• Law -> Human Rights and Civil Liberties

• 0 Comment

How does the United States compare to other countries in terms of the length of time people are incarcerated, and what impact does this have on citizens' civil liberties?

Susana McLinden

The United States is often regarded as the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world, and the length of time that people are incarcerated in this country is also alarming. In comparison with other countries, such as Canada and Western European nations, the United States is far behind in terms of civil liberties.

Research finds that the United States has the highest rate of incarceration across the globe per capita. The United States has five percent of the world's population, yet it holds nearly 25 percent of the global prison population. For example, in 2019, the incarceration rate in the United States was 698 per 100,000 people, while in Canada, it was 114 per 100,000 people.

Additionally, the length of time that people are incarcerated is lengthy and often disproportionate to the offense committed. In recent years, more significant attention has been paid to the length of mandatory sentences, leading to the mass incarceration problem in the United States. A massive number of people serving time in American prisons should have already been released or serving less time, given the gravity of their charges and criminal history. In contrast to other countries with similar criminal systems, the United States has a much longer average imprisonment period, with inmates serving an average of two to three years than in other countries.

Moreover, the impact of mass incarceration on citizens' civil liberties is immense. The United States has made itself a world leader in criminal justice systems, but the system perpetuates sustained inequality, discrimination, and excessive punishment of the poor and racially marginalized communities. These marginalized groups are more likely to be incarcerated, serving harsher sentences and have lesser access to legal support during judicial proceedings.

For example, White Americans represent about one-third of the US population but constitute only approximately ten percent of the incarcerated population. Yet, Black Americans make up thirteen percent of the US population but represent over half of the country's incarcerated individuals. The disparities in the rates of incarceration mean that Black Americans are bound to face various discriminatory challenges throughout their life, from difficulty finding employment to being barred from voting.

In conclusion, the United States is far behind in terms of civil liberties compared to other Western nations. The country's high rates of incarceration and excessively long sentences have a severe impact on its citizens and promote perpetuating societal inequality. There is an urgent need to address the problem of mass incarceration in the United States with mechanisms that support restoration, rehabilitation and promote sustainable success for minority groups.