3 ms·

That's an interesting legal difference, but what's the moral difference? "Pay me to drop the lawsuit" and "pay me to drop the charges" feel like pretty much the

That's an interesting legal difference, but what's the moral difference? "Pay me to drop the lawsuit" and "pay me to drop the charges" feel like pretty much the same thing to me.

umanwizard 9y ago
Because the state has an interest in punishing criminals whether the victim wants them to be punished or not.
- Dylan16807 9y ago
  In theory, but it's hard to punish a criminal in a minor crime when the victim doesn't want to cooperate. So the end result again feels pretty similar.
  - will_hughes 9y ago
    Change the values there a bit and see how you still feel. Walmart won't report you to the police if you agree to - pay them $5000? - undertake a voluntary 'community service program' at a Walmart designated location (store cleaner on the shift nobody wants at Walmart) for 20 hours per week for 12 months Remember, that one conviction for minor shoplifting could permanently impact your life. Eg: limiting job opportunities, places you can live, whether you get to see your children in a custody dispute, whether you are entitled to vote or stand for election. If Walmart knew someone had virtually no other option, they could press their unfair advantage.
    - Dylan16807 9y ago
      A civil suit could easily be $5000, so what's the big difference? And minor shoplifting is not a felony. I'm not sure you understand my point. I'm not saying the extortion is a good idea, I'm saying it's not all that different from civil not-extortion tactics.
    - Houshalter 9y ago
      If the criminal wasn't better off under those terms, they wouldn't accept them. Extortion actually benefits the criminals, it doesn't hurt them. In fact the only reason it's illegal is because of that. The state doesn't want criminals to get off easier. Or so parent comment was arguing. If you think the justice system is as bad as you claim, you should prefer Walmarts arrangement.
  - jessriedel 9y ago
    The fact that some cases of extortion are hard to prevent does not make me want to prevent other cases any less.

That's an interesting legal difference, but what's the moral difference? "Pay me to drop the lawsuit" and "pay me to drop the charges" feel like pretty much the same thing to me.

umanwizard 9y ago

Because the state has an interest in punishing criminals whether the victim wants them to be punished or not.

Dylan16807 9y ago
In theory, but it's hard to punish a criminal in a minor crime when the victim doesn't want to cooperate. So the end result again feels pretty similar.
- will_hughes 9y ago
  Change the values there a bit and see how you still feel. Walmart won't report you to the police if you agree to - pay them $5000? - undertake a voluntary 'community service program' at a Walmart designated location (store cleaner on the shift nobody wants at Walmart) for 20 hours per week for 12 months Remember, that one conviction for minor shoplifting could permanently impact your life. Eg: limiting job opportunities, places you can live, whether you get to see your children in a custody dispute, whether you are entitled to vote or stand for election. If Walmart knew someone had virtually no other option, they could press their unfair advantage.
  - Dylan16807 9y ago
    A civil suit could easily be $5000, so what's the big difference? And minor shoplifting is not a felony. I'm not sure you understand my point. I'm not saying the extortion is a good idea, I'm saying it's not all that different from civil not-extortion tactics.
  - Houshalter 9y ago
    If the criminal wasn't better off under those terms, they wouldn't accept them. Extortion actually benefits the criminals, it doesn't hurt them. In fact the only reason it's illegal is because of that. The state doesn't want criminals to get off easier. Or so parent comment was arguing. If you think the justice system is as bad as you claim, you should prefer Walmarts arrangement.
- jessriedel 9y ago
  The fact that some cases of extortion are hard to prevent does not make me want to prevent other cases any less.