Sure, but a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 only explains a fraction of the incarceration rate of 256 per 100,000 (although much more than the 1 percent since homicide is in average punished with longer sentences).<p>The rest is due to incarceration for other crimes.<p>The problem is that 1) so much is considered a crime 2) more of the crimes are prosecuted, and 3) crimes are punished with longer sentences.