BEHIND BARS America has 5% of the world’s population, and 25% of its prisoners. In fact, there are more people in jail in this country than in Russia or China. Why? How have the policies of the last 40 years, such as “War on Drugs” and “Three Strikes, You’re Out” caused this condition? Are all these prisoners in jail for violent crimes? Has our public safety been enhanced by putting all these people away? And even though white Americans commit crimes at the same rate as blacks, one in nine black men aged 20-34 is behind bars. What can be done to correct this situation?