4 ms·

Would a prison dichotomy be a good idea? That is, the reformable criminals go to rehabilitation, and the ones for which there is no hope go in for life (or at l

by tormeh 9y ago

Would a prison dichotomy be a good idea? That is, the reformable criminals go to rehabilitation, and the ones for which there is no hope go in for life (or at least until old age)?

rectang 9y ago
What are you trying to optimize for? The American system exists to satiate our citizenry's craving for cruelty (and to express hatred for minorities), and in that capacity it is a resounding success.
- Unbeliever69 9y ago
  "so long will they be a little people, a silly people, greedy, barbarous, and cruel"
fjdlwlv 9y ago
So, in practice, white people in rehab, black people in prison? That's what we do now. See the Reagan era disparity in cocaine vs crack punishment
- tormeh 9y ago
  Why is it a problem for the free public that people get worse in prison if they never get out? Obviously there's something wrong here. While your caricature reflects an underlying truth, it's certainly way too exaggerated.
  - rectang 9y ago
    The systemic voter suppression of minority populations through felony disenfranchisement and disparities in enforcement are at odds with what Americans profess as an ideal, that "all men are created equal".
crucini 9y ago
But we sort of have that already. First offences tend to get lesser sanctions, including probation, which is an attempt to curb bad behavior without imprisonment. In California at least, the three strikes law means that three convictions above a certain threshold result in a life sentence. This sometimes makes the news when the third conviction is relatively minor, like shoplifting. California also has lifetime confinement for dangerous child molestors after completion of sentence.
- ktRolster 9y ago
  This sometimes makes the news when the third conviction is relatively minor, like shoplifting FWIW this has changed. Ever since prop 36, the third strike needs to be a serious violent crime.
- omegaham 9y ago
  And even with incarceration, there are opportunities for rehabilitation. When my SO was working at the county jail, they had "weekend time" for first-time offenders who managed to get themselves some time. You report every Friday night, spend the weekend in jail, and then get released Sunday evening. The idea is that you keep your job and ability to pay rent, but you still do time. If you fail to appear or do something stupid, you serve the whole term in jail. She said it was about 50-50. The people who behaved could do their entire term without even losing their job. Unfortunately, plenty of people didn't even show up for their first Friday, and then they'd be utterly outraged that they had to spend all of the next three months in jail. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

by tormeh 9y ago

Would a prison dichotomy be a good idea? That is, the reformable criminals go to rehabilitation, and the ones for which there is no hope go in for life (or at least until old age)?

rectang 9y ago

What are you trying to optimize for? The American system exists to satiate our citizenry's craving for cruelty (and to express hatred for minorities), and in that capacity it is a resounding success.

Unbeliever69 9y ago
"so long will they be a little people, a silly people, greedy, barbarous, and cruel"

fjdlwlv 9y ago

So, in practice, white people in rehab, black people in prison? That's what we do now. See the Reagan era disparity in cocaine vs crack punishment

tormeh 9y ago
Why is it a problem for the free public that people get worse in prison if they never get out? Obviously there's something wrong here. While your caricature reflects an underlying truth, it's certainly way too exaggerated.
- rectang 9y ago
  The systemic voter suppression of minority populations through felony disenfranchisement and disparities in enforcement are at odds with what Americans profess as an ideal, that "all men are created equal".

crucini 9y ago

But we sort of have that already. First offences tend to get lesser sanctions, including probation, which is an attempt to curb bad behavior without imprisonment. In California at least, the three strikes law means that three convictions above a certain threshold result in a life sentence. This sometimes makes the news when the third conviction is relatively minor, like shoplifting. California also has lifetime confinement for dangerous child molestors after completion of sentence.

ktRolster 9y ago
This sometimes makes the news when the third conviction is relatively minor, like shoplifting FWIW this has changed. Ever since prop 36, the third strike needs to be a serious violent crime.
omegaham 9y ago
And even with incarceration, there are opportunities for rehabilitation. When my SO was working at the county jail, they had "weekend time" for first-time offenders who managed to get themselves some time. You report every Friday night, spend the weekend in jail, and then get released Sunday evening. The idea is that you keep your job and ability to pay rent, but you still do time. If you fail to appear or do something stupid, you serve the whole term in jail. She said it was about 50-50. The people who behaved could do their entire term without even losing their job. Unfortunately, plenty of people didn't even show up for their first Friday, and then they'd be utterly outraged that they had to spend all of the next three months in jail. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.