What is your explanation for this? We have more people in prison than China and Russia yet we have nowhere near the population of these countries... We even have more people in prison than Iran...
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_pri-crime-prisoners
2007-12-09 07:18:39 · 14 answers · asked by reversehalo 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Okay let's assume for a moment that the reason for this difference is because these other countries exterminate their criminals. How do you explain Canada being so low on this list? The population of Canada is 10% of the United States. What does this information say to you?
2007-12-09 07:36:20 · update #1
Hey moji, since when does referring to a country become an insult? I didn't say anything at all that was inappropriate about Iran. I find it odd that we as a country can go on and on about our freedoms - being the home of the brave and all that - yet we have THE highest prison population in the world. We characterize places like Iran, Iraq and Syria to name a few as being some kind of secret society of evil-doers - the axis of evil whatever that is - yet we can't seem to substantiate this argument. So, moji, don't jump to conclusions.
2007-12-09 08:17:29 · update #2
Hi I just asked this question:)
I think it is because we are still really focused on punishment over rehabilitation. Most ppl do not have life sentences, and they come out worse than when they went it.
I also think the war on drugs is a joke. It does not work and so many ppl in there need rehab and not incarceration. However, I think the U.S. loves vengence. I think that many of us - particularly republicans in the south are vengeful ppl. So rehab will never happen. We will just keep releasing prison trained criminals into the streets to return again. It costs the same to send a child to Harvard as to secure one inmate for one year in prison.
http://creativeu.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/harvardor-prison-its-the-same-price/
2007-12-09 07:27:11 · answer #1 · answered by BoogyBoo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our justice system is extremely screwed up, potentially beyond being fixed. Here is the bad part--there are many more people who should be locked up for the safety of society, but there are no beds for them. My explanation is this: Justice system is too easy on people, they sit in jail for months, even years before they get a trial. Taxpayers get the bill for it. The system is not effective and until new legislation comes about, nothing will change. The Courts are so backed up with cases, they can even see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. So if someone who actually has first hand knowledge if this has an answer--lets hear it. Not some statistics online--I mean real knowledge that you only get by working in this system daily. It costs so much to house a prisoner that pressure has been put on the Courts to release dangerous criminals.
2007-12-09 15:24:48 · answer #2 · answered by pupgirl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Iran, China, and Russia are a little bit more quick to kill their prisoners, or torture and release them. Their prisons are also notoriously more harsh and unsanitary than ours. So if you are trying to indicate that the United States is worse than those countries, you're only telling half the story. Or maybe you are saying that it is a good thing that these other countries murder prisoners. You are not clear. That is not to say that having a lot of people in prison is a GOOD thing or that the U.S. is not guilty of some major societal problems that lead to high crime rates! But I would still rather be a criminal here than in the countries you list above.
2007-12-09 15:22:45 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey Mr. Nice Guy... Where are you from at first? Then why do you think you have a good country, even better than those countries you talked about? Maybe people of you country and even you are the worst people on the planet? Of course I said "maybe". So have a little study about those countries you judged in your question. Maybe some countries like IRAN have a bad government, but that is not a good reason to judge about the people who live in those countries... So my friend, a little think before saying your words might help you to find international friends...
Good Luck.
2007-12-09 16:10:08 · answer #4 · answered by moji_golpesar 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In China, you can be executed for relatively minor offenses, so the prisons aren't that full. Russia.. nothing is illegal there, so there's no reason to send anyone to prison.
In the U.S. we like to lock our problems away out of sight. Instead, if we publicly punished (whipping and generally brutal treatment like that) our criminals it would be a great deterrent and fewer people would become criminals.
2007-12-09 15:24:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the USA freedom means the freedom to go and commit crimes, and get fairly lenient sentences. In the USA, most of he people who are in jail, are in for drug sentences. In those other countries, drug traffickers are killed by firing squad.
In case you didn't understand nightime above, our in our jails, the prisoners get 3 hot meals per day, and a bed. In other countries, they save all of that money, and just chop a thief's hand off. Get it!!
2007-12-09 15:23:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably because more states do not have the death penalty anymore- so the good people get to support the ones in prison who get life sentences for killing other people till they die a natural death- real nice eh?
2007-12-09 15:21:42 · answer #7 · answered by flyingdove 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you know in communist countries they don't have freedom like us? You say the wrong word THEY KILL YOU!!! THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT, and beat you and cut off your hand. So jails are just for minor crimes. There is no freedom of speech, and all that like in America. But I wouldn't say America is all great eithier.
2007-12-09 15:21:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are country has three hots and a bed.others chop you hand off if you steal to show shame.
2007-12-09 15:22:15 · answer #9 · answered by nighttime_ran 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah...thats why everyone comes to our country cause they know that we actually care! and if someone fu*ks up and goes aginst a law we actually do something about it...its a good thing
2007-12-09 15:22:07 · answer #10 · answered by Crystal M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋