It's true, the jails are so clogged that pre-trial offenders can be held for months and sometimes years without a conviction in the U.S. Not to mention the indeterminate number of people who just disappear out of the computer system and end up being held for months beyond their release date.
What's worse, you could be thrown in jail if you're a witness, even if you're not even suspected of a crime. Some witnesses have been in jail for years.