The U.S. federal prison population has increased almost 790 percent since 1980 from about 25,000 inmates to 219,000 in 2012, according to a new Congressional Research report. Federal prisons make up the largest component of a U.S. prison system that dwarfs all others in the world. The agency tasked with providing policy analysis to Congress attributes the spike to a host of tough-on-crime reforms that include draconian mandatory minimum sentences, the elimination of parole for any federal crime committed after 1987, and increasing enforcement by federal officials.
Source: thinkprogress.org
February 9, 2013 at 7:44 am
The prison sentences are out of control. This morning I read about an Amish community leader that was sentenced to 15 years for cutting off beards and hair. It is offensive to their community but do we really think 15 years is necessary??? This prison topic is dear to me. My fiance was sentenced to 19 years because he hit someone one time with his fist. The “victim” reported that he was hit with a semi-automatic weapon. I witnessed the “fight” and testified on the case. The doctor that attended to the “victim” also testified on my fiance’s behalf. They still sentenced him to 19 years not believing neither testimony. At the time that I testified, he and I had separated. The judge referenced our break up as a character profile for him. We were 18 at the time… too young for anyone to say we truly know what we were doing in a “real” relationship. Changes need to come soon before we lose all of our men to a judge having an emotional reaction.