http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_Sta... Starting in the 1980's, we began to wage a war on drugs (when used by minorities), and decimated our inner cities. At the same time, we built lots of private prisons, and allowed these companies to write legislation that led to longer prison terms. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._incarceration_rates_1... Instead of using data or evidence to develop our penal system, we rely on fear and racist-based emotional politics, fueled by the private prison industry. Locking up kids can make a lot of money. States pay anywhere from $25k to $50k per prisoner per year. It's a cash cow. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_criminal_justice_cost_t... Sometimes, you can even get cash up front for putting kids away in the US!
