Stating the Obvious...

Forgive me for borrowing this from the Corner at NRO, but I share their amusement.

Newspapers repeatedly write this story (Seriously. It appears every month it seems):

Crime rate down, but prison population on the rise

What's funny is that the article is always written with bemusement over how such a situation can occur.

Is it honostly such a difficult notion that putting criminals in jail prevents them from committing crime; therefore the crime rate drops?

That anyone wouldn't get this is...well...mind boggling.