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
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Re: Moderates, Idiots, Apathy, and Mass Hysteria – A post-holiday rant
06/01/2010 05:06:33 PM
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Re: Moderates, Idiots, Apathy, and Mass Hysteria – A post-holiday rant
06/01/2010 05:12:47 PM
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I generally agree with you
06/01/2010 06:10:45 PM
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Re: I generally agree with you
06/01/2010 07:11:22 PM
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you should sneer at asprin anyways *NM*
06/01/2010 07:55:29 PM
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It's the whole 'natural' thingy...
06/01/2010 08:14:45 PM
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if there was a berry i could stick up my nose...
06/01/2010 08:17:00 PM
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When spring rolls around again I'd probably join you
06/01/2010 08:42:05 PM
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well, just as a note to life expectency
06/01/2010 09:55:12 PM
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I dunno, I tend to prefer moderates above partisans.
06/01/2010 06:29:27 PM
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That's not really a moderate though
06/01/2010 06:51:05 PM
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This was a fun post to read.
06/01/2010 07:52:46 PM
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One tries one's best
06/01/2010 08:28:08 PM
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Jindal is well meaning, but he's a horrible governor.
06/01/2010 09:29:57 PM
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So I presume he is republican?
06/01/2010 09:56:42 PM
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He was seriously talked around for the 2012 pres bid
07/01/2010 01:05:35 AM
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you're not wrong
07/01/2010 01:11:17 AM
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It sounds harsh but sometimes cutbacks help
07/01/2010 02:58:24 AM
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That's true, but as LL said, the balance is completely off.
07/01/2010 05:30:56 AM
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But you already have insane amounts of people in jail.
07/01/2010 11:22:19 PM
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The higher crime rate in the US is something of a different issue
08/01/2010 08:26:00 PM
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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
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I am unsure whether to be impressed or offended (and this necro is your own fault. )
05/02/2012 02:37:54 PM
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