Is the USA the Land of the Free?
@Auntylou (4264)
Oxford, England
March 9, 2016 11:46am CST
I have just read an article about the US justice system which holds nearly 25% of all the prisoners in the world, despite the country having only 5% of the world's population.
One in three prisoners are in jail for drug offences while only one in four are there for committing violent crime.
It is also true that minority offenders are treated less favourably, from arrest through to sentencing.
Some legal experts have said that most Americans have done things that , even though they are not aware of the fact, are illegal, as there are thousands of federal laws and agency rules the violation of which is a criminal offence. State laws increase the complexity.
Harsh sentencing also keeps people in jail for extremely long sentences, even for relatively minor offences.
Putting so many in prison also means massive social problems for families and for the work prospects of ex inmates, afterwards.
So does the USA deserve its reputation for being the land of opportunity and freedom?
The craziness of our justice system isn’t a myth. Here’s why.
16 people like this
15 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (50179)
• United States
9 Mar 16
I have lived outside of the United Sates and even though there may be room for improvement in certain areas, we have Opportunities and Freedoms that are not offered everywhere.
4 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
10 Mar 16
There is no simple answer to this question. But there are great opportunities here for those who work hard and yes maybe some harsh punishment for those who break the law. We are not a perfect country but then I can't think of one right off that is perfect.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
11 Mar 16
@Auntylou And I suspect with all the migrants who are flooding in they will soon have many more, problems that is.
2 people like this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
12 Mar 16
@BelleStarr Yes indeed. change is often difficult, but problems can be overcome
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
9 Mar 16
While it is not perfect, it is one of the most coveted citizenship. Am I right? Like in Jesus' day, the Roman citizenship had many advantages.
3 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
16 Mar 16
@Auntylou It is no paradise, at least not for all. 
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
20 Mar 16
@1hopefulman I have heard that there are many for whom public housing and poor schools mean that the odds against a successful life are very high
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
9 Mar 16
No it does not to answer your question.
It is brutal the system here my friend.
Living here is great for opportunities, but if you get in trouble here, well you may have to write any freedoms off.
People are languishing in prisons here.(Brutality)
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Mar 16
Our prisons are vacation camps compared to Mexico, South America, Turkey or Russia.
4 people like this
@slund2041 (3314)
• United States
10 Mar 16
I think they should have some way for the people to work and help pay their way in life, so not to cost taxpayers so much money.
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10145)
• United States
9 Mar 16
The problem is compounded further by the fact that many of the prisons in this country are for-profit (private) prisons operated by a third party, not the government.
It's really the land of the free only if you're wealthy enough to buy your way out of jail. Just look at the affluenza kid... 
1 person likes this
@AIRSD88 (3)
• Canada
11 Mar 16
Privatization of the prison system and prison labor should be included in the research. Also, here in Canada the previous government proposed tough on crime policies. According to research in the Canadian Psychology Journal in July 2012 conducting at the University of Simon Fraser Valley, they concluded that."(1) crime is not on the increase in Canada, (2) it is unlikely that the reforms will lower crime rates, and (3) there is a large financial and human cost of the recent and proposed criminal justice policies. We conclude that “tough on crime” policies are not supported by the scientific literature." The importance of number one is important because the previous parties tough on crime policies relied heavily on the premise that crime was on the increase.
Cook, A. N., & Roesch, R. (2012). "Tough on crime" reforms: What psychology has to say about the recent and proposed justice policy in canada. Canadian Psychology, 53(3), 217-225. Retrieved from
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@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
10 Mar 16
@Auntylou - The US justice system is a disgrace. But it won't get better until ordinary, not-at-risk citizens start giving a damn. John Oliver has done several lengthy pieces on the various travesties which pass for justice in America. They should be compulsory viewing, I think.
Mandatory minimums require fixed prison sentences for certain crimes. John Oliver explains why we treat some turkeys better than most low-level offenders. Co...
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
10 Mar 16
Thanks for this Robin, will watch this later, when I have done my cleaning
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Mar 16
Did you ever think we have so many prisoners because American is the land of greatest criminal opportunity? A massive population breeds more criminal activity and there is superior law enforcement/justice system to get them caught and convicted compared to most countries. The English love looking down their noses and condemning the only country to defeat them in two wars and bail them out in two others.
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10145)
• United States
9 Mar 16
@JohnRoberts Yep, that's a viable solution. Don't like it, leave! Forget exercising your right to enact change through the polls, just shut up and deal with it or get the hell out.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Mar 16
Not when they're incarcerated for pot, that's for sure.
1 person likes this
