People often say the United States has too many people in prison. Should we release them?

[CAPTAIN-OBVIOUS]

Yes, release them already. It’s about time.

No, keep them in there. They are in there for a reason and our safety is important.

[Quackthulu2]

The United States has too many people. Why would you want to make it even worse by letting the ones who have already proven they are unable to behave themselves back into public?

[PickleTree]

The people who say that, often point to China, and use them as a role model. lol

[PickleTree]

Thanks for the MHO

[OlderAndWiser]

If we would be exposed to more danger if they are released, then we don't have too many inmates in prison.

[PraviteliNahuiValite]

Oh, people are always yapping about how there are too many folks locked up in the clink. But let me tell ya, if you can't do the time, don't do the crime. These criminals knew what they were getting into when they broke the law, so why should we just let 'em walk free? Personally, I say we throw 'em all in a pit and let 'em fight it out like animals. The strong survive, and the weak get shanked with a toothbrush. It's a win-win, really. So if you're asking me whether we should release these prisoners, my answer is a resounding hell no. Let 'em rot in their cells and suffer the consequences of their actions.

[Daniela1982]

No, there are too many people deserve to be there. And too many people who are let out just turn around and kill again. We are all complaining about crime and why people are not held accountable for their crimes, and yet you want to let people out who were? But on the other hand, if you do make sure to notify their victim's family so they can be waiting for them to even the score.

[Astarlessnightsky]

The problem is, most people are only in prison not because they are guilty and deserve to complete their sentence, but because the prison system is a mulitbillion dollar industry, the inmates are sitting in prison to make money for some rich guys.

Everywhere else is a cause for celebration when prisons are empty, in the US its an economic crisis when they are only half full.

[notwoke]

that's just patently untrue. You suggesting most people in prison are these after their sentences are over, or that we put a bunch of people in prison that aren't guilty of a crime. Neither of those conditions are correct

[zagor]

Propaganda. Yeah, there are lots of people in prison who shouldn't be. There are also a lot of people not there who should be. If you think a car with something on the seat and a brick on the ground is an opportunity, then you should be there.

[msc545]

@notwoke People accused of crimes in the US do not get adequate legal representation unless they are wealthy. A private criminal defense attorney gets a $ 50,000 retainer at the beginning of a case, and that does not last long. The majority of people cannot afford that, and they get instead a public defender who is overworked and underpaid, and who gets the m a plea bargain in which they go to prison, albeit for a somewhat lesser time than they would have had they represented themselves.

Given the financial barrier to adequate legal representation, - there are MANY people in US prisons serving unreasonable long sentences, and many people who really aren't guilty of any crime except not having ehough money.

[zagor]

@msc545 True, but there are also a lot of people who don't get charged and then go out and continue to commit crimes.

[msc545]

More importantly, and perhaps of greater relevance is the fact that there are an awful lot of people who just simply don't get caught. Police tend to be lazy and decisions about which cases to investigate and which to ignore are highly political in nature.

[notwoke]

@msc545 untrue, people breaking the law are given chance after chance, especially first time offenders. Pants up... dont loot

[msc545]

@notwoke Try doing a serious crime and see how much leniency you get.

[notwoke]

@msc545 how about try NOT doing a serious crime, then you'll get all the leniency in the world

[msc545]

No you still won't.

[notwoke]

@msc545 and for a serious crime... YOU SHOULDN"T! other wise there will be more serious crime with innocent victims. What about them?

[msc545]

@notwoke Symmetrically, you should also feel bad about the innocent people sent to prison by our inadequate system of legal "assistance".

[notwoke]

@msc545 I don't, again, no one gets shot by the police while mowing their grass or doing homework. nothing good comes from going to the ATM at 2am

[msc545]

@notwoke I have seen for myself a young black, man, unarmed and not aggressive at all, shot to death standing in his front yard by LA County Sheriff's deputies. Those cops are now being tried for murder. Don't delude yourself into believing this never happens.

[notwoke]

@msc545 so that means lets set the 10,000 guilty criminals free? the cops are being held responsible so you proved my point

[msc545]

@notwoke Do you have a problem with reading comprehension? I ask because unless you do you could not have inferred what you wrote from what I said.

[notwoke]

@msc545 no my reading comprehension is fine. If the cops are being tried for this, then it invalidates your premise that this is widespread and unchecked. there fore no need to start setting criminal free

[msc545]

@notwoke How exactly does it invalidate anything?

[notwoke]

@msc545 you just gave an example of how "bad cops" are taken to task. therefore why would be need to release criminals that are almost certainly guilty. If you move to a third world country you can be somewhere where you can break the law and not pay much consequences if that' your choice

[msc545]

@notwoke You ae not making any sense at all.

[notwoke]

@msc545 that's only because you belivee criminals deserve better treatment than their victims, probably because most of the criminals look like you

[msc545]

@notwoke where are you getting these ideas?

[notwoke]

@msc545 you sound like the wacknut politician in California who blames Toyota for the rise in catalytic converter thefts. She said Toyota is at fault for not making them harder to steal.

[msc545]

@notwoke I've never said a word about Toyota or catalytic converters at all. What the hell do you get this stuff?

[Tyrael]

You need to do away with minimum sentencing for minor drug offences and instead focus on the treatment of drug addiction instead. And release everyone who got locked up because of this idiotic minimum sentencing, like for having a small amount of marijuana on them.

[notwoke]

lower consequences for doing drugs will lead to more drug addicts

[Tyrael]

Not true. Increasing treatments is the best way to go. People will do drugs regardless, the minimum sentencing clearly didn't stop anyone did it? So no, your way doesn't work, things need to change.

[notwoke]

It stops lots of people. if the consequences were higher people would not start. You know how many men would kill their wife if the punishment was "treatment" instead of getting a divorce and losing their home and retirement plan and paying alimony.

[msc545]

@notwoke It most certainly will not, moron.

[Tyrael]

@notwoke you're equating murder to minor drug offences like having enough marijuana on you for a couple of joints. You don't even know what you're talking about.

[notwoke]

you knew the rules, you didn't follow them, pay the price. We don't need anarchy

[msc545]

@notwoke We also do NOT need your punitive, authoritarian bullshit.

[exitseven]

We need to have more prisons if they are needed. Releasing people because the prisons are overcrowded puts the public in danger. A better plan would be to execute people who are guilty of selling fentanyl and other high crimes that are currently just given prison sentences.

[CheeseMonster]

At least the ones in for minor non-violent offenses. So many people are in for drug or theft crimes that would be much better solved by social supports like safe injection stations and supplimentry income—which have been tried, in America, and worked. People generally won't commit crimes if there's a safer, accessible alternative.

[Jersey2]

Have you seen New York or San Francisco? They don’t lock them up anymore and it’s turned the cities into violent third world cities that are not safe. The creator of CashApp was just knifed to death a few days ago what was a very nice section of San Francisco.

[Jackblue]

Maybe the people who are in there as habitual offenders for minor offenses like drug use, but that is a much much smaller proportion than the left wants to believe. Most are in there for violent offenses, burglary, and selling drugs which of course funds gang activity.

[KostasKouvalis]

I think prisoners, even murders who are no longer a threat to the public, should be released. Everyone can make a mistake. I definitely think we should adopt a more European model, where prisons are designed not to punish the criminal, but to rehabilitate them and keep the public safe

[Cice238]

only the non violent offenders. But they are kept inside, while the violent ones are let out. The creator of cashApp was stabbed to death in San Francisco recently by someone who was let out. No one bothered to help him as he died.

[abc3643]

Depending on what their crime is, yes. For some felons, their sentences are two lenient.

One way to solve the problem of overpopulation in prisons is to crank up the executions.

[Aerissa_Jade]

Absolutely, lets release them to the next life... how many do you think we need to release?

[mark000h]

Keep their asses in prison and agree with @nostalgiasenpi execute the lifers. Just a waste of space and resources.

[singlemombizz]

No, we need to build more prisons, not the typical kind, rehab prisons, and some for lifers! Let's go back to jailing everyone who commits a crime of any kind.

[Adam1978]

You mean even speeding and gay walking?

[notwoke]

the lower we make the penalty for crime, the more crime there will be. Execute all the serious violent offenders and those who repeat serious crimes of any kind

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Yes. A lot of them are in prison non violent offenses should be let out i. e non child support payments, drug use and petty stuff.

[slatyb]

We have an absurd number of people in prison, many in state prisons for drug use.

[FunkyMonkee]

I didn't realize there were any left TO release!!

[Pterodon]

It depends on the crime and circumstances. If you are the mastermind and can manipulate and get others to do your dirty work for you then yes you need to be put away