LOS ANGELES -- The enormous financial and moral costs of the U.S. "war on drugs" have been well-documented over the past few years. Less known is the devastating link between that crusade and the epidemic of rape behind bars.

With laws requiring longer sentences for drug offenses and less judicial discretion for leniency, the war on drugs has had a profound impact - just not the impact that was intended.

Instead of resolving the problems of drug use and drug addiction, these policies have resulted in a mushrooming of the inmate population, which in turn has contributed to the problem of rampant sexual abuse in prisons and jails.

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