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web page (3 page long article) U.S. prison population dwarfs that of other nations Adam Liptak International Herald Tribune April 23, 2008 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. The United States has, for instance, 2.3 million criminals behind bars, more than any other nation, according to data maintained by the International Center for Prison Studies at Kings College London. China, which is four times more populous than the United States, is a distant second, with 1.6 million people in prison. (That number excludes hundreds of thousands of people held in administrative detention, most of them in China's extrajudicial system of re-education through labor, which often singles out political activists who have not committed crimes.)
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Dawg Talker
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Well, at least we're first in something....... 
"People who drink light 'beer' don't like the taste of beer; they just like to pee a lot."
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Legend
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There's alot of people in jail for crimes that really could have better solutions than just locking them up. Prisons should be reserved for the violent criminals.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Legend
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Quote:
There's alot of people in jail for crimes that really could have better solutions than just locking them up. Prisons should be reserved for the violent criminals.
I would agree with that. I think we "make criminals" by taking people who commit relatively minor crimes, then we lock them up for an extended period of time, they become hardened, they can't get a job when they get out.. and then up as even worse criminals... I also think our jails are too soft, there is no real fear of going to jail, hell in some circles in this country you can't even begin to get respect until you've done your first jail term. 
yebat' Putin
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Legend
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I also think our jails are too soft, there is no real fear of going to jail, hell in some circles in this country you can't even begin to get respect until you've done your first jail term.
That's really what it is. While prison is no picnic, it's not exactly a deterant for repeat offenders either. I like the Naked Gun quote, "Hey! You call this slop? Real slop has got chunks in it! This is more like gruel! And this Chateau le Blanc '68 is supposed to be served slightly chilled! This is room temperature! What do you think we are, animals? " 
Of course, if we brought in some of the tricks other countries use like canings rather than prison sentences ... or just killing the guilty outright. We could bring our numbers back in line with others. 
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Dawg Talker
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America is unlike most large sovereign nations due to the enormous numbers of diverse cultures and backgrounds of many of our citizens. While this is in itself a poor reason for being locked up it does hi-lite the difficulties of persuading all citizens to participate as our idea of good citizens and to row the boat in the same direction.
Violent criminals need to be locked away from any other offenders.
White collar crimes need to be punished with short term incarceration[if at all] but with steep economic punishments which are garnished from future wealth.
Drug crimes should be reduced to non jail time occassions and only major dealers incarcerated ...with the violent criminals.
We have many,many more freedoms in America than most more homogenious nation have and with our freedoms comes the ripe opportunity to step outside the laws of society...nothing earthshaking here but we must be ready to react to minor crimes much differently than major violent crimes.
The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, .
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Legend
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Legalize drugs and we'd cut that prison population in half, easily. 
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Imagine what it will be like if they keep arresting 8 year olds. 
#gmstrong #gmlapdance
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Quote:
Drug crimes should be reduced to non jail time occassions and only major dealers incarcerated ...with the violent criminals.
i think i read soewhere that almost half the prison poulation are from drug offenders.
If I had it my way, I would slowly incorporate an Eye for an Eye.
You kill someone, death penalty.
You rape someone, death penalty.
You steal, lose your hands.
Lets actually deter crime through harsher penalties. We all know some comit crimes just to go to jail. 3 squares and a cot.
President - Fort Collins Browns Backers
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It is what I have been saying for a long time.....we aren't interested in any solutions.
As Americans we always seek the easy way...and throwing people in jail is the easy way.
Another staggering fact is the amount of people who end up back in prison after release. About 25% end up in prison again after a year. Thirty-five percent after 2-3 years.
The biggest reason is 80% of employers openly admit they won't hire a person with a criminal record.
People who can't find work are going to find ways to get money,even if it is taking someone else's.. You can't get by without money.
And by money, I don't mean some crappy minimum wage job. I am talking about a job where you can actually pay bills and have a roof over your head.
If you are going to stick them in prison, you shouldn't be able to release them until you can give them a decent job and they have a place to go.
Now I am not totally serious about that above comment, but it does make some sense. It costs far more to release them and then wait to arrest them again after doing who knows what rather then just keep them.
We throw people in to overcrowded prisons and then basically release many of them when we need a new bed for the new guy.
We need to find a way to make these people productive, or we need to build 6-7 new prisons per state.
Corrections...the growth industry of the 21st century.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong ![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)
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I think that's a bit harsh, especially the stealing thing. I do have very little empathy for killers and those that commit violent crimes though.
I do think we have too many people in prison for victimless crime.
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Legend
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Quote:
If I had it my way, I would slowly incorporate an Eye for an Eye.
You kill someone, death penalty.
You rape someone, death penalty.
You steal, lose your hands.
Why death for rape, shouldn't you rape them back for the "eye for an eye" concept.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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I just assume that every rape victim is traumatized for life.
Ok maybe the stealing thsing is harsh, but what we are doing isnt working.
Living in COlumbus I get very angry towards people who steal. There are nor repercussions for these people terrorizing neighborhoods.
President - Fort Collins Browns Backers
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Quote:
Corrections...the growth industry of the 21st century.
Isn't "Corrections" sort of an oxymoron since it doesn't seem to be CORRECTING ANYTHING?
yebat' Putin
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I'm sorry, am I in the right place....there's a lot of liberal ideas floating aroud in here! If drugs are to remain illegal, than you shouldn't be arrested for anything less than 2 pounds of weed, or 2 kilos of coke...anything less is not making you rich...it's just paying bills. I'd say drug convictions fund the prison system...and there's a lot of money there, especially when inmates are being used as a labor force. Those that end up back in jail, are usually the ones that are selling drugs...to pay bills. There has to be a better way than what we're doing here. You're absolutely right DC, there is nothing being corrected at all
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
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Legend
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I disagree with the amounts you mention, but if you took drug and alcohol related prisoners out of the system, populations would drop 70%.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong
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Legend
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I do think we are nicer than Iran: From correspondents in Tehran April 23, 2008 09:25am Drivers in Iran found guilty of dangerous behaviour on the roads could be sentenced to 74 lashes or several months in jail, Iran's traffic police chief says. "Drivers who commit dangerous acts will be referred to court for harming public order and the court can sentence violators to three months to a year in jail or 74 lashes,'' Mohammad Rouyanian was quoted as saying by the Kayhan newspaper. "Their vehicles will also be seized for a week,'' he said. The new measure would come into effect next month. Iranian police have until now punished offending drivers with a fine, seizing their drivers' licences or confiscating their cars. Iran's roads are among the most dangerous in the world and road accidents have killed at least 100,000 over the past five years. Despite a ban on drinking alcohol, surveillance cameras and police patrols planted alongside the roads, drivers are frequently seen speeding and overtaking on the wrong side of the road. In recent years Iran has eased restrictions on the import of foreign cars and many of the urban rich use luxury cars or SUVs in the capital's usually congested highways or posh northern resorts on the Caspian coast. Flogging is allowed under Iran's Islamic sharia law for crimes including theft and adultery even though in practice it has been used relatively infrequently in the past. http://www.news.com.au
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Quote:
Legalize drugs and we'd cut that prison population in half, easily.
Then we can legalize violent crime and we wouldn't need them at all.
"My signature line goes here."
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Dawg Talker
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Quote:
I disagree with the amounts you mention, but if you took drug and alcohol related prisoners out of the system, populations would drop 70%.
I'll compromise, anything more than a pound of each will get you 3 years. I believe 5 would be too long.
Anything more than 5 pounds will get you fed time
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
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Legend
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Quote:
Quote:
Legalize drugs and we'd cut that prison population in half, easily.
Then we can legalize violent crime and we wouldn't need them at all.
You seriously don't see a difference between those two types of crimes?
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Legend
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I am not here to debate the amounts or time given...just stating that drug and alcohol related offenses make up a large portion of our prison population.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong
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Dawg Talker
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Quote:
I am not here to debate the amounts or time given...just stating that drug and alcohol related offenses make up a large portion of our prison population.
Relax...I'm not debating...just typing my thoughts...it wasn't really about you...after I thought about it...2 pounds could be considered a bit much.
But I'm not debating you at all. Just thinking out loud 
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
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how about for drug and alcohol offenses, community service? shocking, i know 
President - Fort Collins Browns Backers
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except for repeat drunk drivers, thats just dangerous.
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Quote:
In recent years Iran has eased restrictions on the import of foreign cars and many of the urban rich use luxury cars or SUVs in the capital's usually congested highways or posh northern resorts on the Caspian coast.
SUV's? Don't they know the earth is warming?
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Legend
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Debate doesn't have to mean anything negative or getting upset.
Simply a term I applied...
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong
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Dawg Talker
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Quote:
Debate doesn't have to mean anything negative or getting upset.
Simply a term I applied...
It's all good
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
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Legend
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Legalize drugs and we'd cut that prison population in half, easily.
Then we can legalize violent crime and we wouldn't need them at all.
You seriously don't see a difference between those two types of crimes?
C'mon Jules, he used the
yebat' Putin
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Legend
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People do that all the time, but many times the is a fake .
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Legend
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I hate fake .
yebat' Putin
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Legend
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Quote:
Quote:
Corrections...the growth industry of the 21st century.
Isn't "Corrections" sort of an oxymoron since it doesn't seem to be CORRECTING ANYTHING?
Yeah, we kind of got caught up in the punishment aspect and forgot about the whole rehabilitation aspect.
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They can be rehabed if they want. You can get a college education from Ashland College at the prison in Mansfield. My Dentist goes there and gives free dental work to the prisioners and then charges me 150 dollars for an cleaning. They have movies, music and I even saw a popcorn making machine in some of the dorms.
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Quote:
There's alot of people in jail for crimes that really could have better solutions than just locking them up. Prisons should be reserved for the violent criminals.
The official number of non violent prisoners is just about 1.3 million right now I believe.
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Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum U.S. prison population dwarfs that
of other nations
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