1 in 32 American Adults in U.S. jails, on probation or parole

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By KASIE HUNT, Associated Press Writer

A record 7 million people — or one in every 32 American adults — were behind bars, on probation or on parole by the end of last year, according to the Justice Department. Of those, 2.2 million were in prison or jail, an increase of 2.7 percent over the previous year, according to a report released Wednesday.

More than 4.1 million people were on probation and 784,208 were on parole at the end of 2005. Prison releases are increasing, but admissions are increasing more.

Men still far outnumber women in prisons and jails, but the female population is growing faster. Over the past year, the female population in state or federal prison increased 2.6 percent while the number of male inmates rose 1.9 percent. By year's end, 7 percent of all inmates were women. The gender figures do not include inmates in local jails.

"Today's figures fail to capture incarceration's impact on the thousands of children left behind by mothers in prison," Marc Mauer, the executive director of the Sentencing Project, a Washington-based group supporting criminal justice reform, said in a statement. "Misguided policies that create harsher sentences for nonviolent drug offenses are disproportionately responsible for the increasing rates of women in prisons and jails."

From 1995 to 2003, inmates in federal prison for drug offenses have accounted for 49 percent of total prison population growth.

The numbers are from the annual report from the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics. The report breaks down inmate populations for state and federal prisons and local jails.

Racial disparities among prisoners persist. In the 25-29 age group, 8.1 percent of black men — about one in 13 — are incarcerated, compared with 2.6 percent of Hispanic men and 1.1 percent of white men. And it's not much different among women. By the end of 2005, black women were more than twice as likely as Hispanics and over three times as likely as white women to be in prison.

Certain states saw more significant changes in prison population. In South Dakota, the number of inmates increased 11 percent over the past year, more than any other state. Montana and Kentucky were next in line with increases of 10.4 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively. Georgia had the biggest decrease, losing 4.6 percent, followed by Maryland with a 2.4 percent decrease and Louisiana with a 2.3 percent drop.

[Alex+R 0]

Jeez Stephen. I'll bet next you're going to tell me we should put more money back into early childhood programs and other programs to help kids stay in school and have supportive adults in their lives.

That costs money! Not like supporting 7 million people in jail, but you know, money...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Jeez Stephen. I'll bet next you're going to tell me we should put more money back into early childhood programs and other programs to help kids stay in school and have supportive adults in their lives.

That costs money! Not like supporting 7 million people in jail, but you know, money...

That would be one thing. But my biggest issue is the war on drugs and it's consequences on this country, socially and financially. If alcohol is considered a disease, shouldn't drug abuse also be a disease? And if it's a disease, why are we responding to it as a criminal act? We need to de-criminalize drug use, which would reduce our prison population by nearly one half.

[mawilson 2,133]

That would be one thing. But my biggest issue is the war on drugs and it's consequences on this country, socially and financially. If alcohol is considered a disease, shouldn't drug abuse also be a disease? And if it's a disease, why are we responding to it as a criminal act? We need to de-criminalize drug use, which would reduce our prison population by nearly one half.

Drugs are goodbad, mm-kay?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

That would be one thing. But my biggest issue is the war on drugs and it's consequences on this country, socially and financially. If alcohol is considered a disease, shouldn't drug abuse also be a disease? And if it's a disease, why are we responding to it as a criminal act? We need to de-criminalize drug use, which would reduce our prison population by nearly one half.

I agree but it will never happen in this country, which is driven far more by emotion and rhetoric than common sense. The war on drugs has had some pretty ridiculous consquences -- 2 people I grew up with have done hard time for petty offenses, one was a small-time pot dealer and one was merely caught with cocaine (when MI had this insane once strike and you get life policy for hard drugs). Both were harmless except to themselves, yet convicted sex offenders did less time than they did.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If alcohol is considered a disease, shouldn't drug abuse also be a disease?

It is. In some cases. If it involves the child of a Bush or if it involves one Rush Limbaugh. Otherwise, it's a crime. Rush said it is until it was him that would need to be "sent up the river". And Jeb Bush, I believe, found some excuse as to why his child (a daughter I seem to recall) needed help with her drug problem rather than jail. Not sure how many drug addicts are imprisoned here in sunny Florida. But it seems that it should be a lot less or one more.

(AP) Gov. Jeb Bush's daughter completed a drug rehabilitation program Friday and a judge allowed her to go home with her parents.

Noelle Bush hugged Circuit Judge Reginald Whitehead during a drug court hearing as the governor and his wife Columba smiled. The president's niece had been ordered into treatment after she was arrested in January 2002 for allegedly trying to use a fraudulent prescription to buy the anti-anxiety drug Xanax.

“It's been quite a challenge, and I'm grateful,” Noelle Bush said during the hearing at the Orange County Courthouse.

The governor refused comment, but his press office released a statement on his behalf.

“Columba and I are pleased that our daughter Noelle has completed this step, and grateful for the treatment she's received,” the statement read. “She has worked hard to get here. We are proud of her efforts and love her very much.”

Whitehead twice sent Noelle Bush to jail for breaking the rules in rehab. She was jailed for three days in July 2002 after being caught with prescription pills and served 10 days in October after being accused of having a small rock of crack cocaine in her shoe.

Source

10 days for having crack cocaine while in the very rehab program that kept her out of jail. We're all equal before the law. The Constitution says so. It just seems to me that some are more equal than others.

Edited November 30, 2006 by ET-US2004

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Jeez Stephen. I'll bet next you're going to tell me we should put more money back into early childhood programs and other programs to help kids stay in school and have supportive adults in their lives.

That costs money! Not like supporting 7 million people in jail, but you know, money...

That would be one thing. But my biggest issue is the war on drugs and it's consequences on this country, socially and financially. If alcohol is considered a disease, shouldn't drug abuse also be a disease? And if it's a disease, why are we responding to it as a criminal act? We need to de-criminalize drug use, which would reduce our prison population by nearly one half.

Right on!! At least we have one subject we can totally agree on.

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

Jeez Stephen. I'll bet next you're going to tell me we should put more money back into early childhood programs and other programs to help kids stay in school and have supportive adults in their lives.

That costs money! Not like supporting 7 million people in jail, but you know, money...

sounds like a reason to raise more taxes.......

Jeez Stephen. I'll bet next you're going to tell me we should put more money back into early childhood programs and other programs to help kids stay in school and have supportive adults in their lives.

That costs money! Not like supporting 7 million people in jail, but you know, money...

That would be one thing. But my biggest issue is the war on drugs and it's consequences on this country, socially and financially. If alcohol is considered a disease, shouldn't drug abuse also be a disease? And if it's a disease, why are we responding to it as a criminal act? We need to de-criminalize drug use, which would reduce our prison population by nearly one half.

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

It just seems to me that some are more equal than others.

welcome to life

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

Employers could still have drug testing if they wanted. That wouldn't change. The Netherlands has a lower per capita use of cannabis than the USA. How can that be when it's illegal in the US and decriminalized in the Netherlands?

I saw a help wanted sign at a convenience store that said they were a drug-free workplace and there would be testing? #######? Stoned would be the only way I could work at one of those places.

P.S. I'm in the nuclear industry and subject to drug testing and I play by the rules

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

Employers could still have drug testing if they wanted. That wouldn't change. The Netherlands has a lower per capita use of cannabis than the USA. How can that be when it's illegal in the US and decriminalized in the Netherlands?

I saw a help wanted sign at a convenience store that said they were a drug-free workplace and there would be testing? #######? Stoned would be the only way I could work at one of those places.

P.S. I'm in the nuclear industry and subject to drug testing and I play by the rules

yet if it is decriminalized, i'm sure the aclu and hordes of other lawyers would be up in arms about drug testing then......as such is legal! "you have the right to be stoned at the cash register at wal-mart" or something to that effect will be their mantra.

and i'm subject to drug testing too - have been for about 25 years.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

What? That's the most ridiculous argument I've seen in a long time. Alcohol is perfectly legal, no? Provided you're of legal age, you can buy it in many stores and have it at your house and use it at your convenience without fear of getting busted for buying, selling or consuming it. That doesn't mean that your pilot, dentist or paramedics are all drunk on the job, does it?

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

What? That's the most ridiculous argument I've seen in a long time. Alcohol is perfectly legal, no? Provided you're of legal age, you can buy it in many stores and have it at your house and use it at your convenience without fear of getting busted for buying, selling or consuming it. That doesn't mean that your pilot, dentist or paramedics are all drunk on the job, does it?

just wait and see what happens if it does become legal.

[GaryC 7]

It is. In some cases. If it involves the child of a Bush or if it involves one Rush Limbaugh. Otherwise, it's a crime. Rush said it is until it was him that would need to be "sent up the river". And Jeb Bush, I believe, found some excuse as to why his child (a daughter I seem to recall) needed help with her drug problem rather than jail. Not sure how many drug addicts are imprisoned here in sunny Florida. But it seems that it should be a lot less or one more.

10 days for having crack cocaine while in the very rehab program that kept her out of jail. We're all equal before the law. The Constitution says so. It just seems to me that some are more equal than others.

Unless of course you don't inhale, then you can be president!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

What? That's the most ridiculous argument I've seen in a long time. Alcohol is perfectly legal, no? Provided you're of legal age, you can buy it in many stores and have it at your house and use it at your convenience without fear of getting busted for buying, selling or consuming it. That doesn't mean that your pilot, dentist or paramedics are all drunk on the job, does it?

just wait and see what happens if it does become legal.

Take a trip to Holland and see for yourself.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Jeez Stephen. I'll bet next you're going to tell me we should put more money back into early childhood programs and other programs to help kids stay in school and have supportive adults in their lives.

That costs money! Not like supporting 7 million people in jail, but you know, money...

That would be one thing. But my biggest issue is the war on drugs and it's consequences on this country, socially and financially. If alcohol is considered a disease, shouldn't drug abuse also be a disease? And if it's a disease, why are we responding to it as a criminal act? We need to de-criminalize drug use, which would reduce our prison population by nearly one half.

Right on!! At least we have one subject we can totally agree on.