Why does America incarcerate more of her own citizens than any other nation on earth, by far?

Question

We incarcerate more people in total, and, per capita.

Answer 1

The war on drugs plays a huge role.

Answer 2

I'm sure that no one really knows the answer for sure.

I'd guess it has something to do with an American mentality where we want to identify bad guys. We are a frightened people, who buy burglar alarms even if we live in low crime areas, and own guns "for protection" even if we and our loved ones have never been assaulted. We are so afraid, that we search for and punish "bad" people until WE feel better.

Also, America is set up economically so that we can afford to have such a large segment of our population in jail. If the number of incarcerated people was significantly affecting the average American's pocket book, then we would be looking to change.

Answer 3

american law enforcement is better. Crimestoppers offers rewards for tips. Its easier to get away with crimes in other countries. America has better communications/technology to report crimes and catch people in the act. US also spends more money on better protection. America has more lawyers. :( Better response time and better tools to catch perps. In some other countries they just kill the criminal, chop off a limb and send em home, corrupt law enforcement, dont have necessary resources to make an accurate count of the incarcerated, dont have enough space for jails, the bad guys have more power (south america), there is no law enforcement, or the people just dont care

Answer 4

We do not incarcerate more of our citizens than any other nation--just any other leading industrial nation.

One reason for this is that many states have robbed judges of the discretionary power to moderate or temper justice with mercy with "three strikes" laws. We also have fairly draconian sentencing guidelines for what are comparatively trivial drug related offenses. Selling is one thing, but we are allowed to presume guilt by mere fact of possession.

Isn't it interesting that the chemical difference between cocaine and crack cocaine is identical to the difference between powdered sugar and sugar cubes, yet sentencing guidelines for "crack" cocaine are 100 times more severe?

We have a lot of people locked up in prison for non violent drug possession (not even intent to sell). Drug addiction should be treated as a medical problem, instead we are too stupid to deal with it that way, instead relying on a tactic of prohibition proven to have failed in previous eras.

Damn ain't we smart?

Answer 5

There are several factors. First, we are a big nation, hence more people in jail.
Second, we are a developed nation, more things worth stealing and more money worth having. Hence more people in jail.
Third, we have the most advanced criminal justice system in the worth, hence people dont get away with as many crimes.
Fourth, we baby our children with too many societal rules like drinking. Hence more people in jail.

Answer 6

American's are comparable to maximum persons in different progressed countries. they have an inclination to strengthen into obese and choose to *****. u . s . is way less linked with different international places as we are so a strategies remote from Europe so hence many people do no longer understand lots approximately those different international places. this provides us the essence of lack of expertise, while truthfully we merely comprehend what we could desire to comprehend and are taught. i think of people are in many circumstances good people, and in spite of the actuality that I even have seen them be obnoxious travelers, they are in many circumstances the main well mannered and consider all people as equivalent.

Answer 7

America has Puritanical roots. So, many things that are ok in other countries are illegal here.
Nixon started our draconian drug laws. As a consequence, many people are in prison for "crimes" related to drugs: using, selling, stealing to afford them, etc.
In addtion we have the "right to bear arms" which has expanded from a single shot musket when written to automatic weapons capable of killing many people today.
If we followed the Netherland's lead, many people in law enforcement and the judicial system would be unemployed because only violent crimes and significant property crimes would be illegal so the prisons would gradually empty out.

Answer 8

Could you provide a link that shows that this is true on a percentage basis? I think that China, Cuba, and North Korea (as well as other totaliarian regimes) may have us beat. If not, then it is because they kill first and incarcerate later.

Answer 9

Because they have committed crimes.

If that is too difficult to understand, just look up each word of the above sentence in a dictionary so you can know what it means.

Answer 10

One big part is jail time for drug offenders.

Another part is that we don't execute people immediately like some countries.