Read the Government's Own Sorry Excuse for Itself!

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#inmates this is the governments own account of drug offender statistics. While it is possibly reliable (skewed no doubt to minimize government barbarity), it is notable that the last study of drug felons as a percentage of all inmates goes back to 1994. Even the little info here contained says drug offenders, "up 37%, represented the largest source of jail population growth between 1996 and 2002. " These old numbers say only 21% of the federal prison population are dope felons (and it's more now, they just won't say how much more). For jail inmates they don't even bother to break it down stating simply, "Half of jail inmates in 2002 were held for a violent or drug offense, almost unchanged from 1996. " You will notice the bias created by associating drug possession with violent crime. This trick has always worked to sell the drug war to the public. When you read it a few times you begin to see drug possession as VIOLENT CRIME. In fact arrest records will state whether the inmate was brought in for violent crime or possession. Linking them in this way is pure propaganda. Don't they sell it real good with that last bit? "almost unchanged from 1996." Of course going up 37% is a slight change.