Prisons across the nation are encountering the issue of overcrowding, and nearly half of all sentences in federal prisons are related to drug offences. Shortening the prison sentences of non-violent drug offenders would help lower the issue of overcrowding and also help alleviate the state costs of running prisons with so many inmates.

In federal prison, 55% on the prisoners are there because of drug law violations; and at state level, 21% of the prisoners are in for drug law violations.

In 2009, over 1.5 million Americans were arrested on drug charges alone!

Over 44,000 people in 2004 were serving time in federal and state prisons for marajuana charges, and according to Texas studies, marijuana prisoners cost America over $1 Billion every year.



We should fix this problem of over-incarceration by shortening prison sentences for non-violent drug offenders and more widely enforce fines, not prison sentences, for drug offences. This will lower the incentive for people to be caught with drugs and will eliminate the 'free-rider' problem for the people who actuallly prefer being in prison because of the 'free benefits' that these poor individuals might otherwise not be receiving.