Massachussetts Pre-Trial / Convicted Inmates up 522% since 1980

I was surfing through the news when I came upon this article.

www.boston.com...

The number of pretrial detainees at county facilities and convicted inmates at county houses of correction rose 522 percent from 1980 to 2008, according to the April study. The state prisons are also grappling with overcrowding, with their population rising by 368 percent in the same period.

Wow. Overall population in the state has increased by 1.13% source

Is it me, or does it seem that one can land in jail for less and less serious offenses?

I feel if one breaks the law, one should face punishment. But there is a 520% increase in incarceration compared to population growth difference. Something is VERY wrong with that number.



[edit on 7-7-2009 by Udontknowme]