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It's crazy how easy it is to end up in prison in the US compared to Europe. Most people don't realize this. The consequences are also radically different. Former inmates are fucked for life in the US.

IIRC, the main culprit of the awful incarceration rates were mandatory minimum sentencing / sentencing policies that were introduced in the 80s.

I guess it was a result of the "tough on crime" attitude that came after the 70s, and came just in time for the drug epidemics, and war on drugs.

It just got worse - many states around the country introduced laws that can strip you of your rights with no due process, incarcerate you and you have no recourse. This recently just got used on a police officer in Colorado.

Its pretty terrible.