New figures show the number of Americans in prison or jail is on the rise. A record 2.2 million people are behind bars, up nearly 3 percent from last year. Another 4 million people are either on probation or parole. The number of female prisoners has seen a significant jump, rising 2.6 percent. Racial disparities show no signs of reversal. Among males in their late twenties, 8 percent of African Americans are incarcerated, compared with 1 percent of white males.