Incarceration Nation: Get-tough policies cause more crime, deny inmates a future, are unaffordable

[Bozita]

This is the lead editorial in today's Detroit Free Press.

Kansas is doing some interesting and effective stuff with its inmate population, but you'll have to go to the link for it.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080713/OPINION01/807130485

Get-tough policies cause more crime, deny inmates a future
JULY 13, 2008

U.S. taxpayers spend at least $60 billion a year on a growing body of state and federal prisons, county jails and local lockups. With jail and prison populations that have increased nearly eightfold over the past 35 years, the United States has become the world's leading jailer.

More than one in every 100 U.S. adults is locked up -- and 5 million more are on probation or parole. At any given time, one in 32 adults is under the supervision of the criminal justice system.

Tough-on-crime policies, not increases in crime, are mostly responsible. Mandatory drug sentences, three-strike and so-called truth-in-sentencing laws, as well as high recidivism rates, have created our Incarceration Nation. Even so, violent crime rates are higher than when the nation's prison building boom started more than three decades ago.

-snip-

Mass incarceration has created economic and human costs the nation can no longer afford. Michigan spends $2 billion a year on corrections, or 20% of its general fund. It is one of four states spending more on corrections than higher education.

-snip-

more, lots more ...

[PDJane]

1. The thing is,

you spend it either on education and programmes to assist people reach their full potential, or you spend it on corrections and jails.

The former seems to me to be more productive and quite a bit more helpful in the long run.

[bronxiteforever]

2. Investment in children and neighborhoods are essential to a safe and secure United States

How many times must we learn this lesson?

Iraq war spending for one month diverted to the poorest areas of this country would be trashed by the GOP as tax and spend liberal policies. God Help Us if we don't change the way this country treats its children. All of its children.

[Kali]

3. OR you create allowances for them to join the military

and viola! you have your world police force with no muss no fuss

[indepat]

4. Oh the joys of a living in a 'puke-controlled society

:D

[Fumesucker]

5. If you think it is only Republicans driving the high incarceration rate, you are sadly mistaken

There is nothing in politics more bipartisan than the drug war.

[indepat]

6. Yep, Dems regularly shit their pants in abject fear of being labeled weak/too soft on national

defense, communism, terra, crime, drugs, you name it, thereby allowing 'pukes to set the national agenda. :D