- 26 Oct 2012 21:47
#14091281
Bursting at the seams: Uncompromising pictures from inside America's overcrowded prison system show the cramped and impersonal lives lived by more than two million inmates
Astonishing pictures show American prison system at breaking point with more than two million citizens behind bars
The most overcrowded state, California, has 140,000 inmates when its 33 prisons are only designed to hold 80,000
Overcapacity is expected to soar to 45 per cent above its maximum limit by 2018
These astonishing pictures show America's prison system at breaking point - with overcrowding in the nation's jails at its highest for eight years.
Correctional institutions across the U.S are bursting at the seams with more than two million Americans behind bars with the worst hit state, California, housing 140,000 inmates when its 33 adult prisons are only designed to hold a maximum of 80,000.
Overall, the Bureau of Prisons Network is around 39 per cent over 'rated capacity' - their highest level since 2004 - with that figure expected to soar to 45 per cent above its limit by 2018.
So bad is the situation in California that the Supreme Court has slapped an order on the state ruling that 30,000 prisoners must be released by the middle of next year, labelling overcrowded conditions in its jails as 'unconstitutional'.
The prison system has seen a stream of new offenders in the past five years and is still massively overstretched despite extra space being added.
Wardens and experts now fear that increased overcrowding and an increasing lack of privacy for inmates will see them more prone to lashing out and causing trouble.
Many prisons have had to create makeshift living quarters for detainees in public spaces such as gymnasiums, with some inmates having to sleep in bunks of three, while some cells which are only designed to house one person are home to up to three.
Inmates are being allowed less time in communal areas such as the cafeteria, TV rooms and recreation yards.
The country is streets ahead of the rest of the world in terms of the number of prisoners per 100,000 population, with Russia the second highest and South Africa in third. The European average took fourth place.
(Not going to post all the photos as there are too many, so please visit website below.)
For full story visit daily mail.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -citizens-
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The data is pretty shocking. What is going on in the US? What do you feel is the root cause of this problem? Clearly European countries are able to control their citizens and the US is made up largely of Europeans? Therefore "race" cannot be an issue.
Are people watching too many violent Hollywood movies?
Playing too many violent video games?
Relaxed gun laws?
Police not doing enough to fight drug dealers?
Education getting dumber?
Too many immigrants?
Huge divisions between rich and poor?
Economic inequality?
Bad Governance?
Bin-Ladens fault (joke)
Seriously, I would not like to live in the States. Americans please explain.
Astonishing pictures show American prison system at breaking point with more than two million citizens behind bars
The most overcrowded state, California, has 140,000 inmates when its 33 prisons are only designed to hold 80,000
Overcapacity is expected to soar to 45 per cent above its maximum limit by 2018
These astonishing pictures show America's prison system at breaking point - with overcrowding in the nation's jails at its highest for eight years.
Correctional institutions across the U.S are bursting at the seams with more than two million Americans behind bars with the worst hit state, California, housing 140,000 inmates when its 33 adult prisons are only designed to hold a maximum of 80,000.
Overall, the Bureau of Prisons Network is around 39 per cent over 'rated capacity' - their highest level since 2004 - with that figure expected to soar to 45 per cent above its limit by 2018.
So bad is the situation in California that the Supreme Court has slapped an order on the state ruling that 30,000 prisoners must be released by the middle of next year, labelling overcrowded conditions in its jails as 'unconstitutional'.
The prison system has seen a stream of new offenders in the past five years and is still massively overstretched despite extra space being added.
Wardens and experts now fear that increased overcrowding and an increasing lack of privacy for inmates will see them more prone to lashing out and causing trouble.
Many prisons have had to create makeshift living quarters for detainees in public spaces such as gymnasiums, with some inmates having to sleep in bunks of three, while some cells which are only designed to house one person are home to up to three.
Inmates are being allowed less time in communal areas such as the cafeteria, TV rooms and recreation yards.
The country is streets ahead of the rest of the world in terms of the number of prisoners per 100,000 population, with Russia the second highest and South Africa in third. The European average took fourth place.
(Not going to post all the photos as there are too many, so please visit website below.)
For full story visit daily mail.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -citizens-
------------
The data is pretty shocking. What is going on in the US? What do you feel is the root cause of this problem? Clearly European countries are able to control their citizens and the US is made up largely of Europeans? Therefore "race" cannot be an issue.
Are people watching too many violent Hollywood movies?
Playing too many violent video games?
Relaxed gun laws?
Police not doing enough to fight drug dealers?
Education getting dumber?
Too many immigrants?
Huge divisions between rich and poor?
Economic inequality?
Bad Governance?
Bin-Ladens fault (joke)
Seriously, I would not like to live in the States. Americans please explain.