America Has The Highest Rate Of Incarceration - 940 Words

America has the highest rate of incarceration per capita of any other industrialized nation. That is an amazing fact. Don’t believe it? Then do some research. The World Prison Brief, a database hosted by the International Centre for Prison Studies, provides an online table* that list the world’s prison population broken down by nation. With a total population of over 320 million, the U.S. ranks at 698 prisoners per 100,000 people. That beats just about every nation in the world, including China and Russia combined. One nation, however, beats the U.S.—the Republic of Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 Islands lying off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean. Not known as an industrial powerhouse or technology giant, Seychelles still manages to rank at 799 prisoners per 100,000 citizens. That is quite an accomplishment for a nation lacking state-of-the-art technology, especially with a total population of less than 100,000. By U.S. standards, that’s merely a small city, such as South Bend or Evansville (though both of those cities boast a larger population). But imagine a small city like South Bend having an arrest rate of that magnitude. That would require some serious effort by law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Busy, busy, busy! It would also probably garner unflattering headlines and generate accusations of â€Å"over policing†. But wait a minute. The U.S. actually has a rate competitive with that of Seychelles. And though we are onlyShow MoreRelatedAmeric Land Of The Incarcerated1296 Words   |  6 Pages America: Land of the Incarcerated Connor Murphy Mesa Community College â€Æ' In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem The Star Spangled Banner after witnessing the attack on Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy in the War of 1812. The poem was sang to the tune of a well-known British song and eventually, Key’s once amateur patriotic poem became the United States national anthem in which the lyrics strongly symbolize our country’s perseverance and freedom. The Star Spangled BannerRead MoreThe Incarceration Of A Prisoner1464 Words   |  6 PagesBureau, the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the entire world! This is caused by severe sentences for petty crimes such as shoplifting and loitering. The purpose of prisons is to rehabilitate and educate the public about braking the law, yet many prisoners’ crimes are not met with equal sentences but too severe. America has high incarceration rates because of laws making it easy to get into prison, poor rehabilitation programs, and for the incarceration of people whom should notRead MoreThe American Justice System Is Corrupt1536 Words   |  7 PagesDo you believe that everyone should be free? Well the thing is that America is really taking that away from people who have done something wrong even when it s for petty stuff like writing a bad check. Some stuff is understandable like murder or other stuff, but some is outrageous. The American prison population has been absolutely ridiculous; it s crazy for the U.S. To have such high prison rates. The more you know about it the more frustrating it gets, and if you ask almost anyone you would thinkRead MoreWhy The Incarceration Rate So High For Young Black Males?1428 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica has the largest justice system in the world. America also has the highest incarceration rate with over 2 million people in prison. African Americans account for approximately 40 percent of those inmates. Why is the incarceration rate so high for young black males? By examining the data and demographics, and the ca uses and consequences a greater understanding will be gained as to why these disparities exist. 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On September 27th, 2015, Pope F rancis remarked on a visit to a Philadelphia jail â€Å"It is painful when we see prison systems, which are not concerned to care for wounds, to soothe pain, to offer new possibilities,† a moving sentiment that would soon resonate with the American populationRead MoreMass Incarceration Essay1278 Words   |  6 Pages MASS INCARCERATION The prison population in the United states has increased 500% in thirty years. Since the 1970s social inequality has impacted the American prison system. America has 2.3 million people in prison which is â€Å"five times more than England and twelve times more than Japan.† We want to know why our prison population is growing and what are the core reasons. Has our society caused mass incarceration? Is it based on conflict theory or social stratification? Our research will includeRead MoreIntro: Elia .Mass Incarceration Is An Important Topic Because1210 Words   |  5 PagesIntro: Elia Mass Incarceration is an important topic because it has a huge impact on the United States. Let alone the fact that the United States has the highest incarcerated population in the world with 716 out of 100,000 citizens behind bars. Another important topic is that a certain race and ethnicity are behind bars which are the African Americans and Latinos than whites. But African Americans are 1 in 3, Latinos are 1 in 6, and whites are 1 in 17 who will be in prison during their lifetimeRead MoreMass Incarceration : A Public Policy Issue Essay1329 Words   |  6 PagesMass incarceration became a public policy issue in the United States in the early 2010s. Now in 2016, there is still much debate over the country’s incarcerated population and incarceration rate. The nation has the highest incarcerated population in the world, with 2,217,947 inmates, in front of China with 1,649,804. America incarcerates 693 inmates per 100,000 residents, only the African island nation Seychelle s incarcerates at a higher rate, with 799 for every 100,000 residents. The problem ofRead MoreThe War On Drugs And America Essay1573 Words   |  7 Pagesuntil President Bush was a disaster that affected America with high incarceration and high recidivism rates for low level and non-violent drug offenses that mainly targeted minorities in America. The war on drugs was a massive American failure that mainly affected minorities. President Obama and his drug reform alongside the American public’s strong opinion to switch towards marijuana reform which we see in places like Colorado and Washington has caused the war on drugs to lose steam. The American