Each week this section will contain a story that can be described as "amazing".

The number of people behind prison bars in the United States broke the 2 million mark last year, a record high, according to the Justice Department. Longer sentences, more mandatory minimum sentences and declining release rates have contributed to the increase in the prison population..

Viewing the latest figures in light of the current U.S. population, one of every 110 men and one of every 1,696 women was incarcerated at the end of last year.

The U.S. rate of incarceration is more than six times that of Canada and Australia and five times that of any European Union nation, according to The Sentencing Project, a private group that advocates alternative to prison.

The largest state increase of prisoner population occurred in Idaho (up 12.9%) followed by Wisconsin (up 10.9%) and Colorado (up 9.5%).  California law enforcement officials reported last month that their prison population had declined slightly since the middle of last year, the first decrease after two decades of spiraling growth.