1 in 100 US adults now in prison

[Nono]

1 in 100 adults now in prison -- baltimoresun.com

For the first time in U.S. history, more than one in every 100 adults are in jail or prison, according to a new report documenting America's rank as the world's No. 1 incarcerator. It urges states to curtail corrections spending by placing fewer low-risk offenders behind bars. (...) The rate of increase for prison costs was six times greater than for higher education spending, the report said. The steadily growing inmate population "is saddling cash-strapped states with soaring costs they can ill afford and failing to have a clear impact either on recidivism or overall crime," the report said. (...)

OK, there's a strong streak of Old-Testament vindictiveness in the American mindset. Not to mention a mint to be made from prisons privatized by a crony-friendly government.

But my question is what's going to happen when the proportion of incarcerated population begins to outweigh the capacity to keep 'em behind bars. Only a matter of time.

[Compugasm]

Quote by: Nono .. population begins to outweigh the capacity to keep 'em behind bars.

If there is a "mint to be made" then the more people you put behind bars, the better. But actually, how do you know that 1:100 is too many? Crime is pretty low from what I can tell. Isn't that because people are behind bars?

[Chaossaber314]

Quote by: Nono But my question is what's going to happen when the proportion of incarcerated population begins to outweigh the capacity to keep 'em behind bars. Only a matter of time.

Matter of time? It's already happening.

[Nono]

Quote by: Comp Crime is pretty low from what I can tell.

Fine. It follows that the percentage will then drop.

But will it?

[Compugasm]

Quote by: Nono Fine. It follows that the percentage will then drop.

Wait, if more money is made putting more people behind bars, why put less people behind bars?

[Whilletal]

Heres a novel idea...don't break the law and you won't go to prison. Let's give a big round of applause for personal responsibility

[Nono]

Quote by: Comp Wait, if more money is made putting more people behind bars, why put less people behind bars?

Congratulations! You cracked it in record time.

[Nono]

Quote by: Whilletal Heres a novel idea...don't break the law and you won't go to prison.

Very nice, Whil. But it isn't the point of this thread, which is the approach taken to people who do break the law, and whether that approach makes things:

1) better
2) worse.

Think about it.

Also, think about some of the absurdities that constitute prison-worthy offences:

- possessing soft drugs that could at most damage the possessor;
- the three-strikes-and-yore-out mentality that gets -- just to take one legendary example -- that lady in the South a prison stretch for stealing a can of hairspray;
- etc.

So, keep building more prisons, right?

[SaucyJim]

I believe we can nip the current upward trend in the prison population by doing two things:

(1) Decriminalize or outright legalize drugs currently deemed illegal.

(2) Stop legislating morality.

In many ways, these two steps are one and the same. The prison population should house only those criminals with a violent offense. Granted, many drugs may lead to that behavior, but the money being spent on the war on drugs, which we know from Prohibition does not work, could be put to better use providing rehabilitation services for those who truly want the support to break their habits.

Outright legalization would fill the government coffers even quicker, as the taxes would be a great source of revenue. This would also reduce the crimes associated with the illegal drug trade. Ask yourself this: How many pushers do you see on our playgrounds selling beer, wine, liquor, cigars, or cigarettes to our children - or recruiting them to do the same? It is clear that legalization leads to "out of the shadows" trading (to use a pro-illegal-immigrant term) and better regulation of just who has access to these drugs.

So... 1 to 100 is not such a bad number considering the current state of affairs. One must realize that despite the billions spent fighting the sale and use of drugs, plus the incarceration of the offenders, that most people using can make a phone call and get their fix easily.

Nuff said...

Sauce

[JaneDoe321]

Quote by: Whilletal Heres a novel idea...don't break the law and you won't go to prison. Let's give a big round of applause for personal responsibility

If you look at the states with large prison populations, you will see that they actually admit that a significant percentage of people are wrongfully imprisoned. Add to that laws like "If you're busted three times smoking a joint in the privacy of your own home and you'll go to prison for life" and you have a recipe for a situation like we're in now. And prisons don't always offer the fantabulous country club environment. People think you can go to college, etc. Not always the case. Heck, you can't even get health care in many of them.

It's not nearly as simple as it seems.

[Technosoul]

From what I hear they do not really have enough bed space for everyone in jail as it is, at least that is a problem here in California.

But they have NOT built any new prisons for a long time now and some political leaders say that it is time to build more prisons and courtrooms.
But the taxpayers will not vote for that as it means raising taxes to budget a prison system that can handle the overflow. They added more police to the streets but now they have no room for more people that get arrested by that enlarged police force.

1 in 100 is a lot of people. It makes me wonder if we got too many laws. But I think one reason is that at the same time the inmate population is going up we are going into a economical nose dive into poverty as large numbers of people are getting laid off due to the closing of plants (that move to another country or whatever). Clearly poverty and crime are linked. People are in danger of loosing their homes, they cannot afford health care, and the price of gasoline and food has gone up double what it was 20 years ago (estimate not confirmed) as also unitlity bills and so forth. In our culture you must have money to eat and for shelter and so forth. Fewer decent paying jobs = more crime.
As well as the fact that the unemployed might turn to cheap booze or drugs out of depression.
Adding to their chances of getting arrested.

And as we move into this economic downsizing of the American economy we find the fines are going up higher for most crimes, as well as for traffic tickets. And more people cannot afford to pay the judge so they are placed in jail.

More poverty, more police arresting people, and higher fines for violations, would mean more prision inmates.

The best way then to deal with that problem is to find ways to generate more decent paying jobs and to bring down the cost of living. Or downsize the police force and remove as many laws from the books as possible, reduce the fine and the mandated time spent in jail for those crimes. Take your pick.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Technosoul From what I hear they do not really have enough bed space for everyone in jail as it is, at least that is a problem here in California. But they have NOT built any new prisons for a long time now and some political leaders say that it is time to build more prisons and courtrooms.

Politicians will gladly build more prisons and courtrooms, provided they have protection from ever ending up in them. I don't think prison has too many redeeming traits to speak of, though one could find something redeeming about damn near anything. For example, some will see the very existence of prisons as a sign that "the system is working." This attitude has prevailed for a long time now which partly explains the drive to build more prisons and courtrooms. And more laws come with them, of course.

Grandpa h.

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Does this mean the other 99 haven't been caught yet?

[grandpa]

Quote by: Arawn-ap-Hywel Does this mean the other 99 haven't been caught yet?

Though I'm sure you were kidding, this assessment may be more correct than most would think. The number of punishable offenses out there is vast. I'm surprised I've never had a stint in jail.

Grandpa h.

[NDOC]

Don't get caught up in that hug a thug mentality, it's dangerous

[grandpa]

Quote by: NDOC Don't get caught up in that hug a thug mentality, it's dangerous

I don't think it is in all instances -- though I personally am never quick to hug just anybody. Practically anybody can be a thug.

Grandpa h.

[gela]

Someone shouldn't be put into prison as a punishment.
If you want to punish someone, fine them, and make them do public service.

People should be put in prison if they are a danger to society.

Prisons should be about protecting people, not punishing people.

[sdbest]

The United States has more people in prison in absolute numbers and per capita than any other country. And, it has the death penalty, unlike most countries. Does that mean that Americans are the most unlawful people in the world? If so why?

Regards

[Piscean]

But my question is what's going to happen when the proportion of incarcerated population begins to outweigh the capacity to keep 'em behind bars. Only a matter of time.

The majority of people behind bars are there because they went through some hard times and tried something desperate. Since we as a society don't know how or care to actually help our fellow man we think it's cool that their lives are being wasted locked up as we pay for it and the greedy bastards behind it aall get richer, make more prisons, and lock more people up. It's the human condition (sorry as hell)!

[Piscean]

The United States has more people in prison in absolute numbers and per capita than any other country. And, it has the death penalty, unlike most countries. Does that mean that Americans are the most unlawful people in the world? If so why?

What it means is that our society is way more nazi than anyone wants to face.