4 ms·

USA has a zero-tolerance policy so it might has to do with that, you can go to prison for pretty much anything. On top of that you add inequality, cost of educa

by Thaxll 6y ago

USA has a zero-tolerance policy so it might has to do with that, you can go to prison for pretty much anything. On top of that you add inequality, cost of education etc...

tyingq 6y ago
There's also quite a lot of "3 strikes" and "your misdemeanor is now a felony due to some prior conviction" type laws in the US. Similarly, fairly minor infractions while on probation/parole result in lengthy sentences via revocation.
- diogenescynic 6y ago
  And there are many more that reduce felonies like drunk driving or violent crimes to misdemeanors if some anger management or drug rehab program is attended. It goes both way and it’s not clear to me either is working very effectively.
  - tyingq 6y ago
    Yes, though I'm surprised that upgrading charges based on past crimes is constitutional. It just seems very odd to me to charge someone with something they didn't actually do.
    - myfavoritedog 6y ago
      to charge someone with something they didn't actually do Not sure how you can frame a previous "strike" as something they didn't actually do. The strikes were actual crimes with convictions. The legal notion of sentence modifications based upon various factors is nothing new. You can get extra time for committing a robbery if you had a gun when committing it, even if the gun wasn't loaded or fired.
      - tyingq 6y ago
        "You can get extra time for committing a robbery if you had a gun when committing it" That's something you did, and an actual named charge "Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon" or similar. Charging someone with a felony for repeated petty shoplifting is just odd though. They upgrade the charge to, "felony burglary", for example, when the crime clearly didn't fit the definition of "felony burglary" in the law. They have separate laws for how the "upgrade" occurs.
- josephcsible 6y ago
  Shouldn't people who just made one bad decision be given lighter sentences than career criminals?
  - tyingq 6y ago
    Judges already have broad leeway in sentencing.
a4isms 6y ago
Let’s be clear: It has a zero-tolerance policy for some people. Some get life sentences for crimes committed while juveniles. Others get an “Aw, they’re just boys being boys pass” for their entire lives, right up to being appointed to the Supreme Court.
- myfavoritedog 6y ago
  It's hard to take anyone seriously who took the farcical Kavanaugh accusations seriously.
chapium 6y ago
Did you read the article?

by Thaxll 6y ago

USA has a zero-tolerance policy so it might has to do with that, you can go to prison for pretty much anything. On top of that you add inequality, cost of education etc...

tyingq 6y ago

There's also quite a lot of "3 strikes" and "your misdemeanor is now a felony due to some prior conviction" type laws in the US. Similarly, fairly minor infractions while on probation/parole result in lengthy sentences via revocation.

diogenescynic 6y ago
And there are many more that reduce felonies like drunk driving or violent crimes to misdemeanors if some anger management or drug rehab program is attended. It goes both way and it’s not clear to me either is working very effectively.
- tyingq 6y ago
  Yes, though I'm surprised that upgrading charges based on past crimes is constitutional. It just seems very odd to me to charge someone with something they didn't actually do.
  - myfavoritedog 6y ago
    to charge someone with something they didn't actually do Not sure how you can frame a previous "strike" as something they didn't actually do. The strikes were actual crimes with convictions. The legal notion of sentence modifications based upon various factors is nothing new. You can get extra time for committing a robbery if you had a gun when committing it, even if the gun wasn't loaded or fired.
    - tyingq 6y ago
      "You can get extra time for committing a robbery if you had a gun when committing it" That's something you did, and an actual named charge "Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon" or similar. Charging someone with a felony for repeated petty shoplifting is just odd though. They upgrade the charge to, "felony burglary", for example, when the crime clearly didn't fit the definition of "felony burglary" in the law. They have separate laws for how the "upgrade" occurs.
josephcsible 6y ago
Shouldn't people who just made one bad decision be given lighter sentences than career criminals?
- tyingq 6y ago
  Judges already have broad leeway in sentencing.

a4isms 6y ago

Let’s be clear: It has a zero-tolerance policy for some people. Some get life sentences for crimes committed while juveniles. Others get an “Aw, they’re just boys being boys pass” for their entire lives, right up to being appointed to the Supreme Court.

myfavoritedog 6y ago
It's hard to take anyone seriously who took the farcical Kavanaugh accusations seriously.

chapium 6y ago

Did you read the article?