Why are so many people in the USA in prison?

Because people are held accountable for their actions in America, at least for the most part.Non politicians are anyway.

Just because a crime is non-violent doesn't mean it's not a crime. If someone is stealing, driving drunk,selling drugs, scamming people,etc... they should definitely be put in jail for a certain amount of time.

Which crimes are you speaking of that should require no jail penalty? Because I am one that believes if you do the crime,you do the time.

You answered your own question! People are in prison for crimes in which there was no 'victim.' And virtually all of these criminals have broken laws that should not be on the books in the first place.

The only answer is to legalize drugs, to allow open carry of weapons and to sentence non-violent offenders to home arrest, work release, community service etc.

However, we have a Legislative branch of government whose sole responsibility is to come up with ways to 'punish' the public resulting in too many laws!

Mostly for drug related crimes too, cause the federal government clams the ability under the 14th and 16th amusements, as well as the horribly mutated commerce clause to regulate a plant.

Just anther reason our Federal government is out of control.

thank the gangs for that...gang members spend approximately 30% of there life behind bars, and gangs are quickly growing and im not talking about just bloods and crips no the list is endless...bloods,latin kings,texas sindicits, black gangster disciples, crips, vice lords, city royals, M.I.A, Latin queens...the hip hop nation is growing my friend and with it the appeal for teens to be like the glorious gangsters on tv and in there music...i mean its you know its bad when schools have well known rapers (who have obvious connections with gangs) as inspirational speakers

Drugs have more to do wit it than anything else. Even Obama smoked crack. Damn shame what our country has come to where roll models are concerned.

Because too many people think doing drugs is a good idea

Drugs and crime! Those are not small offenses. They affect our entire nation!

Because there's good money to be made in owning a private prison. You can lock people up for just about anything, and then bill the taxpayers. It's a great scam.

Almost every prison in the USA has been contracted to PRIVATELY OWNED corporations.

Lots of STUPID people breaking the law. Should we be rewarding them?

Because we don't put up with criminals.