Report: 1 In Every 99 Americans Now Behind Bars

[Terri]

U.S. Spent More Than $49 Billion On Corrections In 2007
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) ― Don't ask the U.S. prison system if this is indeed "the land of the free."

For the first time in history, more than one in every 100 American adults is in jail or prison, according to a new report tracking the surge in inmate population.

The report, released Thursday by the Pew Center on the States, said the 50 states spent more than $49 billion on corrections last year, up from less than $11 billion 20 years earlier. The rate of increase for prison costs was six times greater than for higher education spending, the report said.

Using updated state-by-state data, the report said 2,319,258 adults were held in U.S. prisons or jails at the start of 2008 -- one out of every 99.1 adults, and more than any other country in the world.

More (http://wcbstv.com/national/prison.americans.pri son.2.665053.html)

[lpara]

I heard this on the news today. The news made it sound like we're spending way too much money, there are way too many people in jail, and one out of every nine black males is also in jail -- so there are way too many black's in jail. I guess the libs (MSM) want them all released. :tqrolleyes:

I have a solution :peepwallA:

Prison Reform:

With DNA testing available today, let's not keep so many on death row for 10-20 years. There's a thought.

TWO strikes of a federal capital crime and you're in forever (surely not everyone will risk that)

Murderers really should die--not get life.

WORK the inmates in the system and WORK THEM HARD.

[MamaCat]

more than any other country in the world.

Probably because we're softer on crime and criminals that most, if not all, other countries of the world. When there are no consequences, there is little reason to obey the law.

[Der Alte]

This appears to be the same study that was on FOX news last night but left out the Hispanics at 1 in 36 and the Blacks at 1 in 15. Those figures give a new insight into what they really mean.

[Texas Teacher]

I don't believe these figures. Like the divorce rate figures they are deliberatly being misleading. One in 15 black people in jail? No! This is how it works. John Doe goes to jail; he is counted. He is let out and he goes to prison; he is counted again. The same people are popping in and out of jail and they are counting them more than once.

Here is an easy solution to cut down on the number of people in prison. No internet, no cable TV, no mobile phones, no prison law degrees so that they can sue everyone, no early parole, no rooms that are larger than my dorm room in college or larger than my barracks room in the U.S. military. For those on death row. You get one year of appeals. After one year you are executed, no matter where your appeal might be in the process.

For too many, prison is a place they want to be. That needs to be changed. If they can continue to conduct their business in prison, then they are not isolated enough. They need to earn what the are given; they need to produce a product that can me sole. No sitting around all day getting free room and board.

[social-isms]

Here are a few inconvenient truth stats that are omitted in the article:

Citing an Urban Institute study, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies Steven Camorata noted in 2004: "Roughly 17 percent of the prison population at the federal level are illegal aliens. That's a huge number since illegal aliens only account for about 3 percent of the total population." It is also estimated a total of 27% of the total prison population (Federal, State, and Local) is congested with illegal aliens.

The evidence is incontrovertible. Illegal aliens are major
contributing factors to crime in the United States. They are
responsible for a very significant percentage of the rapes,
murders, robberies, and general havoc. For example, in Los Angeles in 2004, over 95% of the outstanding warrants for homicide, and 60% of felony warrants were for illegal aliens. It is also a fact that illegal aliens are a major factor in crimes by gangs.

[myownthinker]

IT's not a surprise at all. Its our culture. Violence on TV. Violence in the movies. What movies sell? Movies about violence. Lets face it: America is about violence now. It is a violent culture. Going against authority is now the norm for kids and parents today do nothing but enhancing it. Thats the way it is. I wish there was some way to change it around. America is a nation of violence. It shows. Our prisons are overflowing. They are packed. Question is how are we going to turn it around? Our crime rate is huge. It is disturbing.

[schillerbjr]

Of the 1 in every 99 Americans, how many are
"registered Democrats"???????????????????? ??

[Amawalk John]

I don't know how you manage to put up with life in America, MOT.

[candles]

Texas Teacher, you have good point, how many of them were counted twice.

Here is an easy solution to cut down on the number of people in prison. No internet, no cable TV, no mobile phones, no prison law degrees so that they can sue everyone, no early parole, no rooms that are larger than my dorm room in college or larger than my barracks room in the U.S. military.
:twothumbsup: We could also add, cut back on the weight equipement. They get so strong that theguards can not handle them.

They could cut back on the level of the food they get. I knew someone that was in prison and he told us about how great the food was.

[Cynical Pete]

There are a great many persons in prison that have no business being there. Non violent criminals should have an ankle bracelet or be under house arrest with freedom to go to work and back or check in with a corrections officer at various times. Martha Stewart is an example of house arrest as she certainly isn't violent and is harmless to others. Then there are violent repeat offenders that should be executed instead of being paroled to commit more crimes. Some people are framed by the system as we see by the large number of persons being freed with DNA. This is done by police testiLYING or District Attorneys destroying evidence and judges not allowing defense evidence to be admitted. The whole system needs to be reformed.

[winperk]

This is hogwash! The jail/crime problem has increased proportionatily with the entry of illegal aliens in this country. They are backrupting hospitals, welfare systems, (Social Securty) and especially schools. We now have to build more schools for illegle alien children.
Schools we don't need for American Citizens.
Jobs for citizens are leaving the country. Illegle aliens are taking most high and mid level jobs because they take pay at substantially less
to get a foothold here.The American dream has become a nightmar.

[Charie]

I read an article a few years ago about the rate of recidivism in Wisconsin. Can't remember where I read it nor what the rate was but I was surprised to see that a fairly small percentage of people commit a huge amount of crimes. I think a Joe Arpaio would really work well here if he could get the People's Republic of Madison off his back.

We had one of our Wisconsin men in jail for, apparently, a rape he didn't commit. The group of young almost lawyers from Illinois were over the moon because they had gotten this man released from prison.

Within 2 years he had raped and murdered another girl. The police hadn't framed him the first time, he was simply one of the ones the police checked out because he had a history of committing crimes like this although they hadn't found enough evidence to convict. That time they had an eyewitness. Eyewitnesses can be wrong.

I just wonder how many of the men pardoned by the Illinois (R) governor went back to jail in a short time. Almost all of those in jail have a history of crime.

[papajaxxx]

1% of our nation in prison?

At least you can keep an eye on them there.

I bet none of them are Sunday School teachers.

I agree with those who have mentioned degrees of crime:

The nation's prisons should be divided into segments which go along with the crime.

Examples:
Class I: High security with none or few amenities.

Murder, Rape, 3-time felons, child sex crimes, etc.

Class II: High security, but more amenities.

Armed robbery, manslaughter, etc.

Class III: Medium security with all amenities

Minor theft, 2-time felons, embezzlement, etc.

Class IV: Low security with work rights and all amenities.

Ankle bracelets are a good idea for low security felons.

One size does not fit all in prisons.

[qrayjack]

Roughly 17 percent of the prison population at the federal level are illegal aliens. They put IAs in prison? I thought they gave them gold stars. And free school lunches, free health care, driver's license, a new Lincoln Navigator (if it's repoed they just change their name and get another one) low interest loans and a free cherry-picker to harvest the money that grows on trees. Is my cynicism showing? Tsk.

[Der Alte]

Is my cynicism showing? Tsk.
Its difficult to call it cynicism when most of it is true.:D

[billybigrigger]

Wonder how many are in there because of some drug related offense? Wonder what the war on drugs has cost us over the last 30 years? Wonder if drugs are any less available today than they have at any point in recent history? I doubt it.

Somehow I think we need to come up with a new solution. Not saying what it should be, don't really know, but it's pretty obvious to me that we are now throwing money down a rat hole and not getting any closer to a solution.