Do you think Reuters has an axe to grind?
The U.S. prison population continued to grow last year even though reports of violent crime during 2004 were at the lowest level since the government began compiling statistics 32 years ago, according to a government report released in September. Well DUH! One way of looking at it is that the falling crime rate is proof they are arresting the right guys.
Reuters feels there is a disconnect between the two. The only disconnect is in the reporters' brains.