Posted on 05/02/2011 7:02:13 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Well said...
Most guys, when they go to jail for minor crimes, just want to serve their time and get out. They are minimal risk inmates.
However, the way the US prison system is set up, those who are relatively peaceful are forced to become violent or predatory just to survive and that is unacceptable.
The author’s argument leans heavily on anecdotal argument. What is needed is a list of the offenses that the author believes should not draw jail time and the number of people who are incarcerated for those offenses. Some of us might disagree with some of the offenses on the list.
Cost isn’t the only consideration, but those who complain about the cost of incarceration tend to ignore the costs that the public would incur if the perps were free — things like the cost of maintaining them when they cannot get jobs, the costs attributable to the illegitimate or criminally-prone kids they would father, and the cost of dealing with the crimes that some of them will inevitably commit because they are not in jail.
“Thank God we got penitentiaries.” - Richard Pryor
Cost isn’t the only consideration, but those who complain about the cost of incarceration tend to ignore the costs that the public would incur if the perps were free — things like the cost of maintaining them when they cannot get jobs, the costs attributable to the illegitimate or criminally-prone kids they would father, and the cost of dealing with the crimes that some of them will inevitably commit because they are not in jail.
You're forgetting the title:
"Overcriminalized America. Too many people are being prosecuted for what should not even be crimes."
The author linked the following article, "Overcriminalization: Sacrificing the Rule of Law in Pursuit of 'Justice'."
Former Attorney General Thornburgh wants a complete revamping and consolidation of the federal criminal code. It sounds like a good idea to get some reigns on Leviathan. It might be the only productive idea for a split Congress.
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