First-time, non-violent criminals do not belong in prison.

[Jehanne]

In my opinion, prisons exist to protect Society (which includes criminals themselves) from those who would commit physical harm against persons or property and from chronic, repeat non-violent offenders who could simply be an excessive burden on the police, courts, insurance companies, etc

It is neither just nor cost-effective to punish non-violent offenders with jail time. Society can instead give them fines, list them on registries, make them do community service, monitor their movements, etc.

With the federal debt soaring to new heights, does the mass incarceration in the United States even make sense?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

In my opinion, prisons exist to protect Society (which includes criminals themselves) from those who would commit physical harm against persons or property and from chronic, repeat non-violent offenders who could simply be an excessive burden on the police, courts, insurance companies, etc

It is neither just nor cost-effective to punish non-violent offenders with jail time.  Society can instead give them fines, list them on registries, make them do community service, monitor their movements, etc.

With the federal debt soaring to new heights, does the mass incarceration in the United States even make sense?

I can think of plenty of non-violent, first time offenders who merit prison time.

-Ponzi schemers who bilk pensioners out of their savings.

-Caregivers who do the same.

-Manufacturers who knowingly sell defective products that cause harm.

-DUI offenders (yes, first time).

-Poachers.

-Slumlords.

-Purveyors of child pornography.

Want to ease the burden on you prison system? Decriminalize drugs, then you’ll have plenty of room for the above.

Boru

Edit: You know what punishment-by-fine is? Legalization of criminal activity for the wealthy.

[Jehanne]

I suppose that this is one of the positive things about the $30 trillion in national debt, in that mass incarceration will become less affordable over time!

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I suppose that this is one of the positive things about the $30 trillion in national debt, in that mass incarceration will become less affordable over time!

The solution to mass incarceration is to make fewer actions criminal offenses, not to reward the behaviours I listed with the non-punishment punishments you listed.

Boru

[Jehanne]

I don't want a purveyor of crack on my neighborhood street corner.

[Fake Messiah]

There already is leniency for first-time offenders.

This is because first-time offenders are usually treated with more leniency than those who are habitual offenders (those who have offended more than once). It is often believed that first-time offenders are less likely to reoffend after committing their first crime when they have no other history of criminal offenses.

https://vindicatelaw.com/how-can-being-a...your-case/

[arewethereyet]

If you need to be listed on a registry, your offence is not non-violent, and you do need to be separated from society.

Coming in the side door with the same topic doesn't make it a different topic.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I don't want a purveyor of crack on my neighborhood street corner.

But he’s one of those non-violent offenders. You want to fine him AND force him to move? Or maybe you want him to do his community service in any community but yours.

NIMBY

Boru

Edit: and just FYI, mass incarceration in the US is a fucking money machine. The benefits from all that slave labour greatly eclipses what it costs to feed and house those slaves, so your whinging about the national debt is immaterial.

Boru

[Silver]

Burn down all the prisons. Problem solved.

[Jehanne]

I don't want a purveyor of crack on my neighborhood street corner.

But he’s one of those non-violent offenders. You want to fine him AND force him to move? Or maybe you want him to do his community service in any community but yours.

NIMBY

Boru

Edit: and just FYI, mass incarceration in the US is a fucking money machine. The benefits from all that slave labour greatly eclipses what it costs to feed and house those slaves, so your whinging about the national debt is immaterial.

Boru

Legalizing drugs would mean giving such legitimacy, which means that a crack dealer could rent space right next to the neighborhood laundromat, probably making more money.