3 ms·

The people advocating to release ~1 million violent criminals are least likely to suffer at their hands. Hand on heart, nobody wants to leave next to a convicte

The people advocating to release ~1 million violent criminals are least likely to suffer at their hands. Hand on heart, nobody wants to leave next to a convicted murderer or drug dealer. Mass incarceration is a symptom, abolishing it is not a cure.

Sharlin 6y ago
Drug dealer? Seriously? You mean those people who happened to sell a couple joints worth of marijuana to a friend while black? Or those who just happened to possess a bit too much to be considered "for personal use"?
- Cthulhu_ 6y ago
  Both you and the grandparent are making sweeping generalizations; as with everything, there's various gradations in a crime and it's not a boolean equation. That said, I do agree that there's a large amount of people in prison that shouldn't be there, and the US prison system ensures people stay or return to prison later on.
  - Sharlin 6y ago
    I should probably have been clearer, but that was my point--the fact that "drug dealer" is too broad a concept. Even though some dealers are definitely career criminals, and some might also commit violent crimes, lumping a large majority of them in the same category as murderers is what got you (and other countries to varying degrees) into the whole mess in the first place. It is rhetoric only meant to scare people and shut down thinking.
- leetcrew 6y ago
  you're right, the range of situations that can be considered "selling drugs" is pretty absurd. for instance, if a bunch of kids pool their money to get a better deal on a larger amount, the one who actually makes the buy and splits it up can be charged with distribution even if they don't make any money off the transaction. that said, I don't think most people who aren't a part of that world would want to live next to an actual dealer. in some ways the "retail" folks can be the worst to live near. if they sell out of their home, it brings a lot of undesirable traffic to the area.
9nGQluzmnq3M 6y ago
This study by the NYU School of Law figures that 4 in 10 (!) US prisoners are either non-violent or have already completed long sentences, and can be set free with minimal risk. https://time.com/4596081/incarceration-report/ https://time.com/4596081/incarceration-report/ That said, I agree that reforming drug policy in particular would also be a great way to reduce mass incarceration.
danso 6y ago
Where in the article is the release of ~1 million violent criminals advocated? The story's focus is on California: > Newsom and the CDCR are prioritizing the 4,800 people who are within 180 days of finishing their sentences for the first round of rolling releases by the end of July, and then those with a year or less left to serve who are living in high-risk prisons like San Quentin. People in jail for violent offenses and perpetrators of domestic abuse are not eligible for release.
kjs3 6y ago
News: Maybe release relatively small number of non-violent offenders in California. Fake News: "Those people" want a million violent criminals back on the street! Murders and drug dealers in your back yard! You don't want "those people" running things. You have a bright future as a republican spin doctor.
- suryabeep 6y ago
  I agree with the sentiment of your comment but let's please keep the discussion civil here on HN and refrain from personal attacks like "you have a bright future as a republican spin doctor".
  - kjs3 6y ago
    Sure Mr. Karma of 6 with 5 comments and no submissions. By all means tell me how things are supposed to be on HN. Did I hit a little close to home?
thephyber 6y ago
> Mass incarceration is a symptom, abolishing it is not a cure. "Let's not let the cure be worse than the disease". The issue is not nearly as cut and dry as you express. Not all prisoners are violent criminals. Even violent criminals get released at the end of their sentence. Mass incarceration is an efficient stick when the better solution is an effective carrot.

Sharlin 6y ago

Drug dealer? Seriously? You mean those people who happened to sell a couple joints worth of marijuana to a friend while black? Or those who just happened to possess a bit too much to be considered "for personal use"?

Cthulhu_ 6y ago
Both you and the grandparent are making sweeping generalizations; as with everything, there's various gradations in a crime and it's not a boolean equation. That said, I do agree that there's a large amount of people in prison that shouldn't be there, and the US prison system ensures people stay or return to prison later on.
- Sharlin 6y ago
  I should probably have been clearer, but that was my point--the fact that "drug dealer" is too broad a concept. Even though some dealers are definitely career criminals, and some might also commit violent crimes, lumping a large majority of them in the same category as murderers is what got you (and other countries to varying degrees) into the whole mess in the first place. It is rhetoric only meant to scare people and shut down thinking.
leetcrew 6y ago
you're right, the range of situations that can be considered "selling drugs" is pretty absurd. for instance, if a bunch of kids pool their money to get a better deal on a larger amount, the one who actually makes the buy and splits it up can be charged with distribution even if they don't make any money off the transaction. that said, I don't think most people who aren't a part of that world would want to live next to an actual dealer. in some ways the "retail" folks can be the worst to live near. if they sell out of their home, it brings a lot of undesirable traffic to the area.

9nGQluzmnq3M 6y ago

This study by the NYU School of Law figures that 4 in 10 (!) US prisoners are either non-violent or have already completed long sentences, and can be set free with minimal risk. https://time.com/4596081/incarceration-report/ https://time.com/4596081/incarceration-report/ That said, I agree that reforming drug policy in particular would also be a great way to reduce mass incarceration.

danso 6y ago

Where in the article is the release of ~1 million violent criminals advocated? The story's focus is on California: > Newsom and the CDCR are prioritizing the 4,800 people who are within 180 days of finishing their sentences for the first round of rolling releases by the end of July, and then those with a year or less left to serve who are living in high-risk prisons like San Quentin. People in jail for violent offenses and perpetrators of domestic abuse are not eligible for release.

kjs3 6y ago

News: Maybe release relatively small number of non-violent offenders in California. Fake News: "Those people" want a million violent criminals back on the street! Murders and drug dealers in your back yard! You don't want "those people" running things. You have a bright future as a republican spin doctor.

suryabeep 6y ago
I agree with the sentiment of your comment but let's please keep the discussion civil here on HN and refrain from personal attacks like "you have a bright future as a republican spin doctor".
- kjs3 6y ago
  Sure Mr. Karma of 6 with 5 comments and no submissions. By all means tell me how things are supposed to be on HN. Did I hit a little close to home?

thephyber 6y ago

> Mass incarceration is a symptom, abolishing it is not a cure. "Let's not let the cure be worse than the disease". The issue is not nearly as cut and dry as you express. Not all prisoners are violent criminals. Even violent criminals get released at the end of their sentence. Mass incarceration is an efficient stick when the better solution is an effective carrot.