In the 1970s and 1980s, huge numbers of inmates began filling the United States prison system. This enormous rate of growth in such a short amount of time has contributed greatly to the prison overcrowding the United States faces today. In fact, prisons are still filled to the brim. This huge surge in inmates has made it virtually impossible for prison officials to keep up with their facilities and supervise their inmates. One of the main reasons many prisons have become overcrowded is because of harsh state criminal laws and parole practices (Cohen). “One in 100 American adults is behind bars, the highest incarceration rate in the world” (Cohen). The number of inmates in prison systems, nationwide, skyrocketed by as much as 708 percent between 1972 and 2008. Today, there are approximately 145,000 inmates occupying areas designed for only 80,000 people (Posner). Peter Mosko, “assistant professor of law, police science and criminal justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York” (Frazier) said: “America, with 2.3 million people behind bars, has more prisoners than soldiers" (Frazier). There have been studies that have shown that “there are more men and women in prison than ever before. The number of inmates has grown by an average of 1,600 per week. The United States has the highest crime rate in the world” (Clark). Because of this influx of inmates, many prisoner rights groups have filed lawsuits charging that “overcrowded prisons violate the Constitution's Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment” (Clark). It is clear that the United States correctional system needs to be reformed to eliminate this problem. Prison overcrowding is a serious problem in society because it affects prison... middle of paper... unites the Resource Center. Storm. Ironwood High School. October 26, 2011. http://find.galegroup.comHaney, Craig. “Prison Overcrowding: Harmful Consequences and Dysfunctional Responses.” Veradc.org. Network. October 27, 2011. www.veradc.org.Howard, John. “The Effects of Prison Overcrowding.” Patrick's Crusade. John Howard Society of Alberta, May 2002. Web. November 1, 2011. http://www.patrickcrusade.org O'Leary, Mary E. "Union: Packed State Prisons, Dangerous for Staff and Inmates." New Haven Register (New Haven, CT) (August 23, 2011): NA. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Storm. Ironwood High School. October 26, 2011. http://find.galegroup.comPosner, Michael. “Inside California's overcrowded prisons. (International news).” Globe & Mail (Toronto, Canada) (June 16, 2011): A14. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Storm. Ironwood High School. October 26, 2011. http://find.galegroup.com