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That's true, and it's because our prisons and jails have been beyond capacity for years. Elevating a bunch more crimes to felony status isn't going to change th
by tdeck 5y ago
That's true, and it's because our prisons and jails have been beyond capacity for years. Elevating a bunch more crimes to felony status isn't going to change that fact.
- refurb 5y agoHaving zero consequences for criminal behavior will make sure the problem only gets worse.
- tdeck 5y agoWhat relevance does that have to prop 47. Ok, so we repeal prop 47 and we pick up a guy for shoplifting $600 worth of merchandise. Yesterday it was a misdemeanor, but in this hypothetical it's a felony today. Yesterday the jails were too full to prioritize holding that guy, and that's still true today because reclassifying crimes doesn't reduce our massive prison population or build new prisons. The consequences are the same. The only difference is that now the guy might have to start telling prospective employers that he's a convicted felon, which doesn't exactly bode well for his ability to pick up an honest job.
- refurb 5y agoI would argue that, regardless of punishment, reclassifying serious crimes as misdemeanors sets a tone that encourages further law breaking. It's the "broken window" theory. Ignore minor crimes and you just create an environment that encourages more serious crimes.
- cloverich 5y agoClassifying a minor crime as a minor crime does not imply "Ignore minor crimes", esp. considering the minor crime can carry significant jail time. Lack of consistent enforcement (and the root cause behind that) appears to be the issue.