Approximately how many state prisoners are held in protective custody?

The correct answer is significant because it highlights the number of state prisoners who require protective custody due to concerns for their safety within the prison system. Approximately 6,000 state prisoners in protective custody indicates the systemic issue of inmate safety, which is a crucial aspect of corrections and penology. Inmates may be placed in protective custody for various reasons, such as being at risk of violence from other inmates due to their status as informants, their sexual orientation, or their offenses.

Understanding the context and scale of protective custody helps illustrate the complexities of managing prison populations, ensuring that the rights and safety of vulnerable inmates are upheld. This statistic not only impacts the allocation of resources within correctional facilities but also informs policies regarding inmate management and rehabilitation efforts.

The other options, while they provide a range of possible numbers, do not accurately reflect the data on protective custody. The focus on the correct figure underscores the importance of having accurate and reliable information when discussing prison demographics and associated practices.