America's Prison Population

Check out this eye-opening article about America's prison population. More that 1% of all adults in the US are in prison. America is the world's incarceration champ - both in sheer numbers of prisoners and percent of population behind bars. Spending on corrections has quadrupled to $49 billion over the last 20 years even though crime and recidivism rates are basically unchanged in that time period. Most dramatically, four states (Vermont, Michigan, Oregon and Connecticut) spend more on corrections than on education. What twisted priorities!  I believe we need to repeal mandatory sentencing laws like “Three Strikes”, invest in education and community programs, and support organizations like Fresh Lifelines for Youth that help at risk youth make better decisions and become upstanding members of the community.