America’s incarceration rate and reasons for mass incarceration are higher as compared to other countries. According to a 2018 report from the BJS, nearly 2.2 million adults were in America’s prisons in 2016. The U.S. beats out much larger countries like India, China, Russia, by having the highest incarceration rate in the world. The rates signify that for every 100,000 people residing in America, approximately 655 of them were behind bars. If the U.S. prison population were a city, it would be among the country’s ten largest. More people are behind bars in America than there are living in major cities such as Philadelphia or Dallas. After decades of explosive growth, however, there is a reduction in America’s incarceration rate and reasons for mass incarceration.
America’s incarceration rate and reasons for mass incarceration
WHY AMERICA’S INCARCERATION RATE IS SO HIGH
America’s incarceration rate and reasons for mass incarceration have the United States ranking with the highest imprisoned people globally. The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. With 2.2 million people behind bars, 1 in 35 American adults get caught up in the prison system. The reasons for mass incarceration for people of color are even worse. Approximately 1 in 3 African-American males go to jail or prison at some point in their lives. The high incarceration rates include the tough crime policies enacted in the U.S. Also, America’s average jail sentence is three years. Additionally, if one gets into trouble three times, one gets imprisoned regardless of how much the crime is petty. Harsh drug laws are also reasons for the U.S. having the highest incarceration rate in the world.
why America’s incarceration rate is so high
REASONS FOR MASS INCARCERATION IN THE UNITED STATES
America’s incarceration rate and reasons for mass incarceration often include those dealing with poverty, mental illness, and substance use. America’s criminal justice system holds almost 2.3 million people in prisons in 1,833 prisons and 110 in federal prisons. America’s incarceration rate includes those held in 1,772 juvenile facilities, 3,134 local jails, and 218 immigration detention facilities. Every year, over 600,000 enter prison gates, but people go to jail 10.6 times each year. Jail churn is particularly high because most people in jails have not yet received a conviction. Some have just gotten arrested and will make bail within hours or days. America has the highest incarceration rate in the world since many are poor and remain behind bars until trial.
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