The biggest problem I have with mass incarceration is locking up drug addicts and drug users. Prohibition doesn't work and we still haven't learned that lesson.

This was very tough to watch. In 1989 I got 60 yrs for conspiracy to possess, arrested with absolutely nothing illegal in my possession but my "friend" who DID have drugs made himself a deal with the DA, a DA who was later disbarred stripped of his license to practice law (which caused him to lose his seat as a judge he had attained) for prosecutorial misconduct but it did nothing for me. They "reviewed" his cases from back then but only those who were still locked up from the 80's in 2012. Not a lot of effort at compensating or making things right. You can't fix that or undo all those years anyway. This stuff needs to stop, it's way overdue. Stop the war on Americans

America's prison population exploded when we started incarcerating peaceful people for victimless, non-violent offenses; jails are full of people who do not pose any danger to society.

I served 3 years in federal Prison, at North Lake Correctional Facility and let me tell you I got a good job in the library. I helped many inmates get their sentences reduced and as a Canadian I was happy to help all those inmates. I witnessed stabbings in NY at Albany county no one cares what happens to you while incarcerated is just a way for the government to make lots of money, $250 for each federal inmate and $150 for a estate inmate while in a county jail! America is doom if it continues mass incarceration is not humane!

When the investigators are the dealers, you'll never stop it.

I heard not ONE mention of the term "prison industrial complex" in this documentary. Nor mention of private prisons and their contribution and mandatory beds filled in their facilities program they have with the state and local governments

The Who prison increase, war on drugs, etc… started by a president who was nothing but a criminal himself and the policies stayed in place. Non violent criminals never should be locked away from society, there are plenty of other forms of punishment and consequences that could be in place. We’ve got a lot of problems that need addressed that never will be before that though!

Its war on people not drugs.

Proof that the war on drugs is a failure is that you can go to any prison and get any drug you want while incarcerated.

It’s big business with billions at stake!

These people seem to lock up low level dealers instead of the dealers that are moving megatons of drugs.

Has the thought ever occurred that the drug addict should be in a rehab center instead of Prison. Dealers should go to prison, not the addict.

I'm Canadian. In 1992 the multi-nat company I worked for moved my job from Toronto to New York. I loved that job, and had worked long and hard to get it. They offerred me a position in NY and a Green Card. After looking at it very carefully, I declined. Couldn't do that to my kids. Great country, great people, bizarre politics.

There is a good movie called, “Guilt by Association”. It’s based on a true story. It deals with this same subject. A lady is convicted, and receives a long prison term, because she answered the phone for her boyfriend, and it was a drug deal. She got the longest sentence, because she couldn’t give up any names of anyone else in the drug ring, as she didn’t know them. It was so interesting and enlightening.

We send drug addicts to prison like they committed murder and rape. Sad.

Unfortunately they may house the mentally ill but they’re terribly unequipped to care for them.

7:40 "virtually everybody thought the drug war was the number one issue." They were eventually proven right for all the wrong reasons. It is the source of not only most incarceration, but also violence. The drug war is easily orders of magnitude more destructive than prohibition was, devastating both the US "and" Mexico.

He said it “just give me a chance.” We have to be given the opportunity for second chance if we want it. And I don’t know many people that don’t want it.

The ultimate renewable resource. People who want to keep their jobs and are afraid of personal sacrifice.

Punishing somone for someone elses crimes goes against the geneva convention

I know several people who work everyday but are addicts and would not steal from me,but then i know people who are sober who would steal from you!We need to change laws to bring real true justice if there is any real justice.

Thank you for this program. After viewing the whole I gave some thought to making my comment. The government in its body is composed of fallible humans, who are self centered and ego centric. They get elected on appealing to the going red hot topics of the times and of course drugs and crime stands at the top of the list. Yes in this country Drugs in its many forms are available everywhere in this nation. We live in a day and time where many citizens medicate there human emotions with drugs an alcohol,and of course they become addicted. Once the addiction sets in the illness takes over. Incarceration,is a business in this country and the average citizen has no idea the range and scope of the issues this has on this topic. But to incarcerate someone for being sick is a sickness in its self. America is a sick nation,and only a very few can bounce back like the gentleman spotlighted in this program. He gets much praise from me. We can have more if the insane nature of the government policies are changed. Will it happen I do not have that answer. But to the point ,people like Mr. Sterling and others in this program working towards new,and more equable policies will we see a better system.

a huge emotional feelings in this documentary , how sad it is , really sad , this world is sad place and cruel

We should blame the right people at hand, which is the lawmakers that had no clue what they were doing and had no problem ruining peoples lives and their families lives. It’s time we send the lawmakers to jail for many many years.

for such a well produced video why is volume of audio so low? the big question is why are there so many criminals , could it be because the rich get richer and poor get poorer and the middle class is virtually non existent anymore

Whether you want stricter confinement or reforms, somebody has to take responsibility for the results. You can't say 'we have the right to lock you up' but that their care and correction rates don't matter. Unless you just execute or give life to every crime, those people will come home. Would you rather they have some skills and a shot? Or someone that's been treated like an animal and warehoused, coming out as bad or worse than they went in? It's your tax money, you should know what you're getting for your money. We have a system with a 70 some percent recidivism rate with 3 to five years. You'd be better off flipping a coin! But you're being billed for a 'department of correction' (in most states) when they aren't correcting a damn thing. And the vast majority in my state are lower security drug offenders. We have so many mentally ill/undereducated/under skilled, nonviolent offenders. Just making people miserable will not change them for the better. Until you show them a better way, whether it's medication or job skills or education, they will just keep doing what they know. And I've been on the end of that 'flip or we'll throw the book at you' crap. They wanted my best friend and they would drop my own intent charge. Just cause someone else snitched on me doesn't mean I'm gonna put my dirt on someone else.

I was taught by my mother's mother which was my grandmother , about this discussion in 1965..boy they wouldn't let me be in this position 😔😭 they started shedding tears ..I'm 65 years old now..in 1983..I was a young man then..

the people who want to be drugged up cant be slaves to the system, so they get punished

Excellent doc and heartbreakingly true!

Trying to save on production costs by minimizing volume?

Im a new sub 100%. Great work on a taboo but relevant topic. The production is top notch. Time to binge. My opinion, congratulations to drugs for winning the war on drugs. A drug user has no place in the prison system just based on using. Im not going to let any alcoholic, adulterating politicians give me moral advice on how i live my life. Educate, regulate and accept what it is. Every thing will get better after that, for everyone.

Only 3% of crimes end up with the perpetrator in prison. Repeat offenders or people who commit unusually heinous crimes find themselves behind bars most often.

I live how they juxtaposed the larger societal issues to the personal stories of people affected by the war on drugs. Very thoughtful and well done!

I dont know whether to like or dislike this Excellent program though disturbing

As long as humans exist there will be criminal activity. There are many reasons for it. It's mostly about getting money to survive or to be rich. If you have no money and have kids there is a big chance that kid will end up being a criminal and so the wheel will keep turning.

I literally have always said this and people are always so mind-blown when I tell them that I think this 😅

Thank you so much for this video!

Next time u think democracy is pure remember this

One of the best documentaries I have seen. Thank you for making this.

According to the constitution of Florida article 1 section 18. Department of military affairs is the only one who imposes a sentence of imprisonment.Not circuit court or superior court

Money. Thats why it happens. Incarceration is a BIG business with many sectors profiting. And all the while, its disguised as nobility. Makes me sick

It's all about money thats , we pay it and look who owns the prisons in private owns like ,sherif and they together county's

It's never mentioned how much cash they "confiscated "...charge the taxpayers instead.

The volume is so low . Can't hear this way overdue and thank you documentary. Don't forget the for profiteering of incarceration children too.

as a canadian i find this terrifying.

The volume is very low, can hardly hear it.

Everybody says China has slave labor camps well what do u think the penile system is ? Who makes the license plates in your state ? Who makes school desks and other essential equipment?

The whole stigma toward drugs is messed up. No victimless crime should ever be incarcerable.

Volume sucks,ya can't hear anything

You never hear anybody complaining about crime here.

Build more prisons!

3:34 The Principalities 3:45 leaves the man blind and dumb founded 4:09

Canada and western Europe dont have the dark demographic issues the US has. You cant really make that comparison.

Being very familiar with the other side of the tracks, literally two decade' worth i always was sharp enough to never get in a bind intelligent enough to walk away hands down this is the best documentary of the real true effects of the War on Drugs in the United States of America that I've ever seen! And I mean that with very many hours of research and understanding this, i am still in a complete state of awe with this phenomenal documentary. It was a mandatory ten-year conspiracy charge that finally brought my lifestyle to an end I was no way willing to jeopardize 10 years of my life in a little of three individual signing a piece of paper saying they'd heard me discuss something that's just three people being squeezed you're having a bad day and 10 years your life is gone steaks we're far too great to jeopardize Thank you again to all the people involved in his documentary

Why's the damn volume so low? No need to whisper ...

the only problem- today, is that the FEAR of punishment for ones crimes - DOES NOT EXIST

We number one on the planet also have more ppl in jail than all the worlds jails put together..

Very hard reading your kids a story from another part of the world and nothing you can do at that moment. I did this in Iraq

Is confinement or I say is additional punishment according to United States verse Moreland 42. s.ct. 368 talk about any other place then penitentiary is illegal.

I thought this would be about the massive profits and illegal activities generated by the prison complex. Instead, it was a few sob stories intermixed with bureaucrats who spend a career creating a system they now see as damaging.

For those wondering, this DOC came out in 2016. Naturally much of the information referenced here is going to be out of date.

Interesting Subject to talk about! But, the volume was too low. I couldn't hear what half the people were saying during the video.

It's highly profitable federally funded slave labor.

Wheres the sound ?

It's because street law and the Anglo Saxon Judicial law are vastly different. One is common to the people. Street law The other is a writer and copyrighted law and 1 size fits all... But since we have at least 12 major cultures but the governments copyrighted prescription exact law in writing that thinks 1 size fits all Violates many cultures laws that are taught by there elders Within the culture of the community. It favors 1 culture only. All the rest suffer. Making it where once a man goes to prison he can't get a job but if he does it's not well paying and yet has to provide for himself and his family. I worked for 44 years in law enforcement so I seen it daily. I have tried to get the laws to be fair and 1 size don't fit all or even most. But lawyers who make bank on loop holes in the laws they create in order to have a job in a private club called the Bar Association and no one else can provide advice without going to jail or prison. A private guild that supports the system that supports them and their wallets. It's a big money game. Along with prisons being privatized in part or the whole. We claim by law to be a Constitutional Republic but act like a banana 🍌 Republic. Jails and prisons are the new mental health units. Hospital and school systems. It's a Damm shame 1970 to now 2023 is 53 years of failure as a nation. I pray 🙏 God saves us from our public servants.. God-bless yall and your families. ✝️ 😊

Gotta wonder how the president son ain't incarcerated 😊

The guy that violated his probation by smoking weed should have known better.

New age.. w/Parents Overwhelmed 24/7 to parent our youngest ... Save the Planet? .. Save the Young [adult Parents lives] and Save the Young ..est as Grade ONE -> High School *Boarding *Schools for 100% of ALL .. [!!].."Easy Fix"?.. Protect the Young [our Parents and our Youngest]... and taxpayers Save huge policing and prison systems and grief .. cheers from Canada eh?

Hey....are you the Asher Emmanuel who was an Eagle in HS??

No it's amazing somebody tell somebody how to be with their children wow

13th brought me here

There’s a war on drugs but they declare war on the countries where drugs come from 😮

The volume is too low

❤

Her story would not have gained traction had she been black or brown. Instead she’s this wonderful nice white lady that anyone could imagine as a soccer mom in the suburbs. So she gets out while others in her same position waste away their whole lives in prison

Your audio is weak! I had to quit watching it, because I can't hear it.

That was over weed?

All this sad things are going to happen everywhere on earth if a nations loses control . It's not always all about money but people don't permit themselves to get a closer look. The best possible education for everybody ( without racial bias) would make a better world. But proper education lasts always as a priveligr of wealthy citizens and that's why nothing changes.

The real "problem" is the mean people who put them there...duh!

It should be mandatory for employers to hire people who have been incarcerated who have been released back into society.🇺🇸

"Mental health facility"? You haven't been locked up in NC!😂😅😢

Compared to other nations American prisons are 5 STARS HOTELS

✔

Ya. Other countries don't have high prison populations . When you are found guilty for selling drugs you are shot to death and your family is billed for the ammo. These countries do no have a lot of drug problems

More like the largest business in the world.

As usual, only one aspect is being shown here. With drug addiction comes the issue of how to support that addiction. The answer is by committing criminal acts. Now, this addiction impacts many people over time. What is the cost to society of drug addiction? How do we effectively deal with drug addiction? These are only a few of many questions that surround this issue. We see the results of not enforcing laws in cities like Portland, Oregon today. It is clear to me that simply making drugs and, by extension, drug addiction legal doesn’t begin to solve the problem.

The title should say, Crime is an American problem, they are not throwing innocent people into prison.

2:16

Also that federal judge is super weird...maybe he shouldn't be a judge because he did not sound very non biased at all

Too many inmates, and not enough space?

The Anamosa (Iowa) State Penitentiary employs sex offenders who constantly commit sexual crimes against the inmates. Other guards mentally and physically abuse inmates as if it is their duty to punish everyone sentenced to serve time. Warden William Sperfslage allowed counselors, guards, teachers, clergy, and many others to resign after being caught raping inmates. Officer Glenda, Glasgow, however, was allowed to retain her employment with the State of Iowa after being impregnated by the inmate she raped. Her employment was transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics once she gave birth to the son of Inmate Earl Richard Abbey III. Yes, she raped a Tier-3 Sex Offender.

Figures a religious organization started all the persecutions of those THEY deemed unlike THEIR kind or beliefs I got away from those organization's yrs ago and have no plans of being involved with them ever again

This country is a hot mess in a gold suit. We ain’t fooling no one.

I was sentenced to 5 years in Campbell county Kentucky for 0.05 of cocaine... it was the cotton in the spoon. This is not an exaggeration. My name is Tina M.

You wanna solve the problem of high crime and packed prisons? Less prison time,more hanging time. Prisons would be empty and crime rates would drop!

I went to prison. I never met a person that didn't deserve to be there. Every one of us did something worthy of being there.

They need to decriminalize drugs and invest in small business programs and small business incubators to create jobs

Excuse me, I have to yawn././.

Prison isnt the problem. Ppl commiting crime repeatedly is.

We don't have a prison problem we have a criminal problem