In the nation's state prisons in 1991, less than half were sentenced for a violent crime, a fourth were sentenced for a property crime, and about a fifth were sentenced for a drug crime. In fact, most maximum security prison systems report that less than 20 percent of their inmates actually need high level security.
Most drug offenders are non violent.
A report released by Human Rights Watch reveals that only a small percentage of those convicted of drug crimes have violent felony histories. It is well known that males in the 15 to 24 age group commit a disproportionate amount of crime, and that rates fall off fairly dramatically in the succeeding age cohorts. There is a new cohort of 15 year-olds entering the high crime rate years annually. Residents experience discrimination, chronic unemployment and social isolation from the labor market. Gang activity and drug distribution networks provide violent role models and opportunities to participate in the illicit economy.