Report: 1 of Every 75 U.S. Men in Prison

"America's inmate population grew by 2.9 percent last year, to almost 2.1 million people, with one of every 75 men living in prison or jail.

The inmate population continued its rise despite a fall in the crime rate and many states' efforts to reduce some sentences, especially for low-level drug offenders.

The report issued Thursday by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics attributes much of the increase to get-tough policies enacted during the 1980s and '90s, such as mandatory drug sentences, "three-strikes-and-you're-out" laws for repeat offenders, and "truth-in-sentencing" laws that restrict early releases.

Whether that's good or bad depends on who is asked."

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20040528/D82RBUSO0.html

Don't we have more people in prison than China now?

...to the totalitarians: build more prisons and put all 'druggies' in jail...except for talk show hosts and sons of congressman Burton.

I wonder how many are for non violent crimes. Things that should be dealt with in the medical world rather than in the judicial system. Anyway have a safe and glorious holiday. I myself will be working on an addition and remodel of my sisters home.

the problem of not wanting to give jobs at living wages in this country. Lock up the men and you don't have to pay wages or benefits, and you have an excuse to import cheap labor.

built because inmates are COUNTED AS CITIZENS OF THAT STATE, meaning a bigger population, meaning more congressional representatives from that state, probably already gerrymandered to republican, etc. More federal aid, etc.

More prisons are being built and operated on a private industry basis and less so on a government basis. These new prisons get grants from Washington and are pretty much not monitored how they spend the money. And prisons generally mean jobs in areas that are desperately lacking industry/manufacturing or construction. So many locals support prisons being built in their neighborhoods, notwithstanding others who are concerned about security and NIMBY issues. And local governments/municipalities are likely to change zoning to accommodate the construction of new prisons because of the tax ratables to ease property tax burdens on its residents.

Now, let's say more prisons are built. They are theoretically empty. The State now has to provide them with "clients". That means more arrests and convictions to fill them up. And that means courts have to convict and sentence more often than in years past. And provide less likelihood of parole to prisoners. Therefore, for the sake of private industry, a country has to convert to a police state or face the prospect of a negative impact on the economy.

But I bet you alrady knew that. :)