The United States has the largest prison population in the world

[Mike_Yates]

The United States of America has the largest prison population of any country in the world by a VERY wide margin. We have more people in our prisons than Russia and China combined.

And the incarceration rate in America is rising exponentially and shows no signs of slowing down. Some violent criminals, sex offenders, and gang members have to be transferred to other prisons or even released entirely due to overcrowding.

Why is this happening? Isn't the United States supposed to be the world's shining example of freedom and prosperity?

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/20...nited-states-had-even-more-prisoners-in-2013/

 

[dolf]

because you're a bunch of kneejerk reactors who think stringing 'em high is the solution to your fear of crime. duh.

 

[CandiCame]

Mikey, just google the prison industrial complex. There are reasons that we do the things we do, and they aren't something we should be proud of.

 

[someoneyouknow]

because you're a bunch of kneejerk reactors who think stringing 'em high is the solution to your fear of crime. duh.

If we would string 'em high more often, we wouldn't have such a large prison population, would we?

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

because you're a bunch of kneejerk reactors who think stringing 'em high is the solution to your fear of crime. duh.

If we would string 'em high more often, we wouldn't have such a large prison population, would we?

*chuckle*

Even Charlie Manson gets to live out his natural life.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

If Russia had 156 million more people, theirs would be about the same size as ours...

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Who knows for China, Cuba and North Korea...



They lie.

 

[dolf]

If we would string 'em high more often, we wouldn't have such a large prison population, would we?

yeah, I blame that pesky appeals process, and whatever numpty decided you could only fry people for murder.

 

[pete]

Why is this happening? Isn't the United States supposed to be the world's shining example of freedom and prosperity?

freedom & prosperity have nothing to do with the prison population, that's apples vs oranges.

we're a nation of laws. people break those laws, they go to prison. its that simple

we're also a benevolent nation with relatively timid consequences. our biggest crime deterrent is the death penalty, but since we don't even have the balls or sense to do that effectively, it doesn't deter anyone.

you want to know why prison pops are low in china, russia, the middle east? cuz if you do something heinous they won't bother with prison, they'll just fucking kill you. no long drawn out appeals, no wallowing on death row. prisons in some other countries make ours look like 5 star hotels. serious shit-your-pants consequences to crime are the difference between us and them.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Petty drug busts...

 

[domroger]

Draconian minimum and maximum sentences to start with.

Plea bargaining where the DA says he is going to go for the maximum sentence if the suspect does not plead guilty .This encourages innocent people to plead guilty if they are not sure of their defense .
The fact that most DA's have their eye on a political career and push for convictions on very flimsy evidence .

The quality of defense attorneys available to the poorer members of society who settle for a plea of guilty instead of vigorously defending their clients .

The fact that the heads of city and town law enforcement are political appointments so there is always pressure to arrest and charge someone even if the evidence is flimsy .

 

[pete]

Draconian minimum and maximum sentences to start with.

Plea bargaining where the DA says he is going to go for the maximum sentence if the suspect does not plead guilty .This encourages innocent people to plead guilty if they are not sure of their defense .
The fact that most DA's have their eye on a political career and push for convictions on very flimsy evidence .

The quality of defense attorneys available to the poorer members of society who settle for a plea of guilty instead of vigorously defending their clients .

The fact that the heads of city and town law enforcement are political appointments so there is always pressure to arrest and charge someone even if the evidence is flimsy .

ha, dude you've seen too much tv

 

[domroger]

ha, dude you've seen too much tv

No never watch it ,which makes me miss out on a lot of conversations .

 

[ms_ann_thrope]

I'll take a nice comfy prison cell over a gulag anytime.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Turn yourself in and confess...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

None of the above.

Our system evolved to enrich lawyers and create more judges. Sixty years ago a guy made a deal with the prosecutor, did a couple of years on a road gang, and spent 20 years on probation. The alternative was execution.

Today its a cluster fuck.

Around here, if you murder anyone you spend years in jail before the trial.

I recall a trial I attended. A teen beat the crap outta his foster mom when she refused to give him extra allowance money. This is no lie, the judge appointed 5 lawyers to handle the kid. He had a criminal defense lawyer, a lawyer from fostercare, two guardian ad litem lawyers, and a lawyer to watchover the other lawyers. Plus there was a prosecutor.

 

[TwoShades]

freedom & prosperity have nothing to do with the prison population, that's apples vs oranges.

we're a nation of laws. people break those laws, they go to prison. its that simple

we're also a benevolent nation with relatively timid consequences. our biggest crime deterrent is the death penalty, but since we don't even have the balls or sense to do that effectively, it doesn't deter anyone.

you want to know why prison pops are low in china, russia, the middle east? cuz if you do something heinous they won't bother with prison, they'll just fucking kill you. no long drawn out appeals, no wallowing on death row. prisons in some other countries make ours look like 5 star hotels. serious shit-your-pants consequences to crime are the difference between us and them.

That was my first thought too. At least we don't just kill em all.

 

[dolf]

yes, here in England we burn people for taking a loaf of bread and drown them for spitting in the street.

 

[dolf]

the swis & danes shoot any suspect on sight, judge dread style.
hence their low, low crime rates.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

yes, here in England we burn people for taking a loaf of bread and drown them for spitting in the street.

I rather suspected that.



It's the Sharia isn't it...

 

[domroger]

ha, dude you've seen too much tv

Perhaps I have been influenced by fiction ,but the problem remains .There are too many people in prison for trivial offenses ,and it must be sorted out .

 

[someoneyouknow]

yeah, I blame that pesky appeals process, and whatever numpty decided you could only fry people for murder.

I never said anything about not having due process. I only meant for those people who have no intention of living within the bounds of society there is no reason we taxpayers should have to pay to keep them arond.

For example, in my area there is a 15 year old who escaped from a youth detention center. He was in for involvement in an armed robbery. About a day after his escape he shoots and kills his cousin.

Why should we use our tax dollars to keep him around? It's quite obvious he willnever be a productive member of society.

For those who participate in crimes for which there is no doubt of their culpability, execution would both serve to keep the prison population down, and thus our costs, and if we're lucky, get them before they have a chance to reproduce and further pollute the gene pool.

 

[pete]

yes, here in England we burn people for taking a loaf of bread and drown them for spitting in the street.

no you just use heavy handed influence to deny Scots their independence

 

[cjh]

we just happen to be a nation of criminals.

and "utes."

don't forget the utes.

http://www.statista.com/statistics/262962/countries-with-the-most-prisoners-per-100-000-inhabitants/

 

[Sean]

no you just use heavy handed influence to deny Scots their independence

By giving them a completely free vote on whether they want to remain part of the union or not?