February 5, 2001

8:22 AM

According to the exponential math of a Brown University study, if the prison population were to continue growing at the current rate, by 2053 the United States would actually have more people in prison than out. Newsweek tackles "Abuse In America: The War on Addiction." Are drug courts a sensible solution, or just another bandaid?
posted by netbros (8 comments total)

Clearly nonviolent criminals have no business in prison. And Brown has no business issuing studies if these are the usual sort of conclusions they're making.
posted by ljromanoff at 10:58 AM on February 5, 2001

A catchy quote, but something else taught in college statistics classes is that population growth curves aren't exponential (though they may appear that way at first). Eventually, limits to growth kick in and the curve flattens.

posted by dws at 12:25 PM on February 5, 2001

And 53 years is a long time away. I'm not impressed.
posted by sonofsamiam at 1:17 PM on February 5, 2001

The statistic, while not predictive, illustrates the insanity of our current laws and practices. The rate of incarceration (by any measure) is out of all proportion to the rate of crime (by any measure). As I pointed out in another thread, we as a society live with an inculcated sense of fear -- similarly out of proportion to the crime rate -- that leads us to support draconian consequences (three strikes, mandatory minimum) for minor offenses.
posted by sudama at 4:11 PM on February 5, 2001

Thank God that in the US of A
nothing is ever carried to its logical conclusion.
posted by citizensoldier at 6:02 PM on February 5, 2001

After reading a magazine article this weekend, about how 20% of drug users make up 70% of the prison population (blacks and hispanics, poor). But 80% of drug users make up 80% of rehab facilities (white and wealthy).

I'm beginning to rethink this prison situation.
posted by passionblack at 6:06 PM on February 5, 2001

California currently spends more money on prisons than on higher education. What does that say about our priorities?
posted by xammerboy at 7:32 PM on February 5, 2001

California currently spends more money on prisons than on higher education. What does that say about our priorities?

It says to me that the government should get out of the business of education as soon as possible.
posted by ljromanoff at 9:49 AM on February 6, 2001