This is not JUSTICE. This is called moderner day enslavement and America is absolutely quite about it. Read and weep because the statistics about the cold hard facts about incarceration in the United States can’t be more inhumane, racist and appalling. Here are a high-level summation of some facts and see much more details below the fold courtesy of www.criminology.net:

1. The US has the largest inmate population in world
   1. 1 in 100 is in prison or jail.
   2. US is less than 5% of the world population but represent 25% of the world’s incarcerated population.
   3. 739 out of 100,000 people serving time, awaiting trial or otherwise detained.
2. In 2008, 7.3 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole.
3. Because of 3 strike law, between 1992 and 2003, life prison sentence has increased by 83%.
4. African Americans are just 12% of the population but make up 44% of the US Prison population.
5.  One in every 18 men are either behind bars or being monitored.
6. Over 90% of prisoners are male.
7. Percentage of prisoners aged 55 and older increased by 33% while prison population grew only 8%.
8. Housing one inmate costs a State between $18,000 to $31,000 a year.
9. In 2006, $68,747,203,000 was spent on correction.
10. Housing 500,000 people awaiting trial who can not afford bail costs $9 billion.

To get an up to date and current reporting about our injustice system, follow Criminal InJustice, a weekly series devoted to exploring the myths of “crime”, “criminals” and criminal justice and the intersection of race/ethnicity/class/gender/ sexuality/age/ disability in policing and punishment at Critical Mass Progress.

Via: Criminology