1 in every 32 adult americans in prison , probation, or parole last yr.

[donsu]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/9246363.htm?&1c

A record 6.9 million adults were incarcerated or on probation or parole last year, nearly 131,000 more than in 2002, according to a Justice Department study.

Put another way, about 3.2 percent of the adult U.S. population, or 1 in 32 adults, were incarcerated or on probation or parole at the end of last year.

-snip-

_Almost half of all probationers were convicted of a felony, with 25 percent convicted of a drug violation.

-snip-
-----------------------------------------

private prison owners are getting wealther by the day.
and the world laughs at us.

[RoeBear]

1. And what is the percentage...

..of black men?

[gatlingforme]

5. hmm, I would say 7 in 10 are black. at least that is what it is in Chicago

[FeebMaster]

2. But it's the land of the free. (nt)

[MrSandman]

3. Another victory in the WOD...n/t

[gatlingforme]

4. Thanks for your post. the worst is the fed minimum sentence

laws (which are now under review) and the severe drug laws now on the books.

[Jack_DeLeon]

6. IMO we need less laws...

I would be happy if less things were considered crime, and that those who still committed crimes be punished harsher.

We need to end the war on drugs, make it so that its not illegal to use them.

However those that still commit crimes (even if they are high on drugs), like rape, murder, theft (all kinds white collar, blue collar) should have longer prison stays with hard labor.

[JayS]

7. A good look at just why we put people in prison is in order. I...

...think that in many cases justice would be better served by an alternative sentence for many non-violent offenses.

[skippythwndrdog]

8. I know one that shouldn't be there IIMHO

2002 My best friend's (now ex-) wife meets him at the front door with her new beau and divorce papers. He goes to his sister's house, has a good cry. Big mistake - he goes to a local tavern. After a couple of drink -- or 3 or 4, he heads back to his sister's place. A car runs a stop sign, t-bones him and totals his new truck. A cop (on duty in a marked patrol car) directly behind him saw the whole thing and cited the other driver. A paramedic that was called for a passenger in the other vehicle smelled alcohol on my friend's breath and requested a BAC. My friend blew EXACTLY .08.

Now he's in prison until 2006 on 4 counts of vehicular assault and DUI.

How do I know this so well? I was in the truck with him.