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First, this is very exaggerated. Criminals don't walk free. If you have an afternoon to spend, I recommend you go to a courthouse and see by yourself. You'll ge

First, this is very exaggerated. Criminals don't walk free. If you have an afternoon to spend, I recommend you go to a courthouse and see by yourself. You'll get a better sample than what some politicians may tell you. Second, France isn't a war zone and most of us live pretty safely and happy over here. More importantly, do you know for sure that the situation would be better with harsher prison sentences?

cm2187 11y ago
Well, things look very different whether you are in Aurillac or in Marseille. But some areas could possibly be mistaken for a war zone! (http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/marseille-tirs-de-kalachnikov-a-la-castellane-le-jour-de-la-visite-de-valls-09-02-2015-4518947.php http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/marseille-tirs-de-kala...). More seriously, the problem is not so much homicides than common criminality. Courts almost always give suspended sentences for petty crime, and even when the judge does not suspend the sentence, the policy is to automatically suspend it behind the scene afterwards if it's less than 6 months (juge d'application des peines). And if a criminal still ends up in jail, he would only ever do between half and two third of the sentence. The whole system is designed to be toothless. The example of New York City under Giuliani is a pretty spectacular example of the impact of a tougher penal policy against crime. I am not suggesting this should be the only response but I do think that no response will be efficient without it.
- Pxtl 11y ago
  Giulianis success in NYC was consistent enforcement, not harsher sentences.
  - ThomPete 11y ago
    And as many speculate the removal of lead in the gasoline. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27067615 http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27067615
    - RankingMember 11y ago
      Very interesting. On a similar note, John Donohue and Steven Levitt theorized that the result of Roe v. Wade and the resultant availability of abortions resulted in a drop in crime beginning roughly 18 years later: http://pricetheory.uchicago.edu/levitt/Papers/DonohueLevittTheImpactOfLegalized2001.pdf http://pricetheory.uchicago.edu/levitt/Papers/DonohueLevittT...

cm2187 11y ago

Well, things look very different whether you are in Aurillac or in Marseille. But some areas could possibly be mistaken for a war zone! (http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/marseille-tirs-de-kalachnikov-a-la-castellane-le-jour-de-la-visite-de-valls-09-02-2015-4518947.php http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/marseille-tirs-de-kala...). More seriously, the problem is not so much homicides than common criminality. Courts almost always give suspended sentences for petty crime, and even when the judge does not suspend the sentence, the policy is to automatically suspend it behind the scene afterwards if it's less than 6 months (juge d'application des peines). And if a criminal still ends up in jail, he would only ever do between half and two third of the sentence. The whole system is designed to be toothless. The example of New York City under Giuliani is a pretty spectacular example of the impact of a tougher penal policy against crime. I am not suggesting this should be the only response but I do think that no response will be efficient without it.

Pxtl 11y ago
Giulianis success in NYC was consistent enforcement, not harsher sentences.
- ThomPete 11y ago
  And as many speculate the removal of lead in the gasoline. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27067615 http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27067615
  - RankingMember 11y ago
    Very interesting. On a similar note, John Donohue and Steven Levitt theorized that the result of Roe v. Wade and the resultant availability of abortions resulted in a drop in crime beginning roughly 18 years later: http://pricetheory.uchicago.edu/levitt/Papers/DonohueLevittTheImpactOfLegalized2001.pdf http://pricetheory.uchicago.edu/levitt/Papers/DonohueLevittT...