756 of every 100,000 U.S. residents are behind bars, the highest rate of incarceration in the world, according to the latest report by Human Rights Watch, leading to a whole host of questions we need to be asking ourselves:
- Are more people "bad" in this, the "greatest country in the world?" Why?
- Are we criminalizing too much of our behavior?
- Why haven't we developed alternatives to incarceration?
President-elect Obama should lead a national conversation on crime-control policy. It’s time to turn away from the failed policies that have made the United States the world’s leading jailer. David Fathi, US Program director, Human Rights Watch
Read the rest of the report at
Human Rights Watch.
756 of every 100,000 U.S. residents are behind bars, the highest rate of incarceration in the world, according to the latest report by Human Rights Watch, leading to a whole host of questions we need to be asking ourselves:
1 comment:
We were talking about this the other day. What are the reasons to put someone in jail? Punishment? Well, ok, if that's what you want, but it doesn't really accomplish anything. Rehabilitation? There are better forums for accomplishing that. Safety? For me, that is the most valid reason for putting someone away. Violent offenders should be off the street to protect the public (personally, I don't care if they claim they want to be rehabilitated, serial rapists and the like should stay behind bars).
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