United States: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:55, 4 April 2011

2009 Prison Population: 2,297,400 / 748 people per 100,000, the highest in the world on a per capita basis
200,000 of these prisoners are over 50 years of age
110.1% prison occupancy level (based on official capacity)

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 |}
-With 748 citizens in prison for every 100,000 people, the United States has one of the most draconian criminal justice systems in the world. Racial inequality continues to be a startling characteristic of the system. The likelihood of black males going to prison in their lifetime is 16% compared to 2% of white males and 9% of Hispanic males.
+==Background==
-Indigent defendants in the United States are also entitled to free counsel under the U.S. Supreme Court decision [[Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963)  | Gideon v. Wainwright]]. Nonetheless, recent budget cuts across the United States have left public defenders poorly paid and struggling to represent clients effectively with enormous caseloads.
+==Type of System==
+==Source of Defendants' Rights==
+==Defendants' Rights==
+===Pre-trial===
+===Trial===
 -----