After decades of stability from the 1920s to the early 1970s, the rate of imprisonment in the United States has increased fivefold during the last four decades. The U.S. penal population of 2.2 million adults is by far the largest in the world. Just under one-quarter of the world's prisoners are held in American prisons. The U.S. rate of incarceration, with nearly 1 out of every 100 adults in prison or jail, is 5 to 10 times higher than the rates in Western Europe and other democracies. The U.S. prison population is largely drawn from the most disadvantaged part of the nation's population: mostly men under age 40, disproportionately minority, and poorly educated. Prisoners often carry additional deficits of drug and alcohol addictions, mental and physical illnesses, and lack of work preparation or experience. The growth of incarceration in the United States during four decades has prompted numerous critiques and a growing body of scientific knowledge about what prompted the rise and what its consequences have been for the people imprisoned, their families and communities, and for U.S. society. The Growth of Incarceration in the United States examines research and analysis of the dramatic rise of incarceration rates and its affects. This study makes the case that the United States has gone far past the point where the numbers of people in prison can be justified by social benefits and has reached a level where these high rates of incarceration themselves constitute a source of injustice and social harm. The Growth of Incarceration in the United States examines policy changes that created an increasingly punitive political climate and offers specific policy advice in sentencing policy, prison policy, and social policy. The report also identifies important research questions that must be answered to provide a firmer basis for policy. This report is a call for change in the way society views criminals, punishment, and prison. This landmark study assesses the evidence and its implications for public policy to inform an extensive and thoughtful public debate about and reconsideration of policies.

Presents the findings of the first national assessment of sentencing reforms. This report offers lessons learned in the diverse efforts to structure sentencing over the past two decades. These lessons are offered in the context of a historical perspective of sentencing practices used in the U. S., with a discussions of the issues that led to the structured sentencing movement. They are based on a national survey of existing sentencing practices in the 50 States & the District of Columbia. Sources for further information. Bibliography. Charts & tables.

National Criminal Jusitce 208756. Bureau of Justice Statistics Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2003. 31th annual edition. Edited by Kathleen Maguire and Ann L. Pastore, et al. Brings together in a single volume nationwide data of interest to the criminal justice community. Compiles information from a variety of sources and makes it accessible to a wide audience.