Prison and Prisoners: A Global Call for Reform in a Failing System

Prisons were established to uphold justice, protect society, and deter crime. Yet today, these institutions are overcrowded, underfunded, and often unfit for their intended purpose. Worldwide, more than 10 million people are incarcerated, with the U.S. alone housing over 2 million prisoners—an incarceration rate five times the global average. Shockingly, only 43% of crimes are reported worldwide, and of those, less than 20% result in conviction. This disparity reflects a flawed system that often fails to deliver justice equitably.