[DIRTYSECRET]

Put the drug abusers on an island. Give them all the drugs they want. Problem solved.

[Paladin2]

This study sounds flawed. Maybe there is a correlation between the severity of the initial crime (and hence sentence length) and the propensity to err again.

[BenLurkin]

Dear Michigan,

Three Strikes works.

[Celtic Conservative]

I work in a Michigan prison. The way they've been able to close or consolidate 25 facilities in 10 years is to turn a LOT of felons back out to the streets. Trust me, the ones that are still inside are the ones that need to be there.

CC

[proxy_user]

If you look at the kind of sentences that were prevalent, say, in the 1890-1910 period, we have greatly increased punishments.

In 1900, a guy could beat up a cop, and get six months. Don’t try that today.

Moreover, when guys got out of jail, nobody thought much of it. They went back to their job at the factory and that was that.

There is a lot to be said for this. The key to crime reduction is not the length of the sentence, but the certainty of punishment. If you know you’re definitely going to jail, you’re far less likely to commit a crime. Our method is exactly the opposite. You have one chance in a hundred of serving 20 years, but you probably won’t be caught.

[Lizavetta]

We undermine our society when we cut off offenders from their responsibilities to their families and the stability of a job.

I reject this premise. Criminals tend not to hold jobs or be responsible.

[Gay State Conservative]

Too many?