Final answer:
The age of criminal responsibility varies worldwide, with the American criminal justice system relying heavily on mass incarceration. The tough-on-crime reforms of the 1980s and 1990s led to lengthy sentences and an aging prison population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The age of criminal responsibility varies quite a bit around the world. In the United States, the criminal justice system relies heavily on mass incarceration and has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world.
American criminals go to prison for offenses that may not warrant jail time in other countries, such as passing bad checks or possessing small amounts of marijuana. Additionally, the tough-on-crime reforms of the 1980s and 1990s led to lengthy sentences, resulting in an aging prison population.