But you already have insane amounts of people in jail.
Legolas Send a noteboard - 07/01/2010 11:22:19 PM
The United States has, according to Wikipedia, about 750 of every 100,000 inhabitants in jail. That is not merely more than other industrialized countries, but many times more. The UK has a fifth of that at 150 per 100,000, and other countries have much less still - around 100 or less for Canada and many European countries, and Japan apparently has 62 per 100,000.
Now I'll buy that the US may have more crime for all kinds of reasons and that a somewhat higher rate would be natural. But five times as much as the UK, and seven times as much as Canada? At some point you have to start asking what on earth you're doing there - particularly since it doesn't exactly seem like that prison population rate has reduced crime to levels below those in those other countries. The War on Drugs is a large part of the reason, I understand, as many of those 2+ million are in jail for drug-related crimes that wouldn't carry a jail sentence elsewhere. So really, allow me to say that you need less jails if you're going to save money, not even more. And of course such insane amounts of prisoners don't merely require very high expenditures on jails, but there's also the legal costs and the law enforcement that has to arrest them all and get them put in jail. Maybe if you were aiming for a somewhat more natural incarceration rate, you'd find that suddenly the police and legal system didn't need budget increases after all, and could even take a few cuts.
Now I'll buy that the US may have more crime for all kinds of reasons and that a somewhat higher rate would be natural. But five times as much as the UK, and seven times as much as Canada? At some point you have to start asking what on earth you're doing there - particularly since it doesn't exactly seem like that prison population rate has reduced crime to levels below those in those other countries. The War on Drugs is a large part of the reason, I understand, as many of those 2+ million are in jail for drug-related crimes that wouldn't carry a jail sentence elsewhere. So really, allow me to say that you need less jails if you're going to save money, not even more. And of course such insane amounts of prisoners don't merely require very high expenditures on jails, but there's also the legal costs and the law enforcement that has to arrest them all and get them put in jail. Maybe if you were aiming for a somewhat more natural incarceration rate, you'd find that suddenly the police and legal system didn't need budget increases after all, and could even take a few cuts.
Moderates, Idiots, Apathy, and Mass Hysteria – A post-holiday rant
06/01/2010 04:51:41 PM
- 994 Views
Re: Moderates, Idiots, Apathy, and Mass Hysteria – A post-holiday rant
06/01/2010 05:06:33 PM
- 555 Views
Re: Moderates, Idiots, Apathy, and Mass Hysteria – A post-holiday rant
06/01/2010 05:12:47 PM
- 382 Views
I generally agree with you
06/01/2010 06:10:45 PM
- 421 Views
Re: I generally agree with you
06/01/2010 07:11:22 PM
- 443 Views
you should sneer at asprin anyways *NM*
06/01/2010 07:55:29 PM
- 179 Views
It's the whole 'natural' thingy...
06/01/2010 08:14:45 PM
- 331 Views
if there was a berry i could stick up my nose...
06/01/2010 08:17:00 PM
- 462 Views
When spring rolls around again I'd probably join you
06/01/2010 08:42:05 PM
- 351 Views
well, just as a note to life expectency
06/01/2010 09:55:12 PM
- 344 Views
I dunno, I tend to prefer moderates above partisans.
06/01/2010 06:29:27 PM
- 447 Views
That's not really a moderate though
06/01/2010 06:51:05 PM
- 440 Views
This was a fun post to read.
06/01/2010 07:52:46 PM
- 402 Views
One tries one's best
06/01/2010 08:28:08 PM
- 484 Views
Jindal is well meaning, but he's a horrible governor.
06/01/2010 09:29:57 PM
- 348 Views
So I presume he is republican?
06/01/2010 09:56:42 PM
- 404 Views
He was seriously talked around for the 2012 pres bid
07/01/2010 01:05:35 AM
- 445 Views
you're not wrong
07/01/2010 01:11:17 AM
- 356 Views
It sounds harsh but sometimes cutbacks help
07/01/2010 02:58:24 AM
- 547 Views
That's true, but as LL said, the balance is completely off.
07/01/2010 05:30:56 AM
- 365 Views
But you already have insane amounts of people in jail.
07/01/2010 11:22:19 PM
- 392 Views
The higher crime rate in the US is something of a different issue
08/01/2010 08:26:00 PM
- 572 Views
I disagree with about 70-80% of what you said, but I don't have time ATM to go through it all
07/01/2010 02:00:02 AM
- 571 Views
I am unsure whether to be impressed or offended (and this necro is your own fault. )
05/02/2012 02:37:54 PM
- 493 Views