What accounts for much of the disparity between the incarceration rate of the United States and those of other countries?

Question

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Much of the disparity between the incarceration rate of the United States and those of other countries can be attributed to the "War on Drugs." The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, with a large portion of those incarcerated being non-violent drug offenders. This is due, in part, to harsh sentencing laws and mandatory minimums for drug offenses that have been in place since the 1980s.

What Accounts for Much of the Disparity Between the Incarceration