3 ms·

I wish we could get rid of this system by getting rid of the demand for it. Stores wouldn't need things like this if career shoplifters got sent to prison.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 3y ago
[flagged]
- gjsman-1000 3y ago
  We haven't, and I think it is fairly safe to say that rehabilitation and counciling programs to stop shoplifting would be far more expensive and ineffective than imprisonment; so we shouldn't hold out for a perfect solution over an imperfect one. Also, people don't shoplift just once for fun. A "relatively small loss" is quite large by the tenth time it happens because nobody got punished. EDIT: For "posting too fast," I would like to address the below comment. For the "it would be cheaper," you should look at how much rehab and counseling costs. For drugs, a 30-day rehab can hit as much as $27K, even if shoplifting rehab (if there was such a thing) would be cheaper. But even if it was cheaper, property crime has a recidivism rate of 78%. But secondly, you try to rationalize the cost of the stolen item to the cost of imprisonment. This doesn't quite make sense, because A. It values the losses of time, security, customer inconvenience, etc. to the store at $0; B. The store is paying taxes for... what, when they have no guarantee of safety; and C. Apparently the value of justice being served is $0 as well (it's only worth imprisonment if there's lots of money involved - but then, of course, why imprison anyone for their third DUI that didn't involve property damage?).
  - AnIdiotOnTheNet 3y ago
    > I think it is fairly safe to say that rehabilitation and counciling programs to stop shoplifting would be far more expensive and ineffective than imprisonment; I don't see how. The cost of housing a prisoner in the US varies wildly by state, but the average is $40k/yr. > A "relatively small loss" is quite large by the tenth time it happens because nobody got punished Again, those 10 events probably amount to an order of magnitude less than the $40k it would cost to house the prisoner. I'd much rather prison be reserved for violent offenders who are judged unsafe to keep anywhere else.
  - wittenbunk 3y ago
    The cost of prison is massive compared to counseling. Please stop presenting uninformed opinion as generally accepted fact.
crummy 3y ago
The article mentions many of these shoplifters are stealing things like nappies. Sending them to prison might mean the state has to take care of the kids.
- josephcsible 3y ago
  Isn't it really common for people to steal diapers to resell rather than because they have kids who need them?

AnIdiotOnTheNet 3y ago

[flagged]

gjsman-1000 3y ago
We haven't, and I think it is fairly safe to say that rehabilitation and counciling programs to stop shoplifting would be far more expensive and ineffective than imprisonment; so we shouldn't hold out for a perfect solution over an imperfect one. Also, people don't shoplift just once for fun. A "relatively small loss" is quite large by the tenth time it happens because nobody got punished. EDIT: For "posting too fast," I would like to address the below comment. For the "it would be cheaper," you should look at how much rehab and counseling costs. For drugs, a 30-day rehab can hit as much as $27K, even if shoplifting rehab (if there was such a thing) would be cheaper. But even if it was cheaper, property crime has a recidivism rate of 78%. But secondly, you try to rationalize the cost of the stolen item to the cost of imprisonment. This doesn't quite make sense, because A. It values the losses of time, security, customer inconvenience, etc. to the store at $0; B. The store is paying taxes for... what, when they have no guarantee of safety; and C. Apparently the value of justice being served is $0 as well (it's only worth imprisonment if there's lots of money involved - but then, of course, why imprison anyone for their third DUI that didn't involve property damage?).
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 3y ago
  > I think it is fairly safe to say that rehabilitation and counciling programs to stop shoplifting would be far more expensive and ineffective than imprisonment; I don't see how. The cost of housing a prisoner in the US varies wildly by state, but the average is $40k/yr. > A "relatively small loss" is quite large by the tenth time it happens because nobody got punished Again, those 10 events probably amount to an order of magnitude less than the $40k it would cost to house the prisoner. I'd much rather prison be reserved for violent offenders who are judged unsafe to keep anywhere else.
- wittenbunk 3y ago
  The cost of prison is massive compared to counseling. Please stop presenting uninformed opinion as generally accepted fact.

crummy 3y ago

The article mentions many of these shoplifters are stealing things like nappies. Sending them to prison might mean the state has to take care of the kids.

josephcsible 3y ago
Isn't it really common for people to steal diapers to resell rather than because they have kids who need them?