Jailbird Labor

Among my assortment of useless, but interesting facts is this:

Country with highest percentage of population in Jails:  USA, 3.2%.

Does that indicate that the United States have tougher laws?

or

Severe penalties compared to other countries?

or maybe Some counties in the U.S.A. are known to have very high fines for minor misdemeanors.  I have been told they have this system to rent to inmates out for cheap labor.  The county makes money and the company owner saves money or labor.  Everybody wins!  Except the inmates.