Inmate Count In U.S. 'Dwarfs' Other Nations

Inmate Count In U.S. 'Dwarfs' Other Nations

www.iht.com

The United States has less than 5 percent of the world's population. But it has almost a quarter of the world's prisoners.

Indeed, the United States leads the world in producing prisoners, a reflection of a relatively recent and now entirely distinctive American approach to crime and punishment. Americans are locked up for crimes — from writing bad checks to using drugs — that would rarely produce prison sentences in other countries. And in particular they are kept incarcerated far longer than prisoners in other nations.

Criminologists and legal scholars in other industrialized nations say they are mystified and appalled by the number and length of American prison sentences.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Terrific...What a great thing to be the leader of. Perhaps we can pass a few more ridiculous laws to lock people up..Oh, wait, they're doing that already (see the salvia thread).

Does anybody get the feeling that this is only the tip of the iceburg with the direction things seem to be going? No doubt that as the financial situation and cost of survival continues to take its toll, the amount of incarcerations, already disgustingly high---Is going to rise exponentially.

The United States comes in first, too, on a more meaningful list from the prison studies center, the one ranked in order of the incarceration rates. It has 751 people in prison or jail for every 100,000 in population. (If you count only adults, one in 100 Americans is locked up.)

The only other major industrialized nation that even comes close is Russia, with 627 prisoners for every 100,000 people. The others have much lower rates. England's rate is 151; Germany's is 88; and Japan's is 63.

www.iht.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


Could one of the reasons be the way those other countries treat inmate that helps keep their numbers down? I would hazard a guess that in japan russia and germany the inmates recieve many less rights than those here in the US. Another thing to think about is the racial factor of the inmates. The US has the most diverse population of races of any country in the world. And a lot of the inmates are black mexican and asian. Japan and the other countries don't freely embrace a melting pot society, so there inmate would be a much less diverse group., leading to a lower number of inmates.

Originally posted by Stumpy1
reply to post by DimensionalDetective

 

Japan and the other countries don't freely embrace a melting pot society, so there inmate would be a much less diverse group., leading to a lower number of inmates.

I dont get it. In Japan you still go to jail if you`re black or white. Its not only the asian ones that are put in. So why would it be a lower number of inmates there?

Anyway, to put people in jail doesnt necessarily stop crime, since many will just be back in the same environment when they are released.. which leads them back to commiting crime. Many need follow up and help to get out of the bad environment.

I dont see the point in locking people up each time. I have heard of cases where this one man had like 50 small sentences. He was a drunk, and had been caught breaking the law (D.U.I. and vandalizm). HE should get help.. when jail doesnt help, you try something else. Or maybe there is something wrong with society if there are so many criminals.

I mean that you have to do what works, to stop people from commiting crimes again and again, not just lock them up each time.

I think its competition to get more funds from the govt.

Like the schools, they all want/need more funds, so they try to get more people.

Plus they have fines and tickets for everything, you cant go out without being too careful.

reply to post by Daniem



You can not force people to get help. Many of these people dont want help.

And people who are theives....they know right from wrong. Yet they choose to steal. How do you help someone like that?

Criminals need to stop being criminals. Dont break the law, dont serve the time! Being responsible members of society and take responsibility for your actions. Att the end of the day, its people making choices.

If someone serves time, gets out and committs another crime. They should be more severly punished.

With that said, I think the sentencing part of the criminal justice system needs a huge overall. And people serving time, need to do HARD time. Make them work. Dont let them have so many luxuries while in jail (porn, vistors, TV, etc etc).

Then there is the factor that in many areas/gangs, etc it is very cool to get prison/jail time. Its a status symbol.

Criminals are NOT afraid of jail time. THAT is the problem. Criminals need to fear punishment.


[edit on 23-4-2008 by greeneyedleo]

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


Yes, I think so, DD. As basic survival costs skyrocket, people tend to
"freak out" more, and undoubtedly will fall victim to '5150' (Detain for
Mental Evaluation), which, in most cases is pure hogwash. HOGWASH!

That way, the authorities can bypass a person's constitutional rights, by
holding them for a minimum amount of time, without filing charges!

Mental Health Courts Lower Recidivism Rates

Another HUGE factor, is the failed 'War on Drugs'; especially marijuana
"offenses" which are victimless crimes, mostly.

Decriminalizing Pot Will Reduce Prison Population

But the 'short leash' of conditional release has so many rules, they're
bound to be broken, resulting in 'violaton, revocation'. More hogwash!

Probation and Parole Statistics

Once you're in the system, you're IN; whether out currently or not. The
cops look at you like you're a criminal from then on. More hogwash!


"Stash the bong, my parole officer is coming, and he's got the men in
white suits with him, again!"



[edit on 4/23/2008 by FRIGHTENER]

[edit on 4/23/2008 by FRIGHTENER]

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
reply to post by Daniem

You can not force people to get help. Many of these people dont want help.

You sentence them to get help, instead of jailtime. But it depends on the situation of course.

I saw another thread about the Military enlisting more felons.
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Maybe their plan is to arrest as many people as they can so they can get them to enlist in the military. I think a lot of people would prefer the military over prison.

You know, with the coming wars and extended stay in Iraq, they are having a hard time finding recruits.

It's only logical to commit crime when you're being oppressed by real criminals. Of course, you have to realize that those real criminals are one step ahead of you and plan on you committing crimes.

As Kanye West put it "Drug dealer buy Jordan, crackhead buy crack, and the white man get a piece of all of that"

You're playing right into their hands. Only the good men can end this game.

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
reply to post by Daniem

 

Criminals need to stop being criminals. Dont break the law, dont serve the time! Being responsible members of society and take responsibility for your actions. Att the end of the day, its people making choices.

If someone serves time, gets out and committs another crime. They should be more severly punished.

Criminals in charge, criminals in jail.

A citizen can't be better than the leadership ...know watta mean?

Originally posted by ThePiemaker
It's only logical to commit crime when you're being oppressed by real criminals.

No, its not logical. It is stupid and deserves punishment.

I have never committed a crime. Well, I have gotten speeding tickets, so I did break that law, but I got the punishment for it - a big fat fine.


I cant believe (or I can) that people are not requiring criminals to take responsiblity for their actions

[edit on 23-4-2008 by greeneyedleo]

Originally posted by Daniem

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
reply to post by Daniem

You can not force people to get help. Many of these people dont want help.

You sentence them to get help, instead of jailtime. But it depends on the situation of course.

So, if they are sentenced to some type of treatment, how do you force them to want to change their life/lifestyle?

Look at all the people who go through various forms of treatment facilities (for drugs, alcohol, etc). And they walk out and go right back to their drugs and alcohol. Counseling and treatment doesnt always work - not if the mind/heart isnt in it.

Now, I will say that I DO support alternative punishments - such as making them work in homeless shelters, cleaning up trash off the streets and so on....then they have to sleep the night in a small cell with nothing but a cot.

But as far as people getting help. It would only work if the person wants the help.

reply to post by greeneyedleo


Soon as the top decides to be responsible, maybe the bottom will listen to their lecture about "taking responsibility". When the top decides to take what they don't need, it forces the bottom to need to take. No way to stop violence until you stop greed. And that's greed from everyone, but particularly the top.

Originally posted by ThePiemaker
reply to post by greeneyedleo

 

Soon as the top decides to be responsible, maybe the bottom will listen to their lecture about "taking responsibility". When the top decides to take what they don't need, it forces the bottom to need to take. No way to stop violence until you stop greed. And that's greed from everyone, but particularly the top.

But that is just an excuse for people making bad choices. Crime has been around since the beginning of time. You could have the best people in office/government and people will STILL commit crimes.

The solution is for people just to stop breaking the law....stop being criminals. If one doesn't like a law, then if you want it changed bad enough you will work your arse off to change it. Put all your energy into that, instead of being a criminal.

Responsibility for our OWN actions first. Even if there are crooks in office.

Originally posted by greeneyedleo

Originally posted by ThePiemaker
It's only logical to commit crime when you're being oppressed by real criminals.

No, its not only logical. It is stupid and deserves punishment.

You just said what Pie maker said was logical but I know your intentions so i won't dwell on the typo.
Some of them do deserve to be locked up, but there are so many different levels right now of guiltiness for lack of a better term that is over-looked and morality goes out the window and they get whatever sentence or fine matches up well enough on their chart.
Its not always that simple but think of your one small exapmle you have for yourself. Is paying money the justice that needs to be served in this case of speeding? IMO even something like this is evident of corruptness because they seem to lack the fundamental intent of preventing this from happening again.

reply to post by eerieleary


Thanks. LOL. Im tired and need to go to bed. So my typing is horrible right now.


I had said that I believe the sentence structure needs an overhaul and that I support alternative punishments. But that requires a lot of money and manpower. I can see it now on ATS if the prison system started hiring more people so they can work them for these alternative punishments.

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
reply to post by eerieleary

 

Thanks. LOL. Im tired and need to go to bed. So my typing is horrible right now.


I had said that I believe the sentence structure needs an overhaul and that I support alternative punishments. But that requires a lot of money and manpower. I can see it now on ATS if the prison system started hiring more people so they can work them for these alternative punishments.

YOU GOT IT!! On the ball!
I too am a firm believer in personal responsibility being key.

reply to post by greeneyedleo


I agree, it does start with yourself. But criminals belief that it ends with yourself as well. Long as criminals are in charge and leave the poor high and dry, really no reason for the poor to "take responsibility". Especially since prisons are either full of their homeboys or aren't as bad as the environments they live in on the outside. Instead of making prison harsher, how about we help make their neighborhoods a better place to live?

So much for the "Land of the Free".
What does it matter if you break into a house to take what you want, when your Leaders and Govt. Break into countires for the same reason?
What is the diference in a black or hispanic criminal shooting a cop who works for this Govt. and a citizen taking up arms against an oppressor?
Would any minority, who represent the detained and inprisoned majority, really consider themselve a part of the mainstream, and so follow its rules?
Harsh questions to ask, but you gat to ask 'em.
"Drugs, repression, racism, weapons, cynacism, apathy.........imprisoment ideology. Broken homes, broken dreams, broke and educated in the useless, no more excuses, they take what they want, so why can't we, they do what they please, 'cause they hold the key......to my prison".

I think i read a study somewhere predicting that by 2030 or somewhere around there that the USA would have over 50% of its poulation incacerated and it would need the other "free" 50% to look after them. I'll try and find it and post it here.