Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jun 2003
Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Fayetteville Observer
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Kirk Muse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

INCARCERATION RATES IN THE UNITED STATES

Schools and prisons compete for the same limited tax dollars. Almost always 
when a state ranks high in prison spending, that state will rank low in 
school spending ("State prison proposal draws some opposition," May 30).

Louisiana spends more per capita on prisons than any other state and less 
than any other state on education.

On the other hand, Minnesota spends the least per capita on prisons and the 
most per capita on education.

Investment in education is an investment in the future. Money spent on 
prisons is gone forever - a complete waste.

The United States is the most incarcerated nation on the planet and in 
history. With less than 5 percent of the world's population, the United 
States has greater than 25 percent of the world's prisoners. In other 
words, one out of every four prisoners in the world sits in a U.S. jail or 
prison.

This fact should create our outrage - certainly not our pride.

Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom