-From: Jonathan Julius Dobkin <[log in to unmask]>
>Do you have a source for your figure of over 2,000,000 imprisoned in this
country?

From the current issue of Alternative Press Review:

The United States of America, so-called “land of the free,” is now home to
25% of the world’s prison population despite having only 5% of the world’s
population.  As of February 2000, the  prison population reached two
million, giving the U.S. a higher proportion of citizens in jail than any
other country in history.

Source: Justice Policy Institute from their Dec 1999 report "The Punishing
Decade" at: http://www.cjcj.org/punishingdecade/punishing.html

Other interesting facts listed in the sidebar:

“Eighty-four percent of the increase in admission to prison since 1980 were
non-violent offenders. Eight-seven percent of offenses nationwide are
non-violent. Only 3% of all crimes result in an injury.  Homicide arrests
constitute just 0.2% of all arrests in America.” –  National Criminal
Justice Commission, Feb 96

“The U.S. has the highest known death row population on earth: over 3,300
people await their deaths at the hands of U.S. authorities.” –  Amnesty
International “United States of America–Rights for All,” Oct 98

“The number of people on death row again moved to a record high and now
stands at 3,517.” – Death Penalty Information Center “The Death Penalty in
1998: Year End Report,” Dec 98

“In 1997 the U.S. carried out 74 executions–the highest number for four
decades. Only China, Saudi Arabia and Iran were known to have executed more
prisoners.” – Amnesty International “United States of America–Rights for
All,” Oct 98

“Only five other countries are known to have executed juvenile offenders in
the 1990s: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nigeria, and Yemen.  The U.S. has
executed more juvenile criminals than all of them combined–and is the only
one known to have put any to death since 1997.” – “Wasted Youth,” The Mojo
Wire, Dec 99

“At least 75 wrongly convicted people have been released from death row
since 1973.” – United States of America–Rights for All,” Oct 98

Hope this info helps. - Tom

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