Prison Demographic Shift
Idaho, like many other states in the United States, is experiencing a shift in its prison population, with an increasing number of non-violent offenders being incarcerated. This trend is alarming as it highlights the need for a re-evaluation of the state's criminal justice system, particularly in terms of its sentencing policies. In this essay, we will explore the reasons why Idaho's prison population is increasingly made up of non-violent offenders and the negative impact of putting such offenders in prison for extended periods. One reason for the increasing number of non-violent offenders in Idaho's prisons is the state's mandatory minimum sentencing laws. These laws require judges to impose a minimum sentence for certain crimes, regardless of the individual circumstances of the offense or the offender. This means that non-violent offenders can end up with lengthy prison sentences, even if their crimes did not involve violence or pose a significant threat to public sa...