Why do Americans have the world's record for prisoners, and still think tougher punishment is the key?

number one because the district attorneys have a attitude of win at all cost not to figure guilt or innocence out. number two because our courts have become stacked against the poor the average child support case will cost you 3000 just to get started for any real crime you are talking 15 to 20k for a normal person this is a salary for a year. i just read an article the other day that said in this state pennsylvania in order to house all our prisoners we have we would need to build a new prison every week for 3 years. not only that we lock people up for losing thier jobs here hell im close to that with the child support i lost my job and am soon 2 weeks behind every week it grows 100 dollars they wil come and lock me up soon and throw me in a county prison for money i dont have even though i have kids and a family to support at home things are bad as far as that is concerned my buddy is doing 2 years for driving without a drivers liscence when he is a mechanic its how he earns a living the laws are terrible and really dont fix problems they just create poverty and a circle of more imprisoment. there is no public transport and to get to a job would cost you 50 dollars a day in a cab there are no ways to get to work without a car and liscence. so u gotta make money but u cant drive so drive or starve u get caught u go to jail u go to jail you kids lose thier home they lose thier home now u have to make money how do i make money without driving while i have charges pending hmmm sell drugs u get caught now u going to jail for something else its terrible and no way to stop it.