Final answer:
Violent crimes are the most common category for which inmates are sentenced to state prisons, surpassing drug offenses, property crimes, and white-collar crimes in prevalence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common category for which inmates have been sentenced to state prisons is violent crimes. This is supported by numerous studies and reports which indicate that a significant portion of the prison population is incarcerated due to offenses involving violence, such as murder, assault, and robbery.
In contrast, while drug offenses have indeed contributed to the increase in incarceration rates, especially with the war on drugs and the implementation of 'three strikes' laws, violent crimes remain the leading cause of incarceration. Furthermore, property crimes and white-collar crimes also constitute a portion of the prison population, but they are not as prevalent as violent offenses when it comes to prison sentences.