1 in 100 Americans are in Prison or Jail

[Corona Gigante]

Another resource for those interested in this issue.

[size=3]Why Are So Many Americans in Prison?[/size]
National Poverty Center Working Paper Series
March, 2007

The United States currently incarcerates its residents at a rate that is greater than every other country in the world. Aggregating the state and federal prison populations as well as inmates in local jails, there were 737 inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents in 2005 (International Centre for Prison Studies 2007). This compares with a world average of 166 per 100,000 and an average among European Community member states of 135. Of the approximately 2.1 million U.S. residents incarcerated in 2005, roughly 65 percent were inmates in state and federal prisons while the remaining 35 percent resided in local jails.

Moreover, current U.S. incarceration rates are unusually high relative to historical figures for the U.S. itself. For the fifty year period spanning the 1920s through the mid 1970s, the number of state and federal prisoners per 100,000 varied within a 10 to 20 unit band around a rate of approximately 110. Beginning in the mid 1970s, however, state prison populations grew at an unprecedented rate, nearly quadrupling between the mid 1970s and the present. Concurrently, the rate of incarceration in local jails more than tripled.

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[shilala]

I think it's silly jailing non violent offenders. I also think it's crazy to keep certain unredeemable souls in long term storage.
It's a damn tough problem, I'm glad it's not my job to solve it.

[4WheelVFR]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

In America, we call ourselves "The land of the free", apparently, that is not the case. Actually we would be the least free if incarceration is the opposite of freedom. How ironic.

We're still "The Land of the Free". It's those who have rejected the gift of freedom that has been bought and paid for that are coincidentally not free. We're all at least born free in this country. I just can't see why someone would throw that away for anything.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by 4WheelVFR

We're still "The Land of the Free". It's those who have rejected the gift of freedom that has been bought and paid for that are coincidentally not free. We're all at least born free in this country. I just can't see why someone would throw that away for anything.

Freedom is a relative term.

I am using the notion of freedom as being a summary of laws. The assumption is that the more laws we have, the less freedom we have. I do not mean in this in a "Born with Free Will" philosophical debate.

If you live in a gated community that 215 covenants and another gated community has 20 covenants; wouldn't the 20 covenant community be less restrictive?

Certainly, one could counter that it is not the number of rules, but what the rule states that inevitably restricts

[Sir Humpsalot]

We may be a free nation, but we're also a nation of criminals. Let's be honest. Who here can say they haven't broken a law in the past week? Jay walking? Speeding? Take an extra tax deduction? We all break laws. The only thing preventing any sympathy from average folks for the people in jail is the belief that the laws we break are no big deal and the laws they break justify a criminal sentence and some time behind bars.

We'd all be a lot better off if we just admitted that we like to break laws and let each and every person have their fun, just so long as it doesn't impinge on another's freedom...

[macjoe53]

The Governor of New Jersey was on the radio news a few minutes ago. He thinks convicted drug dealers wouldn't sell drugs when released from jail if they received training and given a job when they were released. Hmmm! Job paying $8 per hour or making a few hundred or thousands tax free dealing drugs? Why do you think they go back to selling drugs.

I think the mid-level to major drug dealers do it for the money.

[Ms. Detroit]

Our country has alot of work to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have to find a solution to this problem along with many others. If we don't fix some of these messes. Our nation is going to continue to fall apart. Thats just my

[jloutlaw]

Originally Posted by macjoe53

The Governor of New Jersey was on the radio news a few minutes ago. He thinks convicted drug dealers wouldn't sell drugs when released from jail if they received training and given a job when they were released. Hmmm! Job paying $8 per hour or making a few hundred or thousands tax free dealing drugs? Why do you think they go back to selling drugs.

I think the mid-level to major drug dealers do it for the money.

According to the book Freakanomics (a good read), a statitician chronicled and crack gang and most dealers make less than minimum wages. The guy in charge did ok, but wound up in prison.

[jloutlaw]

Originally Posted by Ms. Detroit

Our country has alot of work to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have to find a solution to this problem along with many others. If we don't fix some of these messes. Our nation is going to continue to fall apart. Thats just my

There have been criminals since the beginning of mankind. We can't stop all of it. My question is how do we intervene with the children at risk? I apologize for the thread jack, but it is related. We have many young bright children that grow up in poverty and drugs.

[OtterAKL4987]

Originally Posted by jloutlaw

According to the book Freakanomics (a good read), a statitician chronicled and crack gang and most dealers make less than minimum wages. The guy in charge did ok, but wound up in prison.

Great book! Yeah, the reason they stick with it IMO is they beleive (and they may be right) they possess no other skills or there is gang pressure to stay in it. In terms of prison, I think some things need to be fixed in terms of jailing nonviolent offenders. They are spending OUR money to be in there. For the serious offenders, there is no other option. The ones on Death Row, however, are a serious money drain. Although they go through appeals and such, after a certain time, they are just waiting to die and we are paying for it.

[duhman]

I wonder how many of those "Americans" that are imprisoned are illegal aliens.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by duhman

I wonder how many of those "Americans" that are imprisoned are illegal aliens.

That explains the questioned asked earlier as to why more prisoners in the US than elsewhere.
BINGO! They are here with us.

[Puffin Fresh]

It's obvious that the villiage has failed these people and they are victims of society. Of course, their actual victims were victims of their crimes.

[WyoBob]

Originally Posted by macjoe53

The Governor of New Jersey was on the radio news a few minutes ago. He thinks convicted drug dealers wouldn't sell drugs when released from jail if they received training and given a job when they were released. Hmmm! Job paying $8 per hour or making a few hundred or thousands tax free dealing drugs? Why do you think they go back to selling drugs.

I think the mid-level to major drug dealers do it for the money.

I think it was in the book "Freakonomics" that I read an exerpt about the low-level drug sellers, that is, the "man on the street" and it stated they had a 1 in 4 chance of being killed. They made very low wages. In fact, the authors stated they would come out ahead working at McDonald's and would have a much greater chance of living. The big bucks are made by the higher-ups. The guy on the street is the patsy and risks his life for nothing.

WyoBob

[Ms. Detroit]

Originally Posted by jloutlaw

There have been criminals since the beginning of mankind. We can't stop all of it. My question is how do we intervene with the children at risk? I apologize for the thread jack, but it is related. We have many young bright children that grow up in poverty and drugs.

People have to get involved. As a teacher I try to help my students overcome growing up in bad situations. As well as getting themselves in bad situations. I teach 7th grade and I see social workers and probation officers all the time. I have taught various students who have been charged with stealing cars, leading a stolen car ring, leading police on a high spped chase in a stolen car, armed robbery, threats of terrorism, breaking a entering, arson, and vandalism. Your right there is no one answer, but we must start somewhere. Schools need parents, community members, bussiness and whoever else to help. If we don't come up with something it will always be like this. Young bright children growing up in poverty and drugs. If you want to help get involved!!!