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I do find it interesting that probably many of these people would not commit crime if they were paid $50k per year to not commit crime (which would save money!)

I do find it interesting that probably many of these people would not commit crime if they were paid $50k per year to not commit crime (which would save money!). Unfortunately you could never do this as an actual policy because of the incentives, it's just interesting that they end up forcing us to spend so much money so unproductively. I absolutely believe that there is room for something innovative to be done here, but I don't think it has anything to do with incarceration.

conanbatt 8y ago
Yes, you cant pre-pay specific people not to commit a crime. I do think a UBI (basic income) would reduce crime enormously, if it were confiscated when they are in prison. It would be a powerful economic incentive.
- brewdad 8y ago
  I have no doubt it would be used to "pay" for ones incarceration. Thus adding more fuel to the dumpster fire that is the for-profit prison system in the US. Done properly, it could provide a strong incentive not to commit crimes. I have little faith that it would ever be done properly.
  - conanbatt 8y ago
    UBI would not defray the cost of incarceration. But even if I concede negative reactions, the bulk will definitely be positive. (thats my bet anyway). Remember most petty criminals make less than minimum wage.
    - Viliam1234 8y ago
      > Remember most petty criminals make less than minimum wage. Which direction is the causation? Do they steal because they are poor? Are they poor because they have bad behavior, such as stealing? Or is both stealing and low wage caused by a common factor, such as mental illness?
mch82 8y ago
Interesting observation. Can you elaborate on the “could neve do this because of incentives” caveat?
- dalbasal 8y ago
  If a court ordered that a convicted criminal get money for not committing crimes, the OP suggests that this would work better and cheaper than prison. The incentive problem is that people would commit crimes in order to get this deal.

conanbatt 8y ago

Yes, you cant pre-pay specific people not to commit a crime. I do think a UBI (basic income) would reduce crime enormously, if it were confiscated when they are in prison. It would be a powerful economic incentive.

brewdad 8y ago
I have no doubt it would be used to "pay" for ones incarceration. Thus adding more fuel to the dumpster fire that is the for-profit prison system in the US. Done properly, it could provide a strong incentive not to commit crimes. I have little faith that it would ever be done properly.
- conanbatt 8y ago
  UBI would not defray the cost of incarceration. But even if I concede negative reactions, the bulk will definitely be positive. (thats my bet anyway). Remember most petty criminals make less than minimum wage.
  - Viliam1234 8y ago
    > Remember most petty criminals make less than minimum wage. Which direction is the causation? Do they steal because they are poor? Are they poor because they have bad behavior, such as stealing? Or is both stealing and low wage caused by a common factor, such as mental illness?

mch82 8y ago

Interesting observation. Can you elaborate on the “could neve do this because of incentives” caveat?

dalbasal 8y ago
If a court ordered that a convicted criminal get money for not committing crimes, the OP suggests that this would work better and cheaper than prison. The incentive problem is that people would commit crimes in order to get this deal.