Prime for crime?

Wadman said the way to truly attack crime may be to address poverty, dropping out of school, the challenges of single parents and similar social problems. "But it is difficult and takes time," he said. It also often may not be popular politically.

"Imagine a politician who says, 'I have recognized that it is social ills in society that cause crime. So I will work to deal with poverty, single-parent families and joblessness.' Imagine he is running against someone who says, 'These criminals are no good scoundrels, and I will make sure they are punished soundly.... Who do you think will be elected?" Wadman said.

To those who say it may be too expensive to address social ills with greater educational opportunities or other alternatives, he said, "It costs more to lock up a prisoner at the Utah State Prison for a year than it does to send someone to Weber State, including tuition, books, room and board."

Wadman also notes that the United States has the highest rate of prisoners among its population of any country in the world. He said it ranks No. 3 in the world for its rate of executions behind China and the Congo — and just ahead of No. 4 Iran.

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