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Post by freddyv on Feb 28, 2008 16:02:07 GMT -5
Report: 1 In Every 99 Americans Now Behind Bars U.S. Spent More Than $49 Billion On Corrections In 2007 wcbstv.com/national/prison.americans.prison.2.665053.htmlthat's a lot of money. we may need to rethink mandatory minimum sentences, three-strike laws, and incarcerating people for petty drug crimes. leave the hard time for the murderers, rapists, pedophiles, etc. |
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Post by JeffD5Buddy on Feb 29, 2008 8:56:28 GMT -5
I kind of agree but I don't..... don't break the law and you won't go to jail. That's always been my motto anyway.
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Post by freddyv on Feb 29, 2008 9:39:57 GMT -5
that's a good motto that I actually agree with. the law can be kind of screwy though. remember the case of the 17 year old high school senior in georgia that was sentenced to 10 years for having oral sex with a 15 year old sophomore? here's a link I found if you haven't heard about the story: sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=Wilsonyou can get the gist if you read the first couple of paragraphs. it just doesn't seem fair to ruin a kid's life for having some oral or smoking some pot. The punishment doesn't fit the "crime" (I use that term lightly in this case). you have to consider the source on this one, since it is an organization that wants to get rid of mandatory minimum sentences...but I just did a quick search and found the following: The U.S. Sentencing Commission and the Department of Justice have both concluded that mandatory sentencing fails to deter crime....Mandatory sentencing does not eliminate sentencing disparities; instead it shifts decision-making authority from judges to prosecutors, who operate without accountability. Mandatory minimums fail to punish high-level dealers.www.drugpolicy.org/drugwar/mandatorymin/ |
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Post by JeffD5Buddy on Feb 29, 2008 10:40:40 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I agree with a lot of those situations where people are made examples of or a law is too broad and someone that does something small gets a lot of time.... but I will say, ignorance of the law is still no excuse. Basically, I agree with you 100%, just know A LOT of people that seem to manage to live their lives without going to jail. Know what I mean?
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