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Broadcast: May 5, 2003
By Jerilyn Watson

VOICE ONE:
Crime in the United States has decreased in recent years. One problem now is what to do about crowded prisons. I'm Phoebe Zimmermann with Steve Ember.
VOICE TWO:
The criminal justice system is our report this week the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.
VOICE ONE:
A new report says more than two-million people were in prisons and jails in the United States at the end of June two-thousand-two. That is the most ever. The country already had among the highest rates of imprisonment1 in the world.
The government report says about four-and-a-half-million others were on probation2 or parole last year. People on probation have not been sentenced to jail. Instead, they are under court supervision3. People on parole have been freed from prison. They must obey restrictions2 and also report to officials for supervision.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics prepared the report. The report shows that, as of last year, one in every thirty-two people in the nation had been found guilty of a crime. The United States has a national population of two-hundred-ninety-million people.
VOICE TWO:
The number of prisoners in America has increased by four-hundred percent since the middle of the nineteen-eighties.
Nationally, the rate of violent crime has decreased to its lowest level in the thirty years it has been measured.
During those years, so-called "get tough" laws have provided longer sentences for some offenses5, including drug crimes.
Two-thirds of the prisoners in the United States are in federal or state prisons. Local jails hold the other one-third. People found guilty of serious crimes usually are sentenced to prisons. People awaiting trial or sentenced for lesser6 offenses usually are held in jails.
There are different kinds of prisons. Prisoners who are not considered a danger to others may be sent to a minimum-security prison without many restrictions4. The most dangerous prisoners are sent to maximum-security prisons where life is extremely controlled.
VOICE ONE:
Over the years, the United States has made prison reforms. Today, corrections experts and prison-reform activists8 propose more changes. For example, they say more job training may help keep prisoners from returning to jail once they are freed.
There were record numbers of prisoners last year. But the Bureau of Justice Statistics says the growth rate of imprisonment1 had already leveled off by then. It calls the rise of imprisonment during the nineteen-eighties and nineties "dramatic."
VOICE TWO:
Half the states have acted against overcrowding. Big states like California and Texas have released thousands of prisoners to save money and space.
Critics of the criminal justice system say long prison sentences are not necessarily making society safer. But the Supreme9 Court recently upheld a "three strikes" law in California.
This law affects people found guilty of three crimes. The law orders that they serve from twenty-five years to life in prison. This is true even if their third crime was considered minor10. In the case that reached the Supreme Court, the third crime was stealing golf equipment.
One more thing about California: The state just reported a four-percent increase in major crimes last year. Murders in the biggest population centers, though down from ten years ago, were up eleven percent from the year before.
VOICE ONE:
Some criminal justice officials say the increase in federal prisoners in the United States is of special concern. In two-thousand-two, federal prisons held almost one-hundred-sixty-two-thousand people. This is the first time the federal system has had more prisoners than any of the fifty states.
This happened partly because the Federal Bureau of Prisons took control of prisoners formerly11 held by the District of Columbia. But, also, Congress has expanded the federal prison system. Congress has added many drug offenses to the list of federal crimes.
VOICE TWO:
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is among those who say the country has too many people in jail.
Justice Kennedy also says prison terms are often too long. He criticizes policies where state legislatures establish sentences that judges cannot change. Such required sentences have increased in number in recent years. Mister Kennedy says these sentences are sometimes severe and unjust.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
Americans are guaranteed "equal justice before the law," in the words of the Constitution. But there is debate about the equality of the criminal justice system toward the poor and especially members of minority groups.
About twelve percent of African American males between the ages of twenty and thirty-four were in prison or jail last year. By comparison, four percent of Hispanics, and less than two percent of white males, were behind bars.
Bureau of Justice Statistics official Allen Beck says the rate for young black males has been going up in recent years. Mister Beck says the bureau's new report shows the highest rate measured.
In any case, men of all groups are about fifteen times more likely than women to go to prison. But an increasing number of women are jailed these days. The number of female prisoners grows at an average rate of more than five percent a year. The rate among males averages less than four percent.
VOICE TWO:
Drug offenders12 are a major reason for America's huge prisoner population. The Sentencing Project is an activist7 group for criminal-justice improvements. It says about sixty percent of federal and more than twenty percent of state prisoners are in for drug crimes.
Recently a number of states have taken steps to change their drug policies. They are considering sending drug users to treatment programs instead of prison. These programs are aimed at ending the use of drugs. They also are meant to reduce the number of people in prison.
Arizona and California have approved drug-treatment centers for non-dangerous drug offenders. Kansas also is considering a new drug law. It would require non-violent drug offenders to be treated for up to eighteen months. Supporters of the law say it would remove the need for almost two-hundred prison beds by the end of next year.
VOICE ONE:
New York State has some of the nation's most severe drug laws. A person can be sentenced to at least fifteen years, and up to life, in prison for having or selling drugs
The international organization Human Rights Watch is based in New York. It criticizes the state's drug laws. It says these laws have led to the unnecessary jailing of non-dangerous drug offenders. It says the laws have taken parents away from thousands of children. Governor George Pataki has been considering changes in the state's drug laws.
(MUSIC)
VOICE TWO:
Reducing sentences for crimes would surely lower America's rate of imprisonment. So would keeping nonviolent, first-time drug offenders out of jail. But many officials say reduced sentences would lead to an increase in crime. They say the public would be in danger.
Experts argue about how much drug treatment programs cost as compared with jailing. Some say treatment is far cheaper. Others disagree.
Nola Foulston is a local law enforcement official in the Wichita, Kansas, area. She also is an official of the National District Attorneys Association. Mizz Foulston says she believes the yearly operation of drug   treatment centers could cost a little less than jail. But she worries about drug offenders living free. Mizz Foulston says they have much higher risk of returning to drugs than if they are behind bars.
VOICE ONE:
Some stories do end happily. Bob is fifty-five years old. He took cocaine13 for more than twenty years. During that time he served three jail terms. Each time he left jail he quickly became dependent on the drug again.
Several years ago, a judge ordered Bob to enter a drug-treatment center. Center workers closely supervised his every move for a year. He received intensive treatment and advising about his life.
Bob has a job now. He also is studying at night at a local college. He says, "No more drugs--ever... and I am never going back to jail."
VOICE TWO:
This program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced by Cynthia Kirk. I'm Steve Ember.
VOICE ONE:
And I'm Phoebe Zimmermann. Join us again next week for another report about life in the United States on our VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.

1. imprisonment [Im`prIzEnmEnt] n. 关押
2. restriction [rIs5trIkFEn] n. 限制, 约束


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1 imprisonment I9Uxk     
n.关押,监禁,坐牢
参考例句:
  • His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
  • He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。
2 probation 41zzM     
n.缓刑(期),(以观后效的)察看;试用(期)
参考例句:
  • The judge did not jail the young man,but put him on probation for a year.法官没有把那个年轻人关进监狱,而且将他缓刑察看一年。
  • His salary was raised by 800 yuan after his probation.试用期满以后,他的工资增加了800元。
3 supervision hr6wv     
n.监督,管理
参考例句:
  • The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
  • The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。
4 restrictions 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则)
参考例句:
  • I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
  • a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
5 offenses 4bfaaba4d38a633561a0153eeaf73f91     
n.进攻( offense的名词复数 );(球队的)前锋;进攻方法;攻势
参考例句:
  • It's wrong of you to take the child to task for such trifling offenses. 因这类小毛病责备那孩子是你的不对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此,除非有可弹劾的行为,否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
6 lesser UpxzJL     
adj.次要的,较小的;adv.较小地,较少地
参考例句:
  • Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
  • She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及,但程度较轻。
7 activist gyAzO     
n.活动分子,积极分子
参考例句:
  • He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
  • He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。
8 activists 90fd83cc3f53a40df93866d9c91bcca4     
n.(政治活动的)积极分子,活动家( activist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
  • Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 supreme PHqzc     
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的
参考例句:
  • It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
10 minor e7fzR     
adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修
参考例句:
  • The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
  • I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。
11 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
12 offenders dee5aee0bcfb96f370137cdbb4b5cc8d     
n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 );犯规者;罪犯;妨害…的人(或事物)
参考例句:
  • Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
  • Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。
13 cocaine VbYy4     
n.可卡因,古柯碱(用作局部麻醉剂)
参考例句:
  • That young man is a cocaine addict.那个年轻人吸食可卡因成瘾。
  • Don't have cocaine abusively.不可滥服古柯碱。

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