IslandMix - Soca, Reggae, Zouk and Caribbean Entertainment

The number of Americans in prison exceeded 2 million last year, according to a new Justice Department report. This means that one in every 142 is incarcerated. America's jail population is the world's largest, and has nearly doubled since 1990.

Does this country just have that many criminal minded people? Is the system just quick to lock people up? Is this a good trend? If not, what can be done to reverse it??

PRISON building, maintainence and operation is a big business. Its all about the bling... like everything else in the is world.. Money talks and Socia issues arguments are hot air.

u guys have not seen anything yet. more prisons r going 2 be filling up and built in the next 2 - 6 years most likely. the economic turmoil in this country (especially major metropolis) will turn normal law abiding citizens in2 petty crooks or hardened criminals. ppl will be doing what they can to survive and provide 4 themselves and/or families.

the laws have gotten a bit tougher for small time crooks. i think the no nonsense penalty escalation on crime has risen to scare more ppl from even thinking about committing crimes. not sure what the stats r on that issue nationwide, but i would assume it isn't working.

salt

To me, a rapidly escalating prison population is more clear evidence of a society that is, at best, struggling with the very people that shape it and at worst, is one that's in an advanced state of social decay. The thing is, although the u.s. might "lead" the way, both in terms of real and relative numbers, this phenomenon is pretty much global which suggests that that some of the conditions that give rise to the situation here also exists elsewhere.

baje is also part right. There is plenty money to be made via the warehousing of bodies and currently there doesn't seem to be much societal resistance to this. Still, things do and must change and i for one view this out-of-control prison boom as temporary. While the picture that salt paints is not so far-fetched, i know there are many people in the world who recognize that this trend will only drag us down a path of further disconnectedness, dehumanization & destruction.

In terms of what can be done to stem the tide...well that's always the question, isn't it? In as much as the root causes of crime can be identified, steps must be taken to address them. Of course we know that powerful (and not-so-powerful) people use the processes of criminalization and punishment as a means of fear-based social control and/or containment. This is true whether or not the buisness of incarceration is profitable. So, if u are not in a position to immediately affect the decision making behind the prison situation, then i think u approach it like u would many other such issues: Remain steadfast in your humanity, recognize that those bodies behind the walls are a part of you/us. If u vote, vote for those who offer a different vision and plan than millions of people locked away in an ever-increasing number of dungeons, check out the companies that u support and make sure they are not a part of the prison exploitation. And of course, in our daily lives, in as much as we can, we should also be trying to help those with whom we come in contact to avoid prisons and the criminal injustice system completely.

No, none of this is easy but this is the world in which we live and this is some of what i think it'll take to turn things around.

Salt , I definitely agree wiht you , I spoke to my buddy who works with NYPD , he said we have to brace ourselves for the worst , he said the early 80's are coming back , there will be more muggings , murders & crime coming . New York will get really bad with all the lay offs coming, people will be doing anything to support their family and habits ...I pray everyday for peace .. :angel1

Last days are here!

I pray for peace! Innocence is being locked up!
While the real criminals are outside, taking our jobs, and food from our mouths!

I'm a praying soul now!

I see only destruction coming!
Father Help us!

Justice systems I on. The prisons population is so big because America punishes lesser offenses so frequently and so severely. Other nations reserve prison for serious or violent offenders. America sends millions of people to jail every year for minor crimes like trespassing, disorderly conduct, non-DWI traffic offenses, and simple possession of small amounts of illegal drugs for personal use. This is not a good trend, b/c when these non-violent offenders with minimal or no prior criminal history come out (after a few years) they are labeled an ex-offender for life and its hard for them to find a job and they are more likely to commit a crime. There are things that can be done to keep non-violent offenders out of prison but to the system its less money in their pocket, the prison system is one big money making business, that us the taxpayers pay for.