Using updated state-by-state data, the report said 2,319,258 adults were held in U.S. prisons or jails at the start of 2008 -- one out of every 99.1 adults, and more than any other country in the world... The report said the United States is the world's incarceration leader, far ahead of more populous China with 1.5 million people behind bars. It said the U.S. also is the leader in inmates per capita (750 per 100,000 people), ahead of Russia (628 per 100,000) and other former Soviet bloc nations which make up the rest of the Top 10.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/02/28/pri ... index.html

But, as we all know, US prisons are the best in the world*. So we have nothing to be ashamed of.


*to be sexually assaulted in.

The report said the United States is the world's incarceration leader, far ahead of more populous China with 1.5 million people behind bars.

That's becase they kill people so they don't have to jail them.

If you don't want the death penalty, we need more jails.

Redline wrote:

The report said the United States is the world's incarceration leader, far ahead of more populous China with 1.5 million people behind bars.

That's becase they kill people so they don't have to jail them.

If you don't want the death penalty, we need more jails.

Oh, okay then.

Redline wrote:If you don't want the death penalty, we need more jails.

How about releasing people convicted of non violent drug offenses? Frees up a great amount of room, there by having enough facilities and resources for life time inmates.

Redline wrote:

The report said the United States is the world's incarceration leader, far ahead of more populous China with 1.5 million people behind bars.

That's becase they kill people so they don't have to jail them.

If you don't want the death penalty, we need more jails.

Hm, you're probably being a little flip there, but just in case... China do execute a lot of people - 1,010 in 2006 as estimated by Amnesty International. That doesn't really make up the difference though, does it?

Either there is something inherently criminal in the American nature, or the economic and penal system is slanted to screwing over certain sections of the American population.

There are two big reasons for the growth of the prison population:

* Harsher sentencing laws (things like Three Strikes, mandatory minimums, etc.)

* Harsher drug laws, esp. for non-violent offenses such as possession

The prison population is overwhelmingly made up of minorities, too, so the decline in the effectiveness of public schools and the growth of low-paying, inner city service sector jobs is also contributing to the spread of some specific forms of crime.

Society is *not* getting more violent, however. After the L.A. Riots in 1992, much harsher sentencing laws were passed in most states, so violent crime steadily and dramatically decreased after that and it has stayed at a relatively low level ever since. Fewer violent criminals in society and fear of longer terms equals a decrease in crime.

The prison industry is a fast-growing and wealth-producing one, as well, so you've got to factor in how closely connected cities are to the benefits of a tougher police force and stricter laws. It benefits the wealthy while screwing over the poor.

Hey, waitaminute...

According to wiki, China executed at least 1,000 people in 2006 . Other, higher estimates, range up to 8,000 that year.

Even if they executed 10,000 people, per year, we would still jail more people than they imprison and execute. They would have to execute more than 500,000 people over the past few years for them to beat us in terms of prison population. And even if you counted the executed the incarceration rate for the US would be higher, since China has a population of 1.5 billion people, and the US has a population of 300 million. They would have to have five times the prison population they currently have, or about 7,500,000 prisoners, to be on par with the US.

Hmm...

No, I think the real answer is that the US just flat out imprisons too many fucking people.

sparky wrote:Either there is something inherently criminal in the American nature, or the economic and penal system is slanted to screwing over certain sections of the American population.

No, Americans are inherently religious.
It's the Australians who are inherently criminal.

floog wrote:It's the Australians who are inherently criminal.

Seconded.

floog wrote:

sparky wrote:Either there is something inherently criminal in the American nature, or the economic and penal system is slanted to screwing over certain sections of the American population.

No, Americans are inherently religious.
It's the Australians who are inherently criminal.

That'll explain why Shepherds Bush has been shut off and towed into the Channel. Here's hoping they sink it.