
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1992                   TAG: 9203040313
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BRIEFLY

OK, SO America is losing ground by some measures, such as infant health and economic competitiveness. We're still No. 1 in some categories. Take incarceration.

According to a recent study, the United States has increased its lead as the nation with the world's highest incarceration rate. We imprisoned 455 people for every 100,000 in the population in 1990-91 - a 6.8 percent increase over the previous year. South Africa, the world's second most vigorous jailer, imprisoned 311 people for every 100,000. Since 1973, the U.S. prison population has tripled. For all this - and the cost has been enormous - are you feeling any safer?

by CNB