The prison population in the US has quintupled since 1980
The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world. 2,304,115 were incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails in 2008. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS): In 2008, over 7.3 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole at year-end — 3.2% of all U.S. adult residents or 1 in every 31 adults.
Rehabilitation was once the stated goal of the U.S. prison system. However, funds for prison educational programs and prison libraries are being cut all over the country, whether they are federal or state. As a result, most prisoners actually leave prison without having acquired any additional skills, or knowing any job that might help them reintegrate into the society. In addition, many may have suffered psychological damage from their experiences of isolation, violence, and deprivation while in prison. In short, rather than being "corrective" or rehabilitative, prisons often turn out people who are in worse shape than when they entered. This does not help the individual, nor does it help society.
Why?
The unprecedented growth of the state and federal prison system is largely due to mandatory minimum drug sentences (the "War on Drugs"), lengthened sentences for most crimes, the endless creation of new crimes (especially federal), and the growth of parole and probation conditions (so that someone on probation or parole can be sent to prison for missing an appointment or testing positive for drugs or alcohol, even if drugs or alcohol had zero to do with their crime).
Where can I read more about prisons and criminal justice reform?
Some good places to start are Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Prison Law Blog, and Professor Douglas Berman's Sentencing Law and Policy Blog (the first blog cited by the Supreme Court).
Some good books are:
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How can I help to change this?
Educate yourself and get connected with local organizations that are working to change the prison system. Check out our links page!