In the past seven years, the overall crime rate in the US has declined, with property crimes at an all-time low. But our prisons are still overcrowded. What''s behind prison overcrowding?

Norma Bischoff

Age: 33

Resides: Big Sur (German citizen)

Occupation: Teacher

Do you support mandatory sentencing laws such as "Three Strikes"? No I don''t support that.

Are you aware that US crime rates have declined? No, I wasn''t, because I haven''t lived here for too long.

Why do you think so many Americans are in prison? Because there are a lot of laws that people are put in prison for that are ridiculous. I don''t think jails are the answer to our problems.

Sandre Cunha

Age: 48

Resides: Monterey

Occupation: Career Counselor

Do you support mandatory sentencing laws such as "Three Strikes"? It''s hard to say yes or no on that, generally I guess I do.

Are you aware that US crime rates have declined? I don''t think about crime a lot because I don''t watch TV. There''s such an emphasis on violence and crime on TV.

Do you think building prisons is a good use of your tax money? I think that''s one use of it. I don''t think we spend enough money on education.

Ronald Chambliss

Age: 42

Resides: Monterey

Occupation: Computer Specialist

Do you support mandatory sentencing laws such as "Three Strikes"? I think we should have guidelines to take into consideration. Not all strikes are equal.

Are you aware that US crime rates have declined? No I wasn''t.

Why do you think such a large number of Americans are in jail? I think we''re arresting more people for drugs than anything else.

Jennifer Stidham

Age: 19

Resides: Salinas

Occupation: Student

Have mandatory sentencing laws made you feel safer? Not necessarily safer, but it makes me feel that justice has been served.

Why do you think that such a large proportion of Americans are in prison? Lack of morals. Parents aren''t teaching kids what they need to know.

Jeff Howard

Age: 26

Resides: Big Sur

Occupation: Bartender

Do you support mandatory sentencing laws such as "Three Strikes"? Yeah, you can only be given so many opportunities before a lesson needs to be learned.

Do mandatory sentencing laws make you feel safer? It doesn''t make me feel any safer. Our justice system is sort of a farce.