-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 17:40:19 -0700 From: "Howard H. Bleicher, D.D.S." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: OT: 2 million Americans Behind Bars February 15th's criminal milestone: 2 million Americans are behind bars WASHINGTON, DC -- Tuesday, February 15 is a day that will live in incarceration infamy -- because it's the day America will lock its two-millionth citizen behind bars. And that's no cause for celebration, the Libertarian Party said today. "These 2 million prisoners do not mark a victory for law enforcement, but, all too often, mark a defeat for safety, justice, and liberty," said David Bergland, the party's national chairman. "Too many of these 2 million prisoners are behind bars for crimes that should not be crimes, and are serving sentences that no civilized nation should impose." According to an estimate by the Justice Policy Institute, the number of Americans serving time in federal and state prisons and local jails will surpass 2 million on February 15. To understand the unprecedented magnitude of that number, a few facts should be kept in mind, said Bergland: * In 1970, fewer than 200,000 Americans were behind bars. By contrast, in the 1990s alone, 840,000 Americans were sent to prison. * America has more prisoners in one state (California) than do the nations of France, Great Britain, Japan, Germany, Holland, and Singapore -- combined. * Over the past two decades, one new jail or prison has been built in America every week. * Violent crime has dropped by 21% since 1993 -- but the number of Americans being incarcerated has grown by 5%-6% each year since then. * Less than a third of the people sentenced to jail each year have been convicted of a violent crime, and at least 400,000 inmates are serving time for non-violent drug offenses alone. * By one estimate, as many as 750,000 people are in jail for victimless crimes -- like gambling, violating censorship laws, not wearing a seatbelt, or consensual sex. * The cost of keeping 2 million prisoners behind bars is $40 billion a year -- or about $20,000 for every man, woman, and teenager serving time. * 30% of all African-American males will be sent to prison at some point during their lives. A major reason for this: While only 15% of all drug users are black, 74% of the people in prison for drug crimes are black, according to government statistics. "When you add up all these numbers, you see a criminal justice system that is better at producing criminals than justice," said Bergland. "And you see a nation that has too many laws that are too selectively enforced; a criminal justice system that wastes too many resources on victimless crimes; and a prison-industrial complex that has become America's most tragic growth industry." What's to be done? "Americans can use February 15th's grim milestone to mourn a criminal justice system gone hopelessly haywire -- or use it to mark a turning point toward genuine justice," said Bergland. "As a first step toward a solution, we should immediately pardon anyone convicted of any victimless crime; begin to repeal laws that criminalize peaceful, consensual behavior; focus law enforcement resources on protecting decent people against violent, predatory criminals; and start examining alternatives to prison, like victim restitution. "Such a Libertarian policy would keep Americans more safe from violent criminals," he said. "It would help us change from a nation that forces 2 million people to serve time in prison -- and into a nation where 270 million people can live in liberty, justice, and safety." ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day. ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! 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