The United States is currently home to about 5 percent of the world’s population. It’s also home to 25 percent of all of the prisoners on the entire planet. One in every 10 Americans behind bars is currently serving time in federal prison. Now, Attorney General Eric Holder has announced plans to change these trends. According to his new plan, which will be outlined this week, Holder says that prosecutors will be instructed to file fewer charges against non-violent drug offenders who have no association with criminal organizations. The plan does away with some umbrella mandatory sentences—which some critics say unfairly effect poor addicts. He also asked that elderly inmates, who are no longer dangerous and have served long amounts of time, be considered for immediate release. In an effort to more effectively rehabilitate individuals arrested on drug crimes, Holder has suggested that drug-treatment programs become an alternative to prison time …
