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"Where other states are investing resources in, 'How do we help these people not come back into the prison system?,' California is not," says Adrian Moore, Vice President of Research at Reason Foundation.
The United States locks up more prisoners than any other country. And in the country holding the most prisoners in the world, California is the state that incarcerates more people than any other. California's prisons are so overcrowded that the Supreme Court ruled them in violation of the Eighth Amendment's "cruel and unusual punishment" clause.
Moore and others lay much of the blame at the feet of California's powerful prison guard union, the California Correction Peace Officer's Association (CCPOA), which is unrelenting in its advocacy for tough-on-crime laws, including California Three Strikes, under which any third-time felon can receive a 25-year to life sentence, even if the crime is not a violent, "serious felony."
Originally posted by sligtlyskeptical
reply to post by The Old American
No we can't afford to keep doing this. We need to get people working at productive endeavors. Once we find something productive for everyone to do then our wants will be covered and much of the deviant and criminal behavior will be eliminated by proxy. Those who can't adapt to that kind of world, where we work together to make things better for all, will likely be the ones in the cages. I think once people understand what we can have by simply being reasonable with one another, the need for most of the cages will be gone.
Originally posted by The Old American
Originally posted by sligtlyskeptical
reply to post by The Old American
No we can't afford to keep doing this. We need to get people working at productive endeavors. Once we find something productive for everyone to do then our wants will be covered and much of the deviant and criminal behavior will be eliminated by proxy. Those who can't adapt to that kind of world, where we work together to make things better for all, will likely be the ones in the cages. I think once people understand what we can have by simply being reasonable with one another, the need for most of the cages will be gone.
Top priority should be "how do we keep people out of prison?" Particularly drug users. If they need help, let's get them help, don't lock them up like animals.
People that should be in prison are violent offenders, child molesters, and politicians.
/TOA
Originally posted by The Old American
Top priority should be "how do we keep people out of prison?" Pa]rticularly drug users. If they need help, let's get them help, don't lock them up like animals.
Originally posted by The Old American
People that should be in prison are violent offenders, child molesters, and politicians.
/TOA
Originally posted by TKDRL
Once you are in the system, you are prettymuch screwed. You get to work a crap job that won't pay the bills, or take your chances at illegal means of income. It's set up that way, has been for a long time. Criminal records should be sealed to everyone except the DA and a criminal judge that resides over your case if you get charged with another crime. That doesn't benefit the greedy "criminal justice" system though.
“Did you really think we want those laws observed?” said Dr. Ferris. “We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against… We’re after power and we mean it… There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Reardon, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.”
Originally posted by GreenGlassDoor
reply to post by PurpleChiten
As a conservative who actually lives in California the option to permanently remove the death penalty is on the ballot this year.
I am voting for it. I do not believe the state has the right to kill people.
I am actually against everything you wrote. I would not want to live in a place you described.
Originally posted by TKDRL
reply to post by badgerprints
Labor camps? They only used to do crap like breaking rocks and digging ditches. Not exactly teaching any skills there. Unless you mean something new altogether, like teaching trade skills like masonry etc.
Originally posted by Golf66
Originally posted by The Old American
People that should be in prison are violent offenders, child molesters, and politicians.
/TOA
What then would you do with habitual thieves, swindlers and con men? What about fraud?
Originally posted by TKDRL
reply to post by badgerprints
Yeah, that sounds good to me right there. I was picturing the chain gang stuff. All that chain gang stuff really does, is make sure the convicts are ripped when they get out
Originally posted by TKDRL
I have hired "ex cons" when business was really really booming, and we got behind schedual badly due to injuries/illness. They were people that were trying their damndest to turn their life around, despite the uphill battle they faced. I met them through volunteering at places, where they were also volunteering to get some experience under their belts. They never did no wrong by me, the houses we worked in there was ample chance to, and some valuable stuff. Even I have been tempted before, just one or two pieces of artwork, sell them off and move to south america rich as hell But seriously, they busted their asses almost as hard as I did, and that is saying something. I hope learning a trade helped them out in getting their life together.