U.S., 1/20th of the world's population, 1/3 of the world's prison population. Why?

Question

What accounts for the fact that the U.S. has 1/3 of the worlds prison population, but only 1/20th of the worlds population?

"As of 2004 the United States had the highest percentage of people in prison of any nation. At a rate of incarceration of 726 inmates per 100,000, the United States has the highest reported rate in the world, well ahead of the Russian rate of 532 per 100,000. In 2004, more than 2.1 million Americans, or roughly 1 out of every 138, were in prisons or jails, a figure which represented one third of the world's prison population. To illustrate these figures, if the United States had the same rate of incarceration as Japan or China, only about 100,000 people would be in jail."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_the_United_States

wmcritter - China routinely reports it's crime stats and those stats are supported by independant interests outside China. The main reason for China's low Crime rate is a rich cultural heritage and traditions that run through the fabric of Chinese society. Those guilty of even paltry crimes are shunned by all. China has an extremely low crime rate and a prison pop. to match that crime rate. The real injustice in China is it's human rights record, which is another matter.

Answer 1

I just attended a lecture yesterday that talked about these very statistics. Our crime rate is actually going down, but our rate of incarceration is going up. This reflects the US' "war on crime" and "war on drugs" started in the late 70s, early 80s (Reagan, mostly). It's because we are taking action and using incarceration as the solution. To really properly analize these numbers, you also have to look at the crime rates of all these nations (we also score very poorly, there, so you still have a point). The statistics for african-americans is even worse - something like 6000+ african-american inmates per 100,000.

Answer 2

Because many other nations deal with crimes by cutting off a hand, ear...(etc.) or they sentence the person to death and execute immediately. Here, this would be considered cruel and unsual and a death row inmate has a better chance of dying from old age than having the sentence actually carried out.

Many nations that have the "eye for an eye" system have fewer crimes due to fear of the consequences. Maybe the US should go to this type of system.

Answer 3

The US is a " I want it now" country. The young people today have had everything handed to them . They feel it is owed them. When someone says NO to them they take it by force. They also look for the easiest way to make a buck. Dealing drugs seems to be that way until they are caught or killed. They still have not learned the best way to get something is EARN it. But untill the parents of today set & inforce rules , The Jails , prisons & morgues are going to fill up.

Answer 4

LOL, you beleive that??
Don't believe everything you read on the internet. China has a population of more than 1.5 billion people. If only 0.5% are in prison that is still 7.5 million people. But China is a closed Communist state and won't tell us how many it has in jail. Of course their prefered method for dealing with heinous criminals (like Christians) is to just execute them. So either they have exponentially more criminals than us in jail, or tens of millions in graves. Either way, if you are looking for someone to criticize about criminal treatment, America is very far from the top of the list.

Answer 5

Chinese numbers are greatly understated. Different definitions of the word "prison". China quickly executes many of its prisoners.

Japan is a more law abiding nation than the US.

Conclusion, what you state as a "fact" may not be that at all.

Answer 6

Because the US makes up laws that punish everybody in hope that it will teach the ones that have no integrity to be a better person. Only problem is, it just sends good people to prison and when they get out they usually have turned to violent people.

Answer 7

IT'S ALL BUSINESS. THE MAJORITY OF THE PRISONS ARE IN THE BACK WOODS OF AMERICA. THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THOSE OUT OF THE WAY RURAL AREAS NEED JOBS. WHAT BETTER INDUSTRY THAN TO BUILD PRISONS. THEY KEEP THE RURAL DWELLERS WORKING. THE BLACK AND LATIN POPULATION IS SENT TO PRISON IN DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBERS. THAT KEEPS THE MINORITY POPULATION IN CHECK. AND THEY SAY THAT LINCOLN FREED THE SLAVES. THIS IS A FORM OF LEGAL SLAVERY. PRISONERS ARE A FORM OF VERY CHEAP LABOR. PLUS NOT TO MENTION ALL THE POLICE AND COURT PERSONNEL THAT STAYED EMPLOYED DUE TO THESE OUTRAGEOUS DRUG LAWS THAT SEND PEOPLE TO JAIL LONGER THAN MURDERS. IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY IN AMERICA.

Answer 8

perhaps because we take our guidelines heavily and arrest criminals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how are you going to analyze us to Cuba or the Cayman Islands? we are about( guessing the following) 500 cases larger than Cuba. We likely have 50 cities that are larger than the Cayman Islands. Our nationwide Parks are larger than France and Spain practice. an rather solid evaluation might want to instruct percentage of everybody contained in the reformatory inhabitants.

Answer 9

We have better law enforcement?
I think China and Russia both have death penalties, which they enforce, so that's probably a factor too. Many in the U.S. prisions wait 20 plus years on death row going through endless appeals process.

Answer 10

This is because our country is governed by democracy. We like to give our law breakers a chance to right their wrongs while we support them on death row.