The 1999 figures mean 500,000 more children have a parent in prison compared to 1991. According to the report, there was a 98 percent increase over the past eight years in the number of minors with a mother in prison. For the same period, the number of children with an imprisoned father increased 58 percent.

The report further revealed that 58 percent of the children with a parent in prison were younger than 10, with the average age being 8.

Fathers are most likely to be the imprisoned parent -- representing 93 percent of all imprisoned parents -- with the children generally living with their mothers. In addition, the study showed that half of the parents in prison are African American, one quarter are white, and one-fifth are Hispanic.

The report noted that while the U.S. crime rate continues to steadily decline, the number of inmates has grown, as has the length of sentences for certain types of offenses, including drug crimes.

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