Skywalker, I was hesitant and deleted what I was going to comment about, and you took the words out of my mouth(almost). mostly about the over crowding of prisons and why we let hardened criminals set free.. One thing I wonder about is that "If" anyone on this site owns a small business, are they going to let some thug work for them knowing the have a record 4blks long especially when there's rape, theft, child molestation, ???.. I know I would be protecting my employee's and family.
Skywalker, I am right there with you. Our system is broken, and like the guy who posted after you, if I owned a business, pretty good chance I wouldn't hire one unless I somehow knew them and wanted to take that risk. But if you're talking about making all these criminals serve out their full sentences, we're talking billions of dollars required to house, staff and feed them. Id be all for it if they would only divert the money from some other place instead of raising taxes on us. Do you think that if they did serve out their full term, that you would be more willing to hire them?
If I was a business owner or a manager with the authority to hire, you can bet you bottom dollar I'm not hiring a felon. I probably wouldn't hire someone with much more than your basic speeding tickets. Why? Because that's my choice as the person providing the opportunity and I wouldn't be willing to risk my livelihood on the actions of others that have already proven to have a disregard for rules and laws. Do I believe people deserve a second chance? Sure, but it has to be earned and not given. The only answer I have is to find a way to put less people in prison, which means we have to deter people from committing crimes. Stiffer punishment would be one step, another would be better education. We need to have parents who are committed to raising their children to be productive, contributing citizens. To me, that can only be accomplished by weening them off the system, educating them and getting them out into the job market where they can understand what it's like to earn a living and contribute to the greater good instead of being the ticks of society.
Michigan 32% of parolee prisoners return to prison within 3 years, that means 68% don't return within 3 years. 61% are serving their first prison term 21% are serving their second It cost $94.13 a day per inmate, that's $34,357 a year. Average cost per student $12,000 in Michigan Above are stats and facts, not right wing or left wing bias, just numbers. What are your states numbers?
Well I believe I read somewhere that stiffer punishments has not done much to deter crime. Might not be that in itself as much as our inability to accomodate for those long prison sentences.
I'm pretty sure we have never instituted as stiff of punishment as what there should be. The punishment should fit the crime. You commit murder, you die. You rape, your castrated. So on and so on.
Why doesn't some left wing billionaire create a company for them all to work at Legitimately? My nephew had a few to many and punched a cocky cop and did a little time. Now he's phucked and can't get a job anywhere. Good thing he married money
68% don't return within 3 years, but the real question is how many are committing crimes, but haven't been caught yet or how many have been caught but are still awaiting the outcome of their sentencing, which takes way too long. Why is a criminal allowed to be out on bail for a couple years while their case gets passed through the system at a snails pace. I agree we need more funding to education, and find ways to supplement the cost of inmates.
What of theft? You pay back what you stole? How does one do that without a job? Dealing drugs? I dont know how to fit that punishment. Legitimate questions here, other than the two you mentioned, how would these fit the crime?
Innocent until proven guilty. That is why you're allowed out on bail, there are innocent people who get charged with crimes they didnt commit. Unfortunately our laws are designed to help those who are innocent, which creates many loopholes for the guilty.
So how does one "earn a second chance"? If a felon applies for a job and is turned down because he hasnt earned it how would you ever know if the individual was deserving or not? I happen to hire and fire for a living, I have hired people with no record and also felons (non violent crimes only) I can tell you that most of the folks I have gambled on and given the opportunity to "earn" their chance are still working here and great employees. On the other hand I have had people here that were hired with no record and left with one..... It can go both ways, just because someone hasnt been to prison doesn't mean thats not where they are headed. I do my best to live by the golden rule and I take that into consideration when put into these positions at work, more often than not when you give that guy a chance to do right and change his life with a good job when he can't even get hired at Jiffy lube or wherever, it typically pays off! People make mistakes in life. That being said I agree with the other 95% of this thread. Just my .02
Obviously not every crime has as equal punishment, but yes if you stole then you must pay retributions. They can pay by having any wages they earn garnished or having their welfare check garnished for as long as it takes. We are trying to answer how can we make it better, and lessen the number of criminals and inmates, not make excuses for why we can't punish them.
There's no excuse for it to take 2 years to get to a verdict. Also, there are plenty of cases where the judge does not grant bail, are those peoples rights being infringed on? They are innocent until proven guilty. Just by making the arrest and bringing charges, the legal system feels it has the evidence to convict, therefor your not really innocent until proven guilty anyways. If you have been convicted of a crime in the past, and are arrested and charged with another crime, I see no reason why you should be given bail. Easy way to avoid that situation is don't do the crime.
They earn it just like everyone else does, keep your nose clean, stay out of trouble, contribute to society, help others in need of help, volunteer. Show me that you have rehabilitated yourself, but I'm not hiring you right out of prison, sorry I'm not the guy you want to work for.
I agree I do, how ever it is kinda a chicken or the egg thing IMO. Joe walkin in off the street whether he has been free 5 yrs or 5 days may be looking to do just that, EARN IT! Sometimes providing the opportunity provides a platform for everything you just mentioned. Contributing to society, staying out of trouble, helping others, etc is much easier for someone who has been givin a chance to change their life. I nor you could accuratley determine in an interview whether or not any one individual has "earned" a chance more than the next guy.
I currently employ 7 felons, 1 in the office 6 in fabrication. All but one made stupid decisions when young, the other was a drug related issue and he is the first in line when we do drug testing because he is proud that he got back on track. In my opinion the system is irrelevant, those that choose to live that lifestyle will continue to do so and those that don't try to find a way to break the cycle. We can't rely on a governmental entity to fix people, only the person can fix themselves and if they choose not to then they will be back in prison or dead. Hopefully the latter to save us all some money. Everyone has to quit relying on the government to fix things, parents hold yourself and your kids accountable even when it hurts. You would be amazed how quickly things could be straightened out. And yes I've been burned by employing a felon before, got me for about $7,000 worth of goods before we caught him. The sad thing is I was told by the county attorney that it wasn't worth convicting him because the courts would let him go because he and his wife were using drugs at the time. How is that an excuse for a get out of jail free card? Wouldn't that add to the charges? Our entire system is f'd up, not just our prisons!
