Steven Raphael and Michael Stoll co-authored a recent study titled “Why are so many Americans in prison?” The report opens –

“The United States currently incarcerates its residents at a rate that is greater than every other country in the world. Aggregating the state and federal prison populations as well as inmates in local jails, there were 737 inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents in 2005 (International Centre for Prison Studies 2007). This compares with a world average of 166 per 100,000 and an average among European Community member stat es of 135. Of the approximately 2.1 million U.S. residents incarcerated in 2005, roughly 65 percent were inmates in state and federal prisons while the remaining 35 percent resided in local jails.”

REPORT: Why Are So Many Americans in Prison by Stephen Raphael and Michael Stoll