In the last 30 years, the number of inmates in US prisons have ballooned to 800 percent, and almost half of them have been convicted with drug-related offenses. US Attorney General Eric Holder thinks the solution is to reduce the sentence.

Holder claims that the current minimal jail terms are 'counterproductive' and should be replaced with a system that will suit their conduct, not label them similar to violent criminals and druglords. This means certain drug offenders who are not affiliated to any illegal organization would not face grave charges.

"We will start by fundamentally rethinking the notion of mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related crimes. Some statutes that mandate inflexible sentences -- regardless of the individual conduct at issue in a particular case -- reduce the discretion available to prosecutors, judges, and juries," Holder said.

"They breed disrespect for the system. When applied indiscriminately, they do not serve public safety. They -- and some of the enforcement priorities we have set -- have had a destabilizing effect on particular communities, largely poor and of color," he added.

Holder has already ordered the Department of Justice to modify the relevant charging policies while waiting for the Congress to pass a new legislation regarding the change he recommends.

In addition to lowering drug use charges, Holder also announced that elderly inmates can now be released earlier, as long as they have not committed any violent crimes and served the significant portions of their sentence as well.

According to Holder, the United States account for more than 5 percent of the world's population, yet almost a quarter of the entire US population are imprisoned.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union commended the changes in the system. However, they are still counting on the Congress to take the next steps towards an improved justice system.