Final answer:
Option (a), The rise in the U.S. prison population is due to stricter drug laws, policies leading to longer sentences, the role of private prisons, and racial and economic disparities. Increases in incarceration rates for women and an aging prison demographic have also contributed to the growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dramatic growth in the prison population over recent decades can be attributed to various factors. One significant cause is the enhancement and stricter enforcement of drug laws, particularly under the 'war on drugs' campaign that began in the 1980s. Additionally, there has been an increased probability of incarceration due to policies such as mandatory minimum sentencing and 'three strikes' laws, which have led to longer sentences and life imprisonment, even for minor offenses.
Furthermore, inmates are serving more time for each crime, which contributes to a growing and aging prison demographic. Federal prison growth also plays a role in the overall rise, as does the increase in incarceration rates for women. The situation is exacerbated by racial and economic disparities that influence incarceration rates, with African Americans and the impoverished disproportionately represented in prison populations.
Compounding these factors, the economic interest in maintaining high prison populations driven by the private prison industry has fueled expansion in a manner similar to the military-industrial complex. This has led to an entrenched system that perpetuates high rates of incarceration rather than addressing underlying social issues such as drug addiction through treatment and prevention programs.