The U.S has 2.1 million people in prison. We have the most people in prison than any where else on earth. We have the highest per capita rate of incarceration compared to any nation on earth, except one country, Rwanda.
We jail 12 times more people, per capita, than Japan, and, when compared to western european nations, we are about about 6 times more likely to jail our own people.
What in the world is going on in America that we are jailing so many of our own people?
2007-03-20 06:16:31 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Statistics from The Economist, World in Figures, 2007.
2007-03-20 06:17:19 · update #1
Ricky...Japan and Europe does not have capital punishment.
2007-03-20 06:24:05 · update #2
My initial reaction has to do with drugs. This ridiculous 'War on Drugs' has alot of propaganda surrounding it, and is actually, very ineffectual in the bigger picture. But small time users and dealers are filling up the prison system faster than you can spit, just so it 'appears' that the government is doing something about it. For this very reason, countries like Canada and England have decriminalized (not legalized) marijuana...so the courts and prisons are not littered with these cases.
2007-03-20 07:35:03 · answer #1 · answered by Super Ruper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without a lot of research I can't answer with certainty but I will try to give an educated opinion. Around 30% of our prison population is in fact illegal immigrants so if you controlled our borders better the stats would be much closer. We are the third largest population for a country behind India and China (they have harsh sentences). China just a short while back took care of their drug dealers with point blank shots to the head. We tend to let people who fail to reform out of prison to become repeat offenders. These are just a few facts and may not be the end all.
2007-03-20 06:27:10 · answer #2 · answered by joevette 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
very own determination rules. Plus u.s. accepts this because of the fact we are a rustic of administration freaks. in case you do no longer understand that, think of this: Troops in a hundred thirty five international locations, from wars to embassy risk-free practices, no different us of a even comes close. Plus We sell 39% of the worlds hands, in accordance to a 2006 congressional learn, some self sufficient analyze placed at at as much as 60% We tell different international locations a thank you to act, then we turn around and invade different international locations, one under bogus motives, the different under questionable ones. Why the persons settle for all that crap whilst criticizing others is going way previous trouble-loose experience, that's frigging criminal. u.s. is slowly loosing appreciate, even its self appreciate and going to leave the toddlers with a disaster. EDIT: China would not settle issues prompt with a bullet in the top. What I extremely have seen achieved is the police will stand by utilising whilst 2 people scream and yell at one yet another approximately some unknown argument. it sort of feels the police are much less fascinated in putting people in penitentiary and can fairly enable a majority of those subjects be settled between the persons. Plus, that's amazingly uncommon for a guy or woman in China to make certain the interior a courtroom, area of that's society and the different area is the persons are exceptionally plenty behaved. Crime in China is amazingly low. while, in the u . s . a . that's pronounced that each and each guy or woman will see the interior a courtroom, from scuffling with a parking cost ticket to homicide. Signed: a transplanted American dwelling and dealing in the middle of China. =============== existence is so effortless, yet we insist on making it complicated Confucius 551 - 479 BC =============== Peace Jim .
2016-10-02 11:04:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all about money. Americans have a lot more money than any other country. Other countries want our money. To get it, they ship over boat loads of drugs.
Even the poor in America have more money than most middle class people in other cultures. Americans get inundated with drugs from all over the world. The result is tons of drug related crime.
2007-03-20 06:27:56 · answer #4 · answered by Overt Operative 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Our corporations have figured out a way to make a profit running prisons. The police force is their sales department.
2007-03-20 06:23:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
For two reasons:
1. We don't USE the death penalty, so incarcerated people stay incarcerated when they should be dying.
2. We incarcerate people for using drugs. Other countries don't.
2007-03-20 06:21:51 · answer #6 · answered by Ricky T 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because of our stupid drug laws. Enables gangs to make very large profits, buy guns and shoot everyone.
2007-03-20 06:22:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we have more criminals.
2007-03-20 06:21:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋