The War on Drugs is Alive and Well

Image Wikipedia.

Close your eyes and imagine you enter an average federal prison in the U.S. What do you see? Probably old and decrepit buildings, overworked and underpaid staff, overcrowded facilities, below standard food, and much more. Now pay attention to the people in custody. Who are they? Where are they from? What crime are they convicted of? Thankfully, public data is available to answer some of these questions — and shine a light on a problem that started decades ago and isn’t likely to be solved anytime soon.