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From a recent msnbc report: "One out 100 adults are either in jail or prison in the United States".

Apparently the birth place of freedom has the highest ratio of it's population incarcerated than any other nation on the planet according to a recent study done by the acclaimed Pew Research Center. And some of our states are more prone to lock you up than others. In fact, four of our 50 states spend six times more money incarcerating our fellow Americans than they spend on higher education. Amazingly, the total nation wide money spent last year on corrections alone was a record 49 billion dollars.

To make matters worse... even with such a large sum of money being spent on corrections, the national crime rate doesn't seem to be decreasing, it's actually increasing ( even in the higher "lock-up" states ). Thus, the cost to many states continues to increase as well as their inmate population. Some states that are short on funds have been forced to take alternative measures to save their budget,  yet still try to appear as not being "soft on crime".

To date; Texas and Kansas have been the leaders in showing leniency towards non-violent criminals such as  "technical" parole and probation violations, thus allowing violators to become "viable tax paying citizens" (under supervision).

In contrast; Kentucky's crime rate has only grown 3 percent in 30 years, yet their inmate population has grown over 600 percent. This type of situation is also common in other states, and is believed by some to be caused by the push to be "tough on crime" along with the Bush administrations "3 strikes" law.

So what is the answer if locking up everyone with one too many traffic violations isn't working? Or letting the Meth dealer off on probation isn't working? Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont states: “Perhaps, if we adequately invested in our children and in education, kids who now grow up to be criminals could become productive workers and taxpayers.”

The Senator may have a point. Yet it will take time to achieve what he proposes. But what are individual states to do now? Perhaps the way Texas and Kansas are going could be the best answer in the meantime.

Or... we could go full tilt like other countries with more population and less crime by making our punishment more severe that just a stay in the local jail. For instance; Getting caught stealing in some countries means loosing a finger or two. Now that would surely cut down on the Britney wannabe's from lifting lighters and lipstick. In the end, there most likely would be fewer crimes committed and fewer people in prison. That might even mean more money to go around and fewer taxes.

Naaw... that won't happen (fewer taxes that is).

*From our parent site: The Cutting Point.net

4 comments on this topic:

Borajone says:

March 1st, 2008 at 2:40 am

Just look into our own backyard and you will see what is happening all over. Chenango county cannot attract any good companies to come in and create decent jobs. It can, however, spend alot of tax dollars to build a new jail and create more (taxpayer supported)jobs. Now you have to fill those cells to justify paying for all those "new jobs" you created. What a country!

DiamondDave says:

March 1st, 2008 at 11:29 am

Good point Borajone. Do you think that the type of thing you mention is common in other places? It would be interesting to have a study done to see if there is any correlation between communities with new correctional facilities and those that are lacking in industry or just economic growth in general.

TRifanburg says:

March 23rd, 2008 at 5:58 am

TRifanburg says:

March 23rd, 2008 at 6:10 am

Had to think awhile about this, good thought provoking topic. Punishment? I wonder how many repeat offenders there are in singapore? The singapore cain? It's a war out there, crime vs justice system! Seems like for every one cop there is 100 criminals on the street. Can a war with those odds ever be be won. It's sad to say but I think no.