Comment by tptacek

A better source, with a previous HN discussion, that says much the same thing, is far better sourced, and makes a lot of other important points:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10091586

HN readers will be unhappy to read that the war on drugs is not principally, directly responsible for US incarceration rates.

HN readers will probably thrilled to read that responsibility for over-incarceration is placed squarely on overzealous prosecutors; the rate at which arrestees are charged with felonies has climbed sharply, despite an overall drop in crime.