This is evil...

[Larry Gude]

George Will: The sledgehammer justice of mandatory minimum sentences - The Washington Post

housands of prisoners are serving life without parole for nonviolent crimes. Gleeson, who is neither naive nor sentimental (as a prosecutor, he sent mobster John Gotti to die in a supermax prison), knows that most defendants who plead guilty are guilty. He is, however, dismayed at the use of the threat of mandatory minimums as “sledgehammers” to extort guilty pleas, effectively vitiating the right to a trial. Ninety-seven percent of federal convictions are without trials, sparing the government the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Mere probable cause, and the meager presentation required for a grand jury indictment, suffices. “Judging is removed,” Gleeson says, “prosecutors become sentencers.” And when threats of draconian sentences compel guilty pleas, “some innocent people will plead guilty.”

We are a sick people.

 

[MadDogMarine]

George Will: The sledgehammer justice of mandatory minimum sentences - The Washington Post



We are a sick people.

We have been sick for a very long time!. The tumor is just becoming more visible.

70% of the prison inmates in the United States are illiterate
200,000 inmates suffer from a serious mental illness
60% to 80% has a history of substance abuse while the number of drug-treatment slots in American prisons has declined by more than half since 1993
80% of prisoners in California are African-Americans
Last year California sent about 140,000 people to prison -- and released about 132,000. On average, inmates spend two and a half years behind bars, and then serve a term of one to three years on parole.
Almost two thirds of the people sent to prison in California last year were parole violators. Of the roughly 80,000 parole violators returned to prison. The gigantic prison system that California has built at such great expense has essentially become a revolving door for poor, highly dysfunctional, and often illiterate drug abusers. The typical offender being sent to prison in California today has five prior felony convictions.

One can make sense of all this when you realize this is a BUSINESS that has a deep interest in the BOTTOM LINE!
Many have heard of the military-industrial complex. Not so many have heard of the Prison Industrial Complex!

In the last 3 decades - prison industrial complex had been developed in the US-- confluence of special interests that has given prison construction in the United States a seemingly unstoppable momentum.
Since 1991 the rate of violent crime in the United States has fallen by about 20 percent, while the number of people in prison or jail has risen by 50 percent. Increase because of imprisonment of people who have committed nonviolent offenses. Instead of community service, fines, or drug treatment - to a prison term, by far the most expensive form of punishment.
politicians, both liberal and conservative, who have used the fear of crime to gain votes;
impoverished rural areas where prisons have become a cornerstone of economic development;
private companies tap into $35 billion a year spending on prisons
Spending on corrections since 1980s increased 5 times; there are more than 1000 vendors that sell corrections paraphernalia;
The growth projected 5-10% annually;
Private prisons keep 90,000 prisoners from 27 states
"Bed brokers," rent a cell facilities ($20 to $60 a day with $2.50-5.50 commission per man-day); trucking prisoners hundreds of miles through the country - threat to public order; escapes;
Wackenhut Corrections, second largest private-prison company has ravenous $1 billion a year;
U.S. Corrections Corporation - the largest private-prison company wants to buy and run all state of Taxes’ prisons;
globalization of the private-prison business: British private-prison company, Securicor, operates two facilities in Florida; Wackenhut Corrections is now under contract to operate prison in England; three prisons in Australia; and a prison in Scotland. It is actively seeking prison contracts in South Africa.
1 pay phone in prison generates $15,000 a year; MCI installs phones for free;
Government officials whose fiefdoms have expanded along with the inmate population.

Prison Industrial Complex

 

[LibertyBeacon]

This country is absolutely addicted to punishment. Maximum punishment, at all times, in all cases.

It is evil and demented.

 

[vraiblonde]

This country is absolutely addicted to punishment. Maximum punishment, at all times, in all cases.

I don't know how you can say that when people get off scot free for their crimes all the time. The guy who robbed my house had a zillion priors for burglary, assault, drugs, etc, that were all kicked out. Finally they put him on probation (woo woo!) and then gave him 6 years after 6 or 8 more burglary charges.

We see people all the time right here in SoMD who have any number of crimes that they don't get locked up for. And these are violent or burglary crimes, not some kid smoking pot.

In my opinion they don't lock up enough people.

 

[LibertyBeacon]

In my opinion they don't lock up enough people.

Yes, thank you for making my point.

 

[vraiblonde]

From MDM's link:

Last year California sent about 140,000 people to prison -- and released about 132,000. On average, inmates spend two and a half years behind bars, and then serve a term of one to three years on parole.

Almost two thirds of the people sent to prison in California last year were parole violators. Of the roughly 80,000 parole violators returned to prison. The gigantic prison system that California has built at such great expense has essentially become a revolving door for poor, highly dysfunctional, and often illiterate drug abusers. The typical offender being sent to prison in California today has five prior felony convictions.

Um, hello? What that tells me is that there are too many freaking criminals, not too many people in prison.

 

[vraiblonde]

Yes, thank you for making my point.

So you do not feel that criminals should be locked up?

 

[itsrequired]

This country is absolutely addicted to punishment. Maximum punishment, at all times, in all cases.

It is evil and demented.

I only wish. If that were the case, then we wouldn't have the crime we have. People talk about the prison industrial complex and more people in jail than ever before. They say this while boasting that violent crime is down and has been down, but are too stupid to understand the correlation between putting the "non-violent" offenders in jail before they can become violent.

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. If the consequences were the true conseqences and sentences were to the max all the time, you'd have very little recividism because those committing crimes would still be locked up!

 

[LibertyBeacon]

So you do not feel that criminals should be locked up?

Not what I said at all. Was merely making an observation that we as a society are addicted to punishment, and you backed up my point very nicely.

 

[itsrequired]

So you do not feel that criminals should be locked up?

He doesn't really have opinions, just snarky comments and bitchs and complaints.

 

[vraiblonde]

Not what I said at all. Was merely making an observation that we as a society are addicted to punishment, and you backed up my point very nicely.

Please clarify. Are you insinuating that I am addicted to punishment because I think criminals should be locked up?

 

[LibertyBeacon]

He doesn't really have opinions, just snarky comments and bitchs and complaints.

I think I just gave an opinion you sh!t simple moron.

 

[vraiblonde]

They say this while boasting that violent crime is down and has been down, but are too stupid to understand the correlation between putting the "non-violent" offenders in jail before they can become violent.

Not to mention that the whole idea behind incarceration is that criminals aren't out on the street committing more crimes.

 

[itsrequired]

I think I just gave an opinion you sh!t simple moron.

What insightful commentary. You keep that up and they might make you leader of your Mensa group.

 

[MadDogMarine]

From MDM's link:
Um, hello? What that tells me is that there are too many freaking criminals, not too many people in prison.

Since you mentioned California,see below, This same thing is happening everywhere.

Like I said. This is a BUSINESS that has only one concern, the bottom line and we all suffer for it. Rehabilitation and/or treatment are NOT in the best interest of the business. Nothing will change unless the business interests are removed from the equation and unions do not run the prison system.
The California Prison Guards Union: Still Profiting From Incarceration-mania | A Publication of Jim Gonzalez & Associates

4 Things Every Californian Should Know About the CCPOA:

1. Fighting to build more cells, walls and towers. Thanks to the lobbying efforts of the CCPOA, California has built 43 penal institutions since 1984, making it a global leader in prison construction. Comparatively, between 1852 and 1964, only 12 prisons were built in California.[2] Over the course of the last 20 years the Department of Corrections has become the largest General Fund state agency, reflecting a budget growth of almost $7 billion between 1998 and 2009. [3]

2. The 3 Strikes Law has crippled our state. In 1994, the CCPOA sponsored Proposition 184, the Three Strikes law, which was only the beginning of their membership growth bonanza. The majority of the 4,000-plus people imprisoned under Three Strikes committed a minor, non-violent third strike. According to the California State Auditor, these non-violent third strikers will cost the state at least $4.8 billion over the next 25 years – almost $200 million per year.[4]

3. Incarceration for profit: politicians kneel to the California Prison Lobby. In the aftermath of the Three Strikes Law, legislators and political office hopefuls alike began taking a highly popular tough-on-crime approach, especially during election season. The CCPOA, its subsidized crime victims groups, lobbyists and its members have contributed nearly $38 million to the California legislative and election process in the last decade, resulting in a prison system that costs the state more than public education does.[5]

4. The CCPOA has opposed nearly every “treatment in lieu of incarceration” program proposed. No one has more to lose from lower recidivism rates and higher rehabilitation turnaround than the CCPOA. The Prison Guards have spent millions to defeat treatment-over-incarceration proposals like Proposition 36, 66 and 5, which have been proven to save taxpayers money while decreasing recidivism rates.[6] The numbers never lie; out of the nearly $11 billion Corrections budget, 70% of it goes to pay salaries, overtime and benefits to the union and staff. Just 5% of the budget goes to education and vocational programs.[7 Many prison guards can make as much as $180,000 each year after overtime[8], while the average California teacher makes just $67,000 a year

And for those who claim prisons work.
Why Prison Doesn't Work: An Essay - SarahMcCulloch.com | Activism, spirituality and opinion

The first function given for prison, punishment, has always seemed to have the least force. Setting aside the dubious civility of a society which seeks revenge upon its citizenry, is spending £30,000 a year on keeping someone in prison when most prisoners really hurting them, or us? (1) Rehabilitation, a far more worthy aim, is chronically underfunded and ultimately useless in a system which is often referred to as a “university of crime”, where young impressionable offenders quickly pick up new skills from veteran prisoners and criminals and escalate their offences when they are released. Which leaves the protection of the public as the remaining reason, and the reason that prisons came about in the first place. Imprisoning those who threaten others seems slightly more justifiable. But this has to be balanced with the human rights of those convicted of crimes themselves – can we justify the imprisonment of such people? Does our society ultimately benefit from keeping people away under lock and key?

Now one should understand how the system works, in three easy steps!
1:Make sure the system DOESN'T work. Allow easy parole and releases for violent criminals back into society.(Create the situation!)
2:Expose to the general public how bad crime rates are through the TV and print media. Ensure horrendous crimes get maximum publicity to garner fear and support in the public.(Expose the situation that was intentionally created in the first place).
3emand more police funding, more concentrated power(e.g Dept. of Homeland Security) at the top under the pretense of needing to consolidate investigative resources and "sharing" of information(argument used so 9/11 wouldn't happen again), more laws to make it easier to "get" the bad guys through illegal spying or wiretapping(NSA spying receives a green light!) as well as to facilitate illegal "evidence laundering" to build the criminal base.
This happens at both state and federal levels in order to Maximize profitablilty when possible.
A recent egregious example of this:
Michael Chertoff's Conflict of Interest | Crooks and Liars

The Washington Post reports today, on page A7, that Michael Chertoff, the former DHS secretary, has been playing a little fast and loose with the public trust.
Since the attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day, former Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff has given dozens of media interviews touting the need for the federal government to buy more full-body scanners for airports.

What he has made little mention of is that the Chertoff Group, his security consulting agency, includes a client that manufactures the machines. The relationship drew attention after Chertoff disclosed it on a CNN program Wednesday, in response to a question.

(This last phase(#3) is called "offering the solution" to the situation that was intentionally created in 1 above and exposed in 2 above;Of course the solution makes for some very wealthy "insiders" and exponential expansion of power to satisfy their lust for control over the American people.

In case one has not recognized this process- it is known as the Hegelian Dialectic
Amerikan Expose | Hegelian Dialectic

Why is it important for you to understand the subject of the Hegelian Dialectic? Because it is the process by which all change is being accomplished in society today. More importantly, it is the tool that the globalists are utilizing to manipulate the minds of the average American to accept that change, where ordinarily they would refuse it.

The Hegelian Dialectic is, in short, the critical process by which the ruling elite create a problem, anticipating in advance the reaction that the population will have to the given crisis, and thus conditioning the people that a change is needed. When the population is properly conditioned, the desired agenda of the ruling elite is presented as the solution. The solution isn't intended to solve the problem, but rather to serve as the basis for a new problem or exacerbate the existing one.

Named after philosopher Hegel.
An interesting side note about Hegel:

Death of God thought entered philosophical consciousness through the work of German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.

 

[b23hqb]

Not what I said at all. Was merely making an observation that we as a society are addicted to punishment, and you backed up my point very nicely.

Punishment is an appropriate response to crimes committed. Society REQUIRES it, or there is no society.

Thank you, Hollywood and the "Robin Hood" media because:

We, in general, are also addicted to sympathizing with, near-worshiping criminals and celebrating them, especially in the movies and TV. Way too many shows/flicks past and present demonstrate that.

If people, educated or not, rich or poor, white or black, would stop committing crimes, being arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced, then this would not really be an issue.

 

[GW8345]

I agree, we are putting too many criminals in jail...................and not enough on death row.

Murders, rapists, child molesters, kidnappers, habitual offenders arm robbers, thieves (including ID thieves) and burglars, and habitual drug dealers should get one appeal, and if their conviction is upheld, put to death within three day. IMO, we are too lenient on criminals in the country, hell, we send them away to a virtual country club to serve out there sentence, we even give them a free college education and cable TV.

We need to make the conditions so unbearable that criminals don't want to go back, not look forward to returning.

 

[Foxhound]

I'm not too sure where I stand on this one. I know our system has its problems, however I don't know of any other system that is better. Yes we have hanging g judges, people who get off Scott free, innocent people jailed. There needs to be some fine tuning. adjustments. Not sure if a complete overhaul is in order. yes definitely needs to be tweaked.

 

[vraiblonde]

My final word on this subject is:

Until you are a crime victim, shut your ####ing face and quit championing those who prey on the innocent. If someone busted into your house and stole your stuff; if they raped your wife or child; if they shot you and left you paralyzed for life; if they had 8 or 10 previous offenses that they were never punished for - perhaps you wouldn't feel so sorry for them and boo hoo about them being locked up.

"OMG! We're just SO!! addicted to punishment in this country! Like, OMG! All judgmental and stuff! "

Shut the #### up, retard.

 

[LibertyBeacon]

My final word on this subject is:

Until you are a crime victim, shut your ####ing face and quit championing those who prey on the innocent. If someone busted into your house and stole your stuff; if they raped your wife or child; if they shot you and left you paralyzed for life; if they had 8 or 10 previous offenses that they were never punished for - perhaps you wouldn't feel so sorry for them and boo hoo about them being locked up.

"OMG! We're just SO!! addicted to punishment in this country! Like, OMG! All judgmental and stuff! "

Shut the #### up, retard.

Get emo much?