America's Incarcerated Population, Largest in World, Grew Even More Last Year

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/34351-americas-incarcerated-population-largest-in-world-grew-even-more-last-year

The bureau’s researchers report that the number of individuals incarcerated grew by 1,900 people over the course of last year — “reversing a five-year decline since 2008.”

It’s not all bad news, though. The researchers also report that there was a decrease in overall adults supervised by correctional systems — meaning included in community supervision or parole. In 2014, there were “about 52,200 fewer offenders than at year-end 2013.”

Their report found that just seven jurisdictions “accounted for almost half of the U.S. correctional population at year-end 2014,” with Texas topping the list with 699,300 offenders. Overall, “about one in 36 adults in the United States was under some form of correctional supervision at year-end 2014.”

Numerous explanations have been offered for this high rate of incarceration. As The Intercept reported earlier this month, one private prison executive offered his own theory at a recent investment bankers conference.

“The reality is, we are a very affluent country, we have loose borders, and we have a bad education system,” said Shayn March, a vice president at private prison firm Geo Group. “And all that adds up to a significant amount of correctional needs, which, thankfully, we’ve been able to help the country out with and states with by providing a lower cost solution.”

[Babel_17]

1. Can't hide from this, must deal with it

It's all connected.

[Igel]

2. It'll take a while to change.

Laws and practices.

The mass of incarcerated people will serve their time and gradually be removed from the system.

But having that number hold steady (or with a trivial increase) is actually a decrease. As the population grows, all things being equal you'd expect the prison population to increase in tandem.

(I also have to wonder about who's being counted, but don't have time to bother with it just now. If those awaiting deportation are included then the number's skewed.)

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. What a nasty piece of work Shayn March is. $$$$$$$$$

[countryjake]

4. kickety

[JEB]

5. K&R