We're Number One!
How can we be the leader of the Free World when we have more people in jail, in total numbers and per capita, than any other country in the world? Even China, who I complain about regularly, isn't as bad.
RATES OF INCARCERATION
USA: 750 prisoners per 100,000 people
South Africa: 341 per 100,000
Iran: 222 per 100,000
China: 119 per 100,000
As for total numbers:
The article also says:
Maybe if we eliminated mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenses and decriminalized marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 2 drug we could take some of the pressure off.
Could we do more? Sure. But the country needs baby steps. After all, someone in Washington might have a temper tantrum.
Maybe we should let non-violent criminals (no convicted rapists or murderers) work off their offenses by serving for a year in Iraq. That would cut down on prison overcrowding and help the Army meet recruitment goals. It's a win-win situation! ;)
\_/
DED
RATES OF INCARCERATION
USA: 750 prisoners per 100,000 people
South Africa: 341 per 100,000
Iran: 222 per 100,000
China: 119 per 100,000
As for total numbers:
"While one in 30 men between the ages of 20 and 34 is behind bars, for black males in that age group the figure is one in nine."The Hartford Courant version of the story is here. In it they mention how Connecticut is one of five states that spends as much or more on its prisoners as it does on education. The state's prisons are overcrowded and, IIRC, earlier this month there was talk about either building another prison or releasing 10% of the prison population.
The total of 2.3 million adults held in prison - or one in every 99.1 adults - puts the US far head of other countries.
China, with its far greater population, has 1.5 million people behind bars, and Russia has 890,000.
The article also says:
"...the consistent increase in the country's prison population over the past 20 years has been driven by policy choices, not by spikes in crime or the nation's population."I'd say that the War on Drugs has had a lot to do with that. With mandatory minimum sentencing commonplace, it should come as no surprise that the prison population is booming.
Maybe if we eliminated mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenses and decriminalized marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 2 drug we could take some of the pressure off.
Could we do more? Sure. But the country needs baby steps. After all, someone in Washington might have a temper tantrum.
Maybe we should let non-violent criminals (no convicted rapists or murderers) work off their offenses by serving for a year in Iraq. That would cut down on prison overcrowding and help the Army meet recruitment goals. It's a win-win situation! ;)
\_/
DED
Labels: our_insane_world
posted by DED at 5:21 PM
5 Comments:
Just shocking. That 1-in-9 statistic for Black men ages 20-34 is just a jaw-dropper.
Anyone who can look at that number at not feel at least great concern needs to look deep within himself and see what's wrong.
And it's been going on for some time now. I remember Ice-T pointing out in the 90's that there were more black men in prison than in college.
I stopped watching debates back in January (no point for me since I'm a registered indy and can't vote in a primary). Any idea if this topic has come up at all? My guess is no.
We just don't have enough "Freedom" to go around. This isn't the "Good Old Days," when we had a steady run of Freedom Surpluses.
Great Post- i am on a quest to introduce the marijuana conversation in my municipality.
but you are right... baby-steps.
ten years ago i heard maxine waters speak ona panel at harold washington library that included Chuck D. and Angela davis. she spoke about the booming prison surge and the racist policies behind it.
there is no doubt we need to put people in prison. but i'll run to mexico before I serve one day for herb or anything non-violent.
i am part of the generation that was targeted by these laws...everyone was touched one way or the other. it is an unofficial tracking chip for black men. we have all been to court on some bullshit charge at least once.
she spoke about the booming prison surge and the racist policies behind it.
When I first heard about an institutionalized racism back in the 90's, I didn't want to believe it. I thought that we'd progressed far enough that we were passed that. But when I saw that crack possession carried stiffer penalties for smaller quantities than regular cocaine, I realized that there was something going on.
Does what Cosby says hold any water with you? From what little I've heard, I think he's got a point, but since I've lived in white bread suburbia most of my life, I'm hardly the right person to judge.
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