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