Europe has some of the lowest sentences for gruesome crimes, yet has the lowest recidivism. We imprison more of our populace than most other countries and have the highest recidivism rates.
Is that because we base our sentences off emotion? Should we be?
Sentences are too high for things in some area's where they can potentially work to undo what they did. They are too low for things that cannot be undone.
Example, someone steals a few thousand dollars from their employer, they can get decades in prison... when they should in theory be given the choice. Work to pay it back or go to prison. Better yet, be forced to work, even if they don't want to... until it paid back.
It is clear that business owners are politicians to get these kinds of laws passed for sentences.
Those that can't undo what they did, killing someone, sexual offenses... should be given a very humane execution after conviction.
They should be given the choice to kill themselves, or be blood eagled for a death sentence, that is plenty humane for someone who deserves a far more painful death.
For non death sentences, there should be a minimum sentence and then the victims or victims family should have final say on what kind of sentence someone gets, or how many years they get.
As long as the victim has a sentence, so should the perpetrator.
Otherwise to let them out is a travesty to torment the victim forever wondering if they will come back to get them again.
As a victim myself, the system did not do me justice and it destroyed me and continues to destroy me, daily. One cannot begin to heal until justice is done and since it was not done for me, I can never heal.
The system has made me this way and to the many others who it failed, it is creating a new generation of criminals some day.
If you realize that many victims who feel the system failed them, will ultimately turn into criminals. Then we ourselves through our very lenient sentences are also creating a new generation of criminals.
i don't think that the process of judgement has a big influence on recidivism. i agree that basing a sentence on emotions or opinion instead of cold hard facts is unfair and bad. but i think recidivism is more connected to the sort of prison environment you have in the usa.
in most places in Europe, prisons are state/government run institution with the explicit goal of "correction" of individuals and their efficient "reintegration into society"... if you have your prisons to be private, profit oriented companies, of course people will not become any better in that environment. in fact these prisons profit from you coming back into the facility, so why would they be interested in actually making you any less of a criminal?
In this country money determinees jail sentences more than emotion or logic. Here a hot shot prosecutor who wants to further their career and doesn't like to lose will take a look at the accused wealth and income and then if they see they can't possibly hire a good attorney will offer them a plea deal or face the full custodial sentence.
If u do the crime do the time I do say a pedophiles & sexual offenders and killers should have the highest sentencing. Then non violent crimes like Florida will put you 30 years on your first offense of robbery but... pedos get less time. That honesty makes no sense to me in some places. Same with even here in California.
It also makes it impossible to release people who were wrongly convicted.
Arizona is currently in trouble because their prosecutors told juries that convicts could be let out some day if they didn't get the death penalty. In fact there is the option of a sentence of life without possibility of parole. Even this SCOTUS found their actions unlawful.
@goaded They are not innocent. They are let go because of a legal technicality. It is not like the real guilty person suddenly gets found. They are as guilty as OJ Simpson.
Well, isn't that a clever response to a clear example of people being found to have been totally innocent after they'd be convicted and you'd have had them killed.
@goaded I have heard of Sacco and Venzetti as well. Two Italian Americans that got railroaded. They were tried and convicted of armed robbery at a shoe factory where a guard and another worker were killed There were many that said they were innocent but their innocence could not be proven and they were ultimately executed. They were members of an Italian anarchist group.. I think they were most likely guilty.
@goaded they're a few people who have slipped through the cracks in the justice system falsely accused, arrested, charged and convicted of something they did not do. Today it's pretty hard for a DA and detective to set someone up with all the technology we have now proving a lot of people's innocence but can it still happen yeah. But let's make no mistake pedophiles & serial killers that are found dead to right deserve the death penalty.
@goaded OK after reading that I see your point of view but LIFe in prison should be held to its highest standard so it would give the opportunity for actual innocent people to prove themselves through DNA and sets from DA and corrupt detectives who should have never been on the force.
Not sure if it is emotion, but I do not see the logic in many of the sentencing guidelines. I've seen people get a longer sentence for stealing a car off a lot than someone else gets for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
True, though I guess that would depend on context and details of each case. Though you are right that a better financed defense gets a better prison sentence. Not to mention who you know and can “lean on”.
Well I guess I’m asking then, which should be more a priority: logic or emotion? I can see an argument for emotion as it makes everyone feel better for a killer to get the death sentence. Even though it costs 10x more due to appeals, and likely won’t ever see an execution take place.
More of emotion. A jury of peers doesn't always equal logic. Bias can play a role. A judge can also reverse said judgement or increase/decrease suggested sentence based on their findings.
That’s an issue, they’re pressured by idiots like politicians and the media. Judges literally campaign on how many death sentences they’ve handed out. More in the south though…
I agree and can see an argument for settling the nerves of society with prison sentences. But logic will clap back real hard when we look at actual cost of death penalty cases and if the prisoner will even likely be executed before he dies of natural causes.
If we’re using the execution method we use know (primarily lethal injection). Yes it’s more expensive quick firing squad no, take them out shoot them in the back of the head quick easy painless. Of course a good rope and a long drop would also work. It’s not expensive to execute someone beyond the legal trouble. Get rid of the legal trouble once the death sentences is brought down them the criminal out back and execute them. Everyone knew Nicholas Cruz was guilty but now we get to feed him for the next 60 years assuming he lives into his 80s he will have a life he will become a prison bitch and be happy with the dude who is his prison man, he gets to have a life taste food fall in love with his prison husband and live a full in prison life. It would be better to put a bullet in his head and be done with it but noooooo takes to 1 vote he’ll have a great life in prison while the 17 boys and girls he murdered and now worm food
Uh the greatest country on earth. USA! Except in crime, education, lifespan, overall happiness, healthcare and guns. But other than that, best country on earth!
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