Some facts: The number of people in prison, in jail, on parole, and on probation in the U.S. increased threefold between 1980 and 2000, to more than 6 million, and the number of people in prison increased from 319,598 to almost 2 million in the same period (a study showed that 1 in 37 US adults have prison experience). This buildup has targeted the poor, and especially Blacks. In 1999, though Blacks were only 13 percent of the U.S. population, they were half of all prison inmates. In 2000, one out of three young Black men was either locked up, on probation, or on parole. Why are there so many people imprisoned in the US? Well, the welfare system is not as comprehensive as it is in many other western contries and the laws are also tougher. California's "Three-Strikes-and-You're-Out" policy, which generally prescribe that felons found guilty of a third serious crime be locked up for 25 years to life, is a good example of this. Third serious crime? Yeah right!! Last year a man was given not one but two sentences of 25 years to life - not for committing a rape or a murder but for stealing nine children's videotapes including "Snow White," "Cinderella" and "Free Willy."!!! Why isn't there a Three-Strikes-and-You're-Out for Corporate Criminals?

360 degrees is a group of people dedicated to reduce crime and strengthen US communities without continuing the unprecedented rate of incarceration. You'll find stories from the US justice system and an interesting timeline that gives you an idea of how the judicial system has developed through time..