Do you know U.S. jails about 7 times more citizens than other Western countries?

Question

According to Forbes, "Per capita, the United States incarcerates approximately seven times more of its citizens than most Western societies. ......'

"The effects of this extend deeply into contemporary U.S. society:

Reintegration problems. Former inmates have difficulty obtaining employment, accessing housing, acquiring educational opportunities and avoiding further criminal activity.

New federal sanctions. However, welfare policy changes in 1996 applied additional sanctions to ex-felons that make it more difficult to avoid re-offending.

Community impact. Since over half of those now in prison have been convicted for non-violent crimes, new sanctions have helped precipitate a self-sustaining downward spiral in many minority communities."

Wouldn't we all be safer & better off with sentencing & parole reforms, improvements for incarcerated mentally ill, and more rehab programs?

http://www.forbes.com/business/2007/05/09/felons-voting-rights-biz-cx_0510oxford.html

Thanks for all serious answers.

Steven S, You must have missed the "per capita" phrase, meaning that the number of people in each country was considered when the statistic was computed.

THE FROBES ARTICAL POINTS OUT HOW THIS IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

I am certainly not against incarcerating those who commit crimes, but even the California prison guard union was in favor of reasonable sentencing and parole reform over a new bill that expands the prison system and adds more prison jobs.

Both Republican and Democratic leaders wanted to be seen as being tough on crime and passed a bill that temporarily patches the prison system with more beds. It promises some reform. That bill,to be paid for with borrowed money, will cost us tax payers, and our grandchildren, about $16 Billion when financing costs are included.

Answer 1

Did you know, America doesn't even rank in the top 20 western nations, when it comes to violent crime according to the UN.

Yes we have more murders.

But they have far more robberies, assaults, burglaries per capatia than we do.

We put criminals in jail, they leave them on the streets to mug others.

Answer 2

Well since I am a parole agent I can answer this one intelligently for you. Jails are used for those individuals who cannot follow the rules on the street under supervision, simple rules really. If that person is out and continually breaking rules, why should they be allowed out? Parole is prison on the street, it is earned, not a guarantee. Many of the guys and girls I supervise don't give a darn about any of it and I lock them up so someone else who may actually follow the rules and succeed, may integrate back into society as a positive person. You and I follow rules every day, they are called laws. Prisoners need to do the same. Rehabs are a joke, they go to 6, 7,8,9 of them, which you pay for by the way, they know what to do and refuse to. So why should they be free?

Answer 3

Good post! Do you know America even jails innocent children at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor Texas? The Prison gets 7k per child per month from the Corrections Corporation of America to incarcerate child of refugees. These children have done nothing wrong, and are a danger to no one. At 7k per child, they should be staying in a 5star Hilton, instead their frequently hungry, cold, and rarely see the light of day. Something is indeed foul in the land of liberty. Good question, there's apparently a lot of money in keeping people locked up.

Answer 4

I think a lot of first time and non-violent offenders would be better off having to 1) face their victims in mediation sessions and 2) make restitution and/or do community service that related directly to their crime.

Answer 5

We also have far more people than other western Countries. Perhaps you would like them released? Can a couple dozen of them move into your area?

Answer 6

If this the case it would be a strong point for capital punishment.

Answer 7

That accounts for the african american population