120 increased use of pretrial detention is a solution to crime and violence is a common fallacy frequently invoked by public authorities, but there is no empirical evidence whatsoever to support it. It is also a politically irresponsible attitude, which shirks the responsibility for adopting other deeper and broader social and preventive measures. 323. The non-exceptional use of pretrial detention as a strategy of criminal policy constitutes not only a serious violation of human rights under the Convention and other international instruments, but is also a major cause of the severe crisis affecting many prison systems in the region. 324. Accordingly, the IACHR reiterates that the region’s States should adopt comprehensive public policies for their criminal justice and prison management systems, including both immediate measures and long-term plans, programs, and projects. These should be undertaken by the States as a priority and a commitment of all branches of government, not dependent on the varying interest that the government in turn may place in them or on the ups and downs of public opinion. 325. Such public policies should reveal the following essential characteristics: (i) continuity: be considered as affairs of State, and executed regardless of successive changes of government, (ii) adequate legal framework: be based in an appropriate legal framework and sufficient regulations, (iii) adequate budget: be supported by sufficient and relevant budgetary allocations, to be increased gradually and progressively, and (iv) institutional integration: which requires a serious and coordinated effort of all the branches of government, in both the formulation and implementation of these policies. Moreover, and as an essential precondition for the implementation of these policies, steps should be taken to stabilize the increase of the prison population.