5 ms·

He's saying that per the OP: As other people have mentioned, this is only strange because of our bizarre popular notions of crime and punishment in America. i

He's saying that per the OP: As other people have mentioned, this is only strange because of our bizarre popular notions of crime and punishment in America. is extrapolating. This isn't weird because of notions of justice (cue soapbox), it's weird because for anyone to become a Georgetown law professor is incredible, for a convicted felon to do it is difficult to believe, it's missing the forest for the trees.

mulmen 9y ago
I don't read the comment that way. If we consider prison terms to be the debt to society when they are complete they should be irrelevant. This means a person's ability to become a Georgetown law professor should not change based on their criminal record. This doesn't imply that all prisoners should become Georgetown law professors.
- microcolonel 9y ago
  Aside from poorly-drafted laws, committing a felony is a good signal to the rest of society, most of whom well never be convicted of a felony, that you are different in a way that makes you more likely to commit a felony worth charging. Your debts are not cleared when you've served your time, you are still a convicted felon even after you're out.
  - mulmen 9y ago
    If the debt is not cleared why let the person out at all? Why is a felony conviction a good signal for anything? We know convictions are disproportionate based on race and economic status. The executives at Equifax did a lot more damage to the American public than most drug offenders and yet they will never serve a day of time for their actions. You can't separate poorly drafted laws from felony convictions because the conviction itself carries the consequence. If the laws are poorly drafted the consequences are unfair.
    - KGIII 9y ago
      They let them out because they believe they are no longer a threat. That's different than what people call their debt, in that it is just a portion of the total debt. If not obvious, I don't agree with that sentiment. I think prisons should be about reform more than debt or punishment. Very few people pose a real risk and a significant number of them could be reformed, if studies are to be believed.
      - mulmen 9y ago
        Exactly. The system is a contradiction. The debt cannot be repaid because we offer no way to move beyond it.
    - alexanderstears 9y ago
      we know convictions are disproportionate based on race and economic status. we also know that all protected classes are equally likely to murder. The standard for guilt is the same regardless of any protected class status. The executives at Equifax did a lot more damage to the American public than most drug offenders and yet they will never serve a day of time for their actions. It's a sorry state of affairs that retribution is subordinated to wealth, but we can fix that with tougher laws.

mulmen 9y ago

I don't read the comment that way. If we consider prison terms to be the debt to society when they are complete they should be irrelevant. This means a person's ability to become a Georgetown law professor should not change based on their criminal record. This doesn't imply that all prisoners should become Georgetown law professors.

microcolonel 9y ago
Aside from poorly-drafted laws, committing a felony is a good signal to the rest of society, most of whom well never be convicted of a felony, that you are different in a way that makes you more likely to commit a felony worth charging. Your debts are not cleared when you've served your time, you are still a convicted felon even after you're out.
- mulmen 9y ago
  If the debt is not cleared why let the person out at all? Why is a felony conviction a good signal for anything? We know convictions are disproportionate based on race and economic status. The executives at Equifax did a lot more damage to the American public than most drug offenders and yet they will never serve a day of time for their actions. You can't separate poorly drafted laws from felony convictions because the conviction itself carries the consequence. If the laws are poorly drafted the consequences are unfair.
  - KGIII 9y ago
    They let them out because they believe they are no longer a threat. That's different than what people call their debt, in that it is just a portion of the total debt. If not obvious, I don't agree with that sentiment. I think prisons should be about reform more than debt or punishment. Very few people pose a real risk and a significant number of them could be reformed, if studies are to be believed.
    - mulmen 9y ago
      Exactly. The system is a contradiction. The debt cannot be repaid because we offer no way to move beyond it.
  - alexanderstears 9y ago
    we know convictions are disproportionate based on race and economic status. we also know that all protected classes are equally likely to murder. The standard for guilt is the same regardless of any protected class status. The executives at Equifax did a lot more damage to the American public than most drug offenders and yet they will never serve a day of time for their actions. It's a sorry state of affairs that retribution is subordinated to wealth, but we can fix that with tougher laws.