Introduction
The number of inmates in the United States is high. In recent years, it has exceeded two million, giving the American justice system the second-largest number of prisoners in the world. This raises many questions and generates discussions about the causes of such a high number of inmates. This article examines the factors that could be linked to shifts in the inmate population in the United States.
Sociopolitical Drivers
First, discussing the social and political factors associated with the number of inmates in the US is necessary. Firstly, many people put a lot of effort into increasing the budget for law enforcement and legislation that provides the harshest punishments for criminals. Secondly, during political campaigns, many leaders seek to attract more votes by introducing rules that provide the harshest punishments for criminals.
Another important factor related to the number of inmates in the US is that many states offer investments in inmates that generate large profits. Many states offer investments to impose high fines and penalties, increasing inmate populations (Minton et al., 2021). As a result, these investments generate profits and enable states to create more jobs for their citizens.
Economic Reasons
It is also necessary to consider economic factors associated with the number of inmates in the US. For example, some studies show that an increase in poverty in the US leads to an increase in crime, which in turn leads to a larger number of inmates (Nosrati et al., 2019). Additionally, some studies indicate that higher spending on inmates in the US results in an increase in the inmate population.
Conclusion
From all of the above, it can be concluded that numerous factors are associated with the changing inmate population in the US. Social and political factors, such as rules and laws, investments in inmates, and the level of poverty, hinder the decrease in the US inmate population. Measures must be taken to reduce the number of inmates in the US, improve public safety, and fight crime.
References
Minton, T. D., Beatty, L. G., & Zeng, Z. (2021). Correctional populations in the United States, 2019—Statistical tables. BJS Statistician. NCJ, 300655.
Nosrati, E., Kang-Brown, J., Ash, M., McKee, M., Marmot, M., & King, L. P. (2019). Economic decline, incarceration, and mortality from drug use disorders in the USA between 1983 and 2014: an observational analysis. The Lancet Public Health, 4(7), e326-e333.