Prison population
 

While visiting the UK recently, I was surprised to read that the total number of inmates in the UK is only 80k. The US prison population is over 2 million. China, with 4 times the US population only imprisons 1.5 million.

We're tough on criminals here . . .

I read somewhere that England's police just recently started carrying firearms, what makes their penal code so different from ours, that we have so many offenders and law breakers? Anyone know what the stats are in France?

Ever watch one of those reality cop shows from the UK? Some guy speeding through crowded urban areas in a stolen car, running folks off the road and generally wreaking havoc - after they catch him the announcer says, in an oh-so-very serious tone, the offender was "strongly cautioned" by the police.

OTOH, they don't choose to let young nonviolent drug offenders rot in prison like we do. I knew a guy in college (25 years ago) who got 5 years in the Missouri State Penitentiary for selling a nickel bag of weed to an undercover cop.

thing about china.the worst of em get a bullet in the head and a bill for the bullet sent to the next of kin.

While making up less than 10% of the total US prison population, prisoners senteced to life, with or without parole, is a growing segment. Causes include "repeat offender" sentencing guidelines and the increased use of life sentences in offenses other than capital murder.

Those furriners need to boost their numbers if they want to catch us.

Whats the prisoner population in Australia? I think that's where some countries sent their undesirables, at one time.

and let's not forget the Thai prisons....

Right, wanna go and visit? :D

The 2006 Census put the Australian population at a little under 20 million ;)

I remember being on a tour of Cork and Cove in Ireland with a very small group. There were only 5 of us, and the tour guide was this wonderful old gentleman who was a successful international businessman before retiring, and now led guided tours as a way to pass the time. He told us a story about a business trip he once took to Australia that I've never forgotten. When going through Australian customs he was asked by the customs agent if he had a criminal record. His response? "I wasn't aware you still required one".

You pay?

Now, that's a slick one ... you can log on to "The Wave 94.7" they have "a trip each day give-away"

http://www.947wave.com/

Dem priseners need to be given a bahcycle thats attach'd ta one of dem gennyrators, so's they can make lectricity fer the city.

An alternative, would be to put them in a big drum (like a hamster's wheel) and make them walk, thereby turning a generator. If they don't want to walk anymore, they can stop....but the drum will keep turning ;)

Mont St. Michel in France has just such a device. The monastery/church is high on the top of a mountain and they have a big wheel inside which prisoners walked to winch supplies up to the top of the mountain.