In the UK we have a national prison service run by the government, although in the 1990's some pratt though it would be a good idea to start private (company-run) prisons too. I thought this was unnecessarily complicating things until I looked at how you do things in the States. Judging by the number of prisons you have, you must have a prison population equivalent to the population of several cities.
2006-08-19 10:56:59 · 10 answers · asked by Quasimojo 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
betitodetroit, since you asked:dental heath has improved significantly in recent decades. You can read the results of this gripping national survey http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/DHBulletinNew.pdf since teeth obviously mean a lot to you.
2006-08-19 11:31:14 · update #1
A lot of things in the USA operate on a national and state scale. This is because when the Constitution was written, the founders had to reach a compromise as some wanted states to have most power, whilst others had been influenced by the way they had been ruled by the British with a central authority. It is still a matter of debate in US politics today as the Republicans want the states to have more power whilst the Democrats want the federal government to have more power.
2006-08-19 12:26:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the US is a republic with a couple of features:
1 - All powers not EXPLICITLY ASSIGNED to the federal government belong to the states and
2 - By design, the federal government has LIMITED POWERS.
The men who designed our system were, if not geniuses, at least remarkably prescient as to what form of government would serve for generations to come.
As to the number of people in prison: once we significantly increased sentences for serious offenses and forced weak-minded judges to stop releasing predators after too short a time we found we had to build a LOT more prisons. That's the bad news. The good news is that the crime rate has fallen off a cliff - in most cities, it is now approaching levels not seen since the early '60s. Translation: our approach is working for us.
Note: if you're ever thrown in prison in America, make sure it's a federal prison - state prisons are run by the inmate gangs and are living nightmares.
2006-08-19 18:07:30 · answer #2 · answered by Walter Ridgeley 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are different levels of the law, we are a republic. There are crimes against the states crimes against the federal government civil and criminal crimes. The more sever criminal are usually federal. So as a general rule people who do really naughty things are together in federal prisons and people who do blue collar crimes are in state prisons. Hopefully so the not so bad don't learn truly naughty behaviour from the really bad guys and gals. As for why we still have a separation between state and federal laws, be glad..would you really want Bush making up all the "rules"?
2006-08-20 01:24:47 · answer #3 · answered by Cali Girl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our cumulative prison population outdoes the population of many small countries, actually. The difference between Federal and State prisons is the crime that's committed. We've been having problems lately that we need to ship prisoners from one prison to another, or even let them go early, because of overcrowding. It seems we can't build them fast enough.
If someone breaks a state law, they go to a state prison. If they break a federal law, federal prison.
2006-08-19 18:12:27 · answer #4 · answered by 42ITUS™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply stated, you break a state law you go to state prison, you break a federal law you go to federal prison. The population of the united states is higher and we have immigration so we need more prisons.
2006-08-19 19:11:28 · answer #5 · answered by bsure32 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because under our Constitution, the state and federal systems are different. Each is sovereign within its own scope.
Violation of state laws lands you in the state prison system.
Violation of federal laws lands you in the federal system.
There are exceptions, but that's basically the way it works. And yes, currently just under 1% of the US population is either in jail, in prison, or on parole from prison.
2006-08-19 18:13:50 · answer #6 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Being united does not imply that the laws are the same. The laws relating to buying a house in Scotland are not the same for England. In Northern Ireland it is NOT possible to have an abortion, and if an abortion was performed the doctor would be put in prison!!!
2006-08-19 18:07:57 · answer #7 · answered by xenon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Federal prisons are for individuals convicted under federal law. State prisons are for individuals convicted under state law.
2006-08-19 18:32:00 · answer #8 · answered by sahara 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because some brake federal laws, other brake state laws!! Or a better explanation the Americans are idiots!!!
2006-08-19 18:06:45 · answer #9 · answered by the_clown 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because some people break federal and some people break state laws....
I know you aint comparing the UK with the USA, theres no way you guys come close....
Why do you guys in the UK all have rotten teeth?
2006-08-19 18:04:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋