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Crime and Punishment
The prisons we build because we’re so terrified of crime, are doing nothing but creating more crime.
4 Responses to “Crime and Punishment”
Excellent point. I never really thought about it that way, but it makes a lot of sense from a logical perspective.
I’m really not sure why were punishing people who use drugs recreationally. We allow free use of alcohol and tobacco for adults, so why not other drugs? Just make the punishment for crimes committed while under the influence more severe.
“When you criminalize things that aren’t real crimes you still create real criminals.” – Penn Jillette
Our drug laws perpetuate a black market that is the cause of ruined lives, ruined communities and drug-related street crime. Our so-called “war on drugs” is a far bigger disaster even than our war in Iraq. But it does have some useful effects for the powers that be. Minorities are disproportionately prosecuted, convicted and jailed, and in many states, they can never again vote.
There is a case to be made for legalizing what are now “street drugs” to bring them into the pharmacy or other outlet in a way that restricts access to adults only, brings an enormous tax-free economy into taxation, and most importantly, stops the black market cold. Whatever our feelings about drugs in society, our current approach does not work. It is counterproductive.
There was a sea change in how crime and criminals are perceived (I thiink it started in the late 60s), and emphasis changed from prevention and rehabilition to putting them in prison and throwing away the keys. Criminals became all one class of criminals: something to be put out of sight and kept out of sight. Talk became all about retribution, and the voices warning about what would happen once these convicts were released were drowned out by those calling for toughter sentences and more arrests – for every and all offenses. It was a depressing time, because just before that, the field of criminology was abuzz about reoforms and salvaging lives.
Here we are, decades later, and things are getting worse. Our current system of dealing with crime is sch a waste of both money and human potential. I can only hope a new round of calls for reform is more successful than the last round.
What we need is one courageous state to start the ball rolling. Then, pwehaps, there might be copycats.
There are even crazy effects after jailing such a huge proportion of our population (a subject I commented on early this month.
If I rape, murder, assault, burglarize, vandalize, extort, and a list of a whole lot more ‘major’ crimes (but a minority of the offenses people are currently incarcerated for committing), after I have served my time, assuming that I feel ready to rehabilitate myself, I can go apply to college to get an education, and hopefully a degree, and break the cycle and become a productive citizen.
The government will even qualify me for student loans to help me in my efforts of rehabilitation, unless, of course, any of my offenses include any form of a drug conviction, including simple possession of marijuana.
If that is the case, then I am beyond the concern of society, and the government washed their hands and sends me on my merry way.
Now really, who is more likely to benefit from a student loan, and get their life together? A serial rapist or pathologically violent murderer or spouse abuser, or an 18 year-old kid busted smoking a joint?
Well, our government has given their answer, haven’t they, via the Higher Education Act of 1998.