| I can't get too excited about victimless | | | | dictate the length of the term. For example, |
| crimes, that is to say crimes in which the | | | | if you attack another, incapacitating them, |
| only victim is the person committing it. | | | | then you get to spend whatever time is |
| Those who want to self-destruct - provided | | | | necessary earning the money to take care of |
| the consequences are not shouldered by others | | | | them. Those who take another's life must |
| - have the right to do it. Everyone has the | | | | substitute their own life with a lifetime of |
| moral responsibility for their own person. | | | | productive work to repay society and the |
| | | | victim's family. |
| Crimes against others is another matter. | | | | |
| Nobody has the right to inflict physical harm | | | | Isn't this an obvious solution? Mere |
| on another. Nor does anyone have the right to | | | | imprisonment with society picking up the tab |
| harm us emotionally or economically. There | | | | for the police and legal work and the |
| are degrees of damage, obviously. Defamation | | | | maintenance of the criminal is nuts. Why |
| does not bring the harm that torture, rape or | | | | should the victim and society pay for the |
| murder does. In a just world, the punishment | | | | evils of the wrongdoer? |
| must fit the crime. | | | | |
| | | | How do you force someone in prison to work |
| Perfect justice must begin with absolute | | | | off his or her debt? Give them a choice. |
| proof of guilt. Such is often not the case as | | | | Either do it or go without food and shelter. |
| evidenced by the numerous prisoners | | | | That is the law that works throughout nature |
| exonerated by DNA testing. Punishment meted | | | | so why not apply it to humans? How do you |
| out unfairly is one of the cruelest forms of | | | | maintain discipline on the farm? Well, a hard |
| torture. The desire to give innocence every | | | | day's work will leave little energy for much |
| chance to emerge is perhaps in large measure | | | | more than rest. As it is now, prisoners |
| the reason our criminal justice system often | | | | sitting in cells all day have nothing other |
| bogs down with technicalities and loopholes. | | | | to do with their energy than scheme more |
| If a person is guilty of violent crime what | | | | wrongdoing. With my idea those who are a |
| do we do then? The first step in a rational | | | | problem get penalized with an extension of |
| approach is to decide whether we want violent | | | | their stay and longer work shifts. |
| criminals to be free to roam our streets. We | | | | |
| could be "kind and understanding" and let | | | | This is a fair and just way to deter crime |
| them go after a little counseling. But the | | | | and offset the damage created by it. It does |
| evidence does not demonstrate that works. To | | | | not have the potential of unjustly taking the |
| be safe we'd all have to arm ourselves as | | | | life of another since time would be provided |
| increasing numbers of violent criminals | | | | for proof of innocence. And I'm not talking |
| roamed the streets. | | | | chain gang here, but rather passable work and |
| | | | living conditions with the product of labor |
| If we are to protect ourselves from such | | | | going where it should, to the victims and |
| criminals, there are two logical choices: | | | | society. U.S. companies are always looking |
| | | | for a cheaper labor force. Well here it is, |
| 1. We lock them away in a box six feet under | | | | right on our own shores numbering in the tens |
| ground after executing them. The most just | | | | of thousands. |
| way to do the killing is exactly the way they | | | | |
| did it to their victim. That is a permanent | | | | There is nothing better to sober someone up |
| solution, sure and just but it makes me | | | | and drain them of the energy to think up |
| uneasy since there is almost always the | | | | nefarious deeds than a hard day's work. For |
| question of true guilt. | | | | minor offenders who have a stint in these |
| | | | restitution farms and are then released, they |
| 2. We lock them away in some type of secure | | | | will know what work is, actually improve |
| institution. Since I am trying to come up | | | | their resume, spread the word on the street |
| with a logical solution, that institution | | | | that crime means hard work and be motivated |
| would not be our present prison system. | | | | not to return. If they repeat offend, then |
| | | | society will not be the one to suffer. |
| The second option leaves room for the | | | | Criminals should be self-maintaining, even a |
| possibility of exoneration with new | | | | profit center rather than an economic |
| exculpatory evidence. But if not prison, | | | | sinkhole. |
| what? Criminals should be put on secure | | | | |
| restitution work farms instead. There they | | | | Our present penal system does not work. It is |
| will toil producing useful labor or goods for | | | | a huge and unjust cost to society. To many it |
| society commensurate with the damage they | | | | neither serves as punishment nor deterrent. |
| have done. The victim's medical bills, lost | | | | About three quarters of all U.S. prison space |
| work and incapacities must be paid for by the | | | | has been built in the last decade. Just in |
| offender. Moreover, all the costs to society | | | | California the chances that a person either |
| for investigations, trials and room and board | | | | lives or works in a prison is 1 in 200. |
| while incarcerated must be paid. (A great | | | | |
| motivation for those guilty to admit it and | | | | It's a crazy state of affairs. I wish I |
| reduce the legal costs.) The time it takes | | | | could be warden of the world tomorrow and fix |
| for economic restitution would by and large | | | | it all. |