The US is the global leader in the number of persons that it imprisons by a wide margin. It does so at huge cost. We spend around $50,000 per person to keep someone in prison for one year. There is also a huge social cost. Prisoners are unable to contribute to the support of their families and they have great difficulty finding jobs when they are released.
The article makes an attempt to deal with the causes of imprisonment, and it discusses alternative forms of punishment. The biggest factor in the growth rate, however, is not discussed. It is mandatory sentencing for drug offenders. It also fails to mention that the privatization of US prison systems is a rapidly growing industry. Many states are outsourcing the management of prisons to private firms. I'm sure that they will actively lobby for measures that increase the imprisonment rate.
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