That seems to be the sentiment based on our founding origins or if you talk to an individual, but the fact is that we imprison more people per capita than anyone else. It's hard for me to believe that all of the criminals just live in the USA.

About 70% of convicts in prison are there for violent offenses and should be there. The remaining 30% is mainly drug and property crimes.

Now it’s important to understand what is meant when people reference incarceration numbers. A lot of these are people awaiting trial on charges they will be found guilty of but receive minimal sentences via plea bargaining. Another large portion are illegal immigrants that are awaiting processing for either integration or deportation.

So if you erase those 2 groups it’s mainly violent people. There’s an abundance of violent people in the USA compared to Western Europe and certainly Asia I’d say.

"It is better to let 100 criminals go free than to imprison 1 innocent man." — Benjamin Franklin

A quote I have never heard from anyone running to be a DA, judge, sheriff, magistrate, or any other participant beyond defense attorneys. Such sayings do not reflect reality.

I've seen police officers say the exact opposite: "It's better to imprison 100 innocent people than risking letting 1 criminal go free and harm children".

Sigh.

> In the US we believe...

Sadly, that varies enormously with the social status and wealth of the accused.