Comments on: Reforming Our Prisons Will Reduce Crime http://www.frumforum.com/reforming-our-prisons-will-reduce-crime Building a conservatism that can win again Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:50:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: petty boozshwa http://www.frumforum.com/reforming-our-prisons-will-reduce-crime/comment-page-1#comment-39163 petty boozshwa Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:16:09 +0000 #comment-39163 If liberals were smart they would argue that the typical American prison experience violates the Constitution much more than Gitmo. A good issue for Republicans would be to apply RICO to prison gangs, taking out the leadership and allowing state authorities to re-establish some control. Maybe some of the stimulus money could be used to take lifers off the hands of state systems and provide federal jobs in depressed localities and closed military bases. If liberals were smart they would argue that the typical American prison experience violates the Constitution much more than Gitmo. A good issue for Republicans would be to apply RICO to prison gangs, taking out the leadership and allowing state authorities to re-establish some control. Maybe some of the stimulus money could be used to take lifers off the hands of state systems and provide federal jobs in depressed localities and closed military bases.

]]> By: ZacMorgan http://www.frumforum.com/reforming-our-prisons-will-reduce-crime/comment-page-1#comment-47425 ZacMorgan Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:25:23 +0000 #comment-47425 Hear, hear! I can't recall the exact figures, but we have a large percentage of inmates who were locked up as part of the tough-on-crime GOP years in the 1980's that will be coming due for release in the next few years. With recidivism at two-thirds, we are not looking at a pleasant crime situation. Hear, hear!

I can’t recall the exact figures, but we have a large percentage of inmates who were locked up as part of the tough-on-crime GOP years in the 1980’s that will be coming due for release in the next few years. With recidivism at two-thirds, we are not looking at a pleasant crime situation.

]]> By: sinz54 http://www.frumforum.com/reforming-our-prisons-will-reduce-crime/comment-page-1#comment-38700 sinz54 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:02:37 +0000 #comment-38700 America doesn't just need her prisons reformed. She needs her laws reformed. Especially the crazy way we approach the possession of illicit drugs. The mandatory "three strikes and you're out law," signed by President Clinton, has turned into a conveyor belt on which hundreds of thousands of young black men are transported to 10 years in prison. Many young black men experiment with drugs. Typically, a public defender persuades the youth to plead guilty for the first two drug offenses in exchange for suspended sentences. That means no rehabilitation; the youth is right back out on the street. Then the youth commits just one more drug offense, and this time he goes to jail for many years. This has infuriated black activists. The GOP could score big with African-Americans if it faced this issue squarely, and proposed that "three strikes and you're out" should only apply to violent crimes, not to drug offenses. America doesn’t just need her prisons reformed. She needs her laws reformed. Especially the crazy way we approach the possession of illicit drugs. The mandatory “three strikes and you’re out law,” signed by President Clinton, has turned into a conveyor belt on which hundreds of thousands of young black men are transported to 10 years in prison. Many young black men experiment with drugs. Typically, a public defender persuades the youth to plead guilty for the first two drug offenses in exchange for suspended sentences. That means no rehabilitation; the youth is right back out on the street. Then the youth commits just one more drug offense, and this time he goes to jail for many years. This has infuriated black activists. The GOP could score big with African-Americans if it faced this issue squarely, and proposed that “three strikes and you’re out” should only apply to violent crimes, not to drug offenses.

]]> By: coleman http://www.frumforum.com/reforming-our-prisons-will-reduce-crime/comment-page-1#comment-45564 coleman Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:44:43 +0000 #comment-45564 Good post, good ideas. Sen. Webb is making penal reform a signature issue. I'd like to see some Republicans join him. This is a great issue for Republicans. Good post, good ideas. Sen. Webb is making penal reform a signature issue. I’d like to see some Republicans join him. This is a great issue for Republicans.

]]> By: R.E. Munn http://www.frumforum.com/reforming-our-prisons-will-reduce-crime/comment-page-1#comment-41232 R.E. Munn Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:10:44 +0000 #comment-41232 The linking of GWB low approval ratings with some perceived failure to reform prisons is preposterous. Furthermore, McCain did not have an impossible political environment. I did not see the point of reading further. The linking of GWB low approval ratings with some perceived failure to reform prisons is preposterous. Furthermore, McCain did not have an impossible political environment. I did not see the point of reading further.

]]> By: nealjking http://www.frumforum.com/reforming-our-prisons-will-reduce-crime/comment-page-1#comment-54259 nealjking Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:12:02 +0000 #comment-54259 I agree with suey on the "war on drugs": It's counter-productive. In addition, it seems to me that the prison-guards' union has been a force for stiffening sentences and expanding jail populations as a means of ensuring their own job security rather than as a means of increasing societal safety. Instead of beating up on teachers, why not take on the prison guards? I agree with suey on the “war on drugs”: It’s counter-productive.

In addition, it seems to me that the prison-guards’ union has been a force for stiffening sentences and expanding jail populations as a means of ensuring their own job security rather than as a means of increasing societal safety. Instead of beating up on teachers, why not take on the prison guards?

]]> By: suey http://www.frumforum.com/reforming-our-prisons-will-reduce-crime/comment-page-1#comment-50035 suey Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:54:24 +0000 #comment-50035 How about ending the dumb "War on Drugs" and jailing the wall street criminals. How about ending the dumb “War on Drugs” and jailing the wall street criminals.

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