Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
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Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
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Re: Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
#2This all makes me so sad. I wish I knew how to help change the situation.
Re: Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
#3Wow, very powerful article. I agree that our prison system is America's biggest moral wrong, and I hope that history books in 50 years write about how sad and unjust it is in our time.
That said, does anyone know what proposed solutions are? When the author talks of abolishing the prison system in exchange for higher crime rates (and potentially even more deaths by the state), does he literally mean we should close all prisons (like he seems to say near the end)? I'd love to see more articles / writing about this, and proposed solutions with specifics about how many people could be removed from the prison system, estimates for increases in capital punishment (if arguing we should have more), etc.
Re: Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
#4Wow, very powerful article. I agree that our prison system is America's biggest moral wrong, and I hope that history books in 50 years write about how sad and unjust it is in our time. That said, does anyone know what proposed solutions are? When the author talks of abolishing the prison system in exchange for higher crime rates (and potentially even more deaths by the state), does he literally mean we should close a…
The problem presented is very real, but the proposed "solution" is absurd. There are plenty of way functional prison systems. As long as we stop dehumanizing felons and normalizing crimes against them, I see no reason why reform is impossible.
Re: Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
#5This all makes me so sad. I wish I knew how to help change the situation.
Hire convicts, provide good jobs--and vote the bastards out.
Re: Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
#6http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/feb...
This also links to other resources on the subject, and discusses some of the startling stats in the OP (like that in the US more men are raped than women, because of prison rape).
Re: Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
#7Re: Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
#8Wow, very powerful article. I agree that our prison system is America's biggest moral wrong, and I hope that history books in 50 years write about how sad and unjust it is in our time. That said, does anyone know what proposed solutions are? When the author talks of abolishing the prison system in exchange for higher crime rates (and potentially even more deaths by the state), does he literally mean we should close a…
The only way to get this fixed (peacefully) is to raise a ruckus and get the public to fight their elected officials into Doing the Right Thing.
You can bet your ass that the number of dollars able to be rallied for this purpose is dwarfed by the incumbent interests. Further, it's trivial to say "Do you want to have your kid growing up next to an evil ~=felon=~?" and sway votes, because people are not rational above family-unit decisions.
So, understanding that it's probably a hopeless cause, the best thing you can do is support ex-felons, help them find work and learn useful skills, and vote whenever possible for anything that helps curtail or curb the police state.
That means voting for legalization of everything, full stop. That means voting for reduced surveillance powers, full stop. That means voting for less defense spending, full stop. That means voting for fewer crimes and smaller police forces, full stop. Anything else is playing into the hands of the oppressors.
Re: Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hire convicts, provide good jobs--and vote the bastards out.
Supporting your first suggestion -- what are the best ways to improve education opportunities for prisoners?
I don't know offhand, and I kind of wish that I did.
I imagine that you could probably talk to parole officers or local-nonprofits and ask for more information. If you hear about somebody getting out of the clink, offer to help I guess?
I assume it's basically like trying to setup help for any other underserved demographic. Identify them, identify their needs, and see if you have or know something worth contributing.
Re: Raise the Crime Rate (2012)
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
Supporting your first suggestion -- what are the best ways to improve education opportunities for prisoners?
I don't know offhand, and I kind of wish that I did. I imagine that you could probably talk to parole officers or local-nonprofits and ask for more information. If you hear about somebody getting out of the clink, offer to help I guess? I assume it's basically like trying to setup help for any other underserved demographic. Identify them, identify their needs, and see if you have or know something worth contributing.
The Last Mile at San Quentin seems interesting. http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/03/bringi...