There is a surplus of laws for non violent crimes.
Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
21–30 of 85 posts
Re: Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm sure in a country of 300 million people it's happened before, but I don't know of an actual example, and certainly it doesn't happen enough to register even as a blip in terms of the number of people in jail or prison. People get held in contempt for refusing to cooperate with the legal process. Not turning over documents they are obligated to turn over, not testifying when they are obligated to testify, etc.
In fact, it has escalated to far longer terms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vN_PEmeKb0
That hearing involved a defendant accused of murder who demanded a new attorney for frivolous reasons. His vulgarity was not just rude--he prevented the hearing from moving forward. That wasted time and taxpayer dollars and also delayed further prosecution of the actual crime. That's a terrible example of a "victimless crime."
Also, as far as I know, the "10 year sentence" was just bluster from the judge, who promptly self-reported the exchange and recused himself from the case, not to mention was publicly admonished for it by the court.
Re: Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
Drug crimes cover only 16% of inmates in US state prisons [1]. It's higher in Federal institutions, but that's only about 15% of total inmates. I don't disagree that many drug offenders probably shouldn't be in jail, but the US could release all of them and we'd still have the highest incarceration rate in the world. [1] http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p13.pdf (table 13)
Take another look at this data from same source regarding Federal instead of State: Half of males (50%) and more than half of females (59%) in federal prison were serving time for drug offenses on September 30, 2014. [1] [1] http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14.pdf How many started that way or their crime involved weapons/money that were involved in a drug operation? How many repeat or lifetime criminals were first…
What is the average number of property crimes committed before a criminal is arrested and jailed? The crew that robbed my home hasn't been arrested for that crime. When (if) they are eventually caught, I want them locked up.
Re: Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
#24There is a surplus of laws for non violent/victimless crime.
Re: Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
#25Stop throwing people in jail for "moral crimes" such as drug use, and we'd see a massive decline. Victimless crimes, such as contempt of court for not being "respectful" enough of a sitting judge, or the like should never send you to a cage either. One could make a massive list of the ridiculous uses of our criminal justice system, and sadly many don't see it as a problem.
Drug crimes cover only 16% of inmates in US state prisons [1]. It's higher in Federal institutions, but that's only about 15% of total inmates. I don't disagree that many drug offenders probably shouldn't be in jail, but the US could release all of them and we'd still have the highest incarceration rate in the world. [1] http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p13.pdf (table 13)
That statistic only targets drug crime (possession, selling, manufacturing, smuggling), but not the associated crimes like theft, robbery and prostitution, or burglary/forgery (e.g. to get "legal" drugs from pharmacies or Rx blocks from doctors).
Depending on the crime, in Germany up to 26% of specific crimes (here: vehicle burglary) relate to known hard-drug users (https://www.polizei.nrw.de/media/Dokumente/Behoerden/LKA/Lag... page 5, section 1.9).
When assuming similar numbers for the US, I'd rather think of up to 40% of inmates in due to drug-associated crimes.
edit: Also, violence and gun crimes should be counted to drug-related, if the crime was committed in relation to "turf wars" or similar gang activity... and furthermore, drug convictions usually make a person next to unhireable, which leaves the convict without legal means to earn money other than social security, which isn't nearly as comprehensive and extensive as e.g. Germany's system. This in turn leads to more drug-related crime... all of which could be avoided by simply legalizing the most common kinds of drugs.
Re: Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Take another look at this data from same source regarding Federal instead of State: Half of males (50%) and more than half of females (59%) in federal prison were serving time for drug offenses on September 30, 2014. [1] [1] http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14.pdf How many started that way or their crime involved weapons/money that were involved in a drug operation? How many repeat or lifetime criminals were first…
What is the average number of property crimes committed before a criminal is arrested and jailed? The crew that robbed my home hasn't been arrested for that crime. When (if) they are eventually caught, I want them locked up.
Would you rather they pay you back than cause 30k+ per year to the taxpayer. How about they are in a job program and earn it back for you and garnished wages until it is paid.
Also did you have insurance? Did it cover it? Do you need someone locked in a box for years because of it? Is it that level of crime? What if you have a son and he did it, would you want him turned into a lifetime criminal? Our current system is basically locking people into a life of crime and bringing criminals together to further spiral into it.
Re: Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
#27Actually, the US prison population is declining in both relative and absolute numbers, and has been for the last six years.
Re: Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
Take another look at this data from same source regarding Federal instead of State: Half of males (50%) and more than half of females (59%) in federal prison were serving time for drug offenses on September 30, 2014. [1] [1] http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14.pdf How many started that way or their crime involved weapons/money that were involved in a drug operation? How many repeat or lifetime criminals were first…
Is it violent to sell drugs/alcohol to a minor? Does "violent" cover emotional abuse? How would you rather deal with such crimes?
Fines, repeated violations rise up the amount and possibly barring licenses, restraining orders, rehab programs, mental health, and more. Until it is violent there should not be an authority abducting and locking up someone causing tax payer dollars to be further wasted and creating more problems.
Re: Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
#29Actually, the US prison population is declining in both relative and absolute numbers, and has been for the last six years. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14.pdf
Wow this data is going down but look at this:
Half of males (50%) and more than half of females (59%) in federal prison were serving time for drug offenses on September 30, 2014.
Re: Why prisons continue to grow, even when crime declines
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
Take another look at this data from same source regarding Federal instead of State: Half of males (50%) and more than half of females (59%) in federal prison were serving time for drug offenses on September 30, 2014. [1] [1] http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p14.pdf How many started that way or their crime involved weapons/money that were involved in a drug operation? How many repeat or lifetime criminals were first…
What is the average number of property crimes committed before a criminal is arrested and jailed? The crew that robbed my home hasn't been arrested for that crime. When (if) they are eventually caught, I want them locked up.
I guess the question is how much would you pay from your own salary to lock them up. Because we are paying. Are we getting our money's worth?