3 Strikes Rule In Amercan Prisons

[joko]

i did not know about this - it seems bizarre.

whilst in some situations it would work, what about the cases they mention in this clip - such as pinching a few cookies?
i realise it depends on the first two crimes, of course, but still - life in prison for such minor crimes, seems a terrible drain.

what are your thoughts? does it actually work?

cheers

[spudqueen]

It's not actually whilst you're in prison, it is crimes committed before you get to prison that land you there. And why not? Policies we've got here don't seem to work, some people just seem to keep going to prison. If they like it that much they can stay there! As a deterrent it would work for me!

[joko]

yes, i know what it is spudqueen!



crowding could also become an issue, couldn't it?

life in prison is no deterrent now, even the death penalty is not a deterrent

[jno]

the Americans lock up more of their population than anyone else

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate

(England/Wales are 101 on that list, though they'd be a lot higher if ABers had their way).

I don't know if Americans are wickeder than anyone else, but they've got lots of space to build penitentiaries on.

[youngmafbog]

We have plenty of space, we just wont build them.

Yes, I dont see the problem. for too long in this country we have had wishy washy limp wristed justice that lets re-offenders out because some liberal decides it would be nice. If someone cannot stop offending, no matter what the crime, whilst incarcerated then what chance when they are out.

I think it would help filter those likely to re-offend and those who are likely to have learnt and will become good citizens once released.

[jake-the-peg]

Funny isn't it

When we're talking immigration - there's no space and no money

When we're talking locking up 19 year old burglars for life - not a problem

[bazwillrun]

I recall one case some years ago that made the news, the guy had already committed two fairly serious crimes but the third was relatively minor... stealing a slice of pizza....as he obviously hadnt learnt his lesson from the two previous crimes he was banged up for twenty years under the tree strikes rule

[jake-the-peg]

And yet the murder rate in the US is higher than in almost any other developed country despite capital punishment and locking up so much of the popultation.

You'd almost be tempted to think that the hard line approach didn't have any detterant effect at all

But that would be crazy talk - surely all the alcohol and drug fueled criminals consider the consequences of their actions before comitting crimes

[bazwillrun]

http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-21/local/me-22511_1_felony-petty-theft

gets a 25 year stretch

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/10/local/la-me-pizzathief10-2010feb10

gets released after 15....and now it seems as if he may stay clear of crime otherwise it will be life

so prison maybe does work

[bazwillrun]

"Three Strikes and You're Out" law. The proposal, which went on to win overwhelming voter approval, targeted offenders with at least two serious or violent previous crimes, such as rape or robbery. Any new felony conviction triggered a prison sentence of at least 25 years to life."

if we had a timed edit facility, thenwhen this erratic 4G cuts out i wouldnt have to make three posts where one would suffice

[ToraToraTora]

They are not locking them up for stealing cookies they are locking them up for being too stupid to heed the three strikes rule.

Not sure why you are talking about immigration jake, you are always saying that they do not cost us anything, quite the opposite.

[davetuc]

Personally, I think it's a great idea. You're not getting the 25 years for stealing cookies on your third offence, it's for the two previous crimes. If you're daft enough to do it, knowing the consequences, then you deserve to be put away! I'm also sick of the limp wristed attitudes in this country.

[ToraToraTora]

well we have a 300 strikes and still not out rule! There are theiving lowlives out there with 100s of offences still not locked up by our right on liberal do gooding judiciary.

[bazwillrun]

people can argue from now until kindom come about whether prison is for punishment, rehab etc etc etc....but one thing that cant be denied is that once inside they cant commit crimes against the public.....unless of course its that case mentioned recently where somehow he runs his criminal empire from prison using 7 mobile phones.

the vast majority arent a danger to the public if theyre locked up

[Old_Geezer]

It clearly doesn't work, crimes still get committed. It is costly. And it leads to ludicrous examples such as someone being ok to be at large one moment and then having done something trivial being banged up for ages, regardless of how one justifies it. It makes their system a laughing stock, and ensures many who could lead reasonable lives cost to be incarcerated for many years or even life. It needs to be realised that baseball is not a good foundation for the legal system.

[youngmafbog]

So you must think all immigrants should be locked up then trig?

[naughtyboy]

They don't languish in prison wasting time, they're put to work. There're over six million under 'correctional supervision'.
It could be argued that slavery hasn't truly been done away with there...