World Regional Variation of Prison Population Rate

• In Event: Mass Incarceration, Crowding and Overcrowding: International and National Data

Abstract

Based on theoretical background, the current study tested if the regional variation of prison population rate exists. Additionally, the present study examined such a regional variation of the population rate can be explained by a country’s economic and social factors. To achieve such research goals, the present work ran multiple regressions by using the information for 120 countries in different regions in the world. The regression results suggested that being the United States, former Soviet Union and Eastern European bloc, and Latin America are positively related to the prison population rate. The significant and positive relationships between those three regions (or country) and prison population rate remained when the present work included a national homicide rate, GDP per capita, the Gini-coefficient of income inequality, the death penalty, political right and civil liberty, and government’s stability in multiple regression models. The homicide rate, GDP per capita, the Gini-coefficient, and government stability were significantly and positively, while political right/ civil liberty was negatively linked to prison population rate.

Author

• Don Soo Chon, Auburn University at Montgomery