One Chart Perfectly Captures America’s Massive Prison Problem
Above Photo: Prison Policy Initiative
We often speak about America’s prison problem in vague, amorphous terms. For instance, the phrase “mass incarceration” has become commonplace, but even it can obscure the true scale of having an estimated 2.3 million people behind bars.
But here’s one graph that shows how many people are incarcerated in state prisons, local jails and federal detention facilities, and for what offenses:
The graphic was one of several released on Monday by the Prison Policy Initiative, a think tank based in Massachusetts. Researchers there noted that America’s prison problem is so big that they can’t even fit it all on one chart.
“While this pie chart provides a comprehensive snapshot of our correctional system, the graphic does not capture the enormous churn in and out of our correctional facilities and the far larger universe of people whose lives are affected by the criminal justice system,” Peter Wagner and Bernadette Rabuy wrote. “Every year, 636,000 people walk out of prison gates, but people go to jail over 11 million times each year.”
Criminal justice reform has taken center stage during the 2016 election. During the March 6 Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton tried to reassure black voters in Flint, Michigan, that they could trust her on the issue, despite painful memories of the drug policies that she endorsed that helped the country’s prison population swell.
“The United States locks up more people, per capita, than any other nation,” the researchers wrote. “But grappling with why requires us to first consider the many types of correctional facilities and the reasons that 2.3 million people are confined there.”
In order to fix a problem, you’ve got to understand it. And this is one place to start.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Anyone is welcome to use their voice here at FREEDOM OR ANARCHY,Campaign of Conscience.THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN AMERICA FOR THOSE WITH OUT MONEY if you seek real change and the truth the first best way is to use the power of the human voice and unite the world in a common cause our own survival I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for oneself, ones own family or ones nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace,“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.” Love and Peace to you all stand free and your ground feed another if you can let us the free call it LAWFUL REBELLION standing for what is right