It Takes A Nation Of Prisoners

NEWSONE PRISON FACTS The figures here highlight America's unique approach to crime and punishment, where race, class, and corporate interests collide to make the largest and most expensive prison system in the world. 5 PERCENT 25 PERCENT World Population The U.S. makes uponly 5 percent of the world's population, but houses a quarter of the world's prisoners with more than 2 million criminals behind bars. World Prison Population About one of 18 men in the U.S is in jail or on probation. One in 15 Black adults in the U.S. is behind bars. 500% 200 The U.S. has experienced a 500% increase in incarcerations over the past thirty years. Every day in the United States 200 new jail cells are built. California has the most populous prison system in the nation, with about 170,000 inmates. Texas, folowed by Florida, have the next biggest prison populations in the nation with about 160,000 and 100,000 respectively. The money spent on elementary and secondary education was increased by only 33% 33% 570% Over the course of the last 20 years, the amount of money spent on prisons was increased by 570%. An individual sentenced to five years for a $300 theft costs the public more than $100,000. The cost of a life term 22K S10OK It costs $22,000 every year an inmate spends in prison. averages $15 million. Sources http://heartsandminds.org/prisons/facts.htm http://www.sentencingproject.org/map/map.cfm http://www.icanhasinternets.com/2010/1/dont-drop-the soap-coldhard-prisonfacts/ http://www.prisontak.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-169661.html http://www.strangefacts.irfo/nteresting-prisonfacts http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/us/28cndprison.html http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/censusstatistic/a/aaprisonpop.htm http://www.trutv.com/shows/inside_american_jail/facts.html O0,008 160,000 170,600