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There's an alternate explanation for that: that the harsher sentences made that population unable to commit further crimes by leaving them in prison. This cou
by Natsu 11y ago
There's an alternate explanation for that: that the harsher sentences made that population unable to commit further crimes by leaving them in prison. This could also be correlated with the rise in prison violence.
That would tend to make sense given that prison is not a deterrent, in the sense that studies have shown doesn't seem to make people less willing to commit crimes, whereas the state of being in prison certainly does restrict their ability to do so.
- tptacek 11y agoHow does that square with the evidence that the overwhelming majority of prison inmates serve (a) short sentences (b) only 1-2 times in their life?
- Natsu 11y agoThat would seem to make sense if the three strikes laws are as significant a factor in causing the increase in felony convictions as I've been lead to believe.
- tptacek 11y agoAccording to this research, those laws are not a significant factor in the prison population. (of course, that doesn't make them a good idea!)