern District of California 2,426

Middle District of Florida 2,411

Eastern District of Texas 2,054

Northern District of California 1,996

Southern District of New York 1,869

Northern District of Texas 1,865

District of New Jersey 1,722

Eastern District of Pennsylvania 1,695

Southern District of Indiana 1,606

Southern District of Florida 1,528

Other case types on the docket

Civil rights 17% Personal injury (other) 16% Contract 11% Labor & employment 8% All other civil 6% Social Security appeals 5% Intellectual property 5% Motor-vehicle injury 2% Real property 2% Tort actions (other) 2% Tort actions 1% Maritime injury <1% Forfeitures & penalties <1% Railroad worker injury (FELA) <1%

RECORDED — the case counts are cases commenced in FY2024, published in the AOUSC Judicial Business Table C-3. DERIVED — the national share, the government-vs-private split, and the per-district ranking.

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What this is — and is not

These are counts of prisoner petitions cases filed in FY2024, not outcomes — they do not measure who won, the merit of any claim, or how your own case would fare, and they are not legal advice. For your matter, consult an attorney; for free civil legal aid, see the providers in your state. Source: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts — Judicial Business, Table C-3.