1. Number of people presently incarcerated in the United States: Over 1 million 2. The U.S. rank in percentage of population behind bars: 2 (Russia is first) 3. Number of people in jail per 100,000 of the U.S. population: 600 4. In 1980, percent of people in federal prisons on drug offenses: 25% 5. In 1998: over 60% 6. 1998 percent of people in federal prison for violent crimes: 13% 7. In 1980, percent of federal prison population who were minorities: about 33% 8. In 1998: about 64% 9. Number of times more than the average an African-American male is to likely be incarcerated: 7 10. Average sentence for drug offese in 1985, before mandatory minimum sentences: 23.1 months 11. In 1995: 70 months 12. 1997 percent of drug cases in which mandatory minimums were applied: 65% 13. Increase, between 1986 and 1996, in number of women in federal prison for drug offenses: 42% 14. 1997 budget of the Federal Bureau of Prisons: $3.19 billion 15. Percent increase this is over the 1986 budget, before mandatory minimums: 1,400% 16. Number of human beings who could be fed by grain and soybeans consumed by U.S. livestock: 1.3 billion 17. Percent of corn grown in U.S. eaten by human beings: 20% 18. Percent of corn grown in U.S. eaten by livestock: 80% 19. Percent of carbohydrate wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 99% 20. Percentage of U.S. agriculural land used to grow beef: 56% 21. Pound of potatoes that can be grown on one acre of land: 20,000 22. Pounds of beef that can be produced on one acre of land: 156 23. Number of children who starve to death every day: 600 24. Number of people who will starve to death this year: 250,000 25. Pesticide residues in the U.S. diet supplied by meat: 55% 26. Pesticide residues in the U.S. diet supplied jointly by vegetables, fruits, and grains: 11% 27. Percent of male college students sterile in 1950: 5% 28. Percent of male college students sterile in 1975: 25% 29. Percent decrease in the sperm count of the average American male compared to 30 years ago: 30% 30. Wingspan, in inches, of average leghorn chicken: 26 31. Space, in inches, average leghorn chicken in given in egg factories: 6 Sources: 1-4: Bureau of Justice; 5-6: NORML; 7-8: Human Rights Watch; 9: www.druglibrary.org; 10-15: FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums); 16-21: Diet for a New American by John Robbins |