What would you change in the way crime is handled?

Answer 1

I would first like to see the police reacting quicker and more decisive against out-of-control teenagers and youth gangs, because that's where it starts, and if they keep getting away with throwing in the neighbours window and terrorizing old people in their street, they will be certain that they can get away with worse later.
As many scientific research programs have shown, it is not the punishment that acts as a deterrent, but the (perceived) likelihood to be caught.

Then there is punishment; the public attitude in English speaking countries is much more shaped by Old Testament values, and less by common sense than elsewhere in so called "Western" societies. The thirst for revenge of the victim is valued higher than the damage this attitude does to society at large.

The fact is that if you treat people like dirt, however much you think they deserve it, they will behave according to expectations, and re-offending is practically pre-programmed into the system.

Too many people are put into prisons instead of trying to establish a system that at least approaches restitutive justice, i.e let the offender face the victim and try to make it up to them. (I can see where that is not practicable, but still, most crimes are crimes against property)

And within prisons there should be much more emphasis on education and training, that would also give people something to do instead of the prison authorities practically having to rely on drugs to keep the place running smoothly.

Generally in my view the whole area of criminal justice has to be reformed, but politicians would have to do this against pressure from parts of the public and especially the right-wing media, so it's very unlikely that anything is going to happen any time soon.

I have to add that I'm writing in Ireland, but at least in the UK the situation seems to be exactly the same.

Answer 2

If I had anything to say about the way crime is handled I would not put white collar criminals in prison, I would make them work in business so they can pay back all the money they stole, and they would be under house arrest.

DWI laws tie the hands of the police, a police officer can not enforce the DWI law until a person gets in his car and you must observe his driving. I think they should be able to set up a Breathalyzer outside of a bar and prohibit the person from driving, or course this would impact the money made in the system.

Just this would save time and money also space in jails.

Answer 3

I have to say that all people who hurt children in any way make me sick, but even more so the ones who hurt them sexually. I think they should be put in a prison for life with eachother and never let out or given the death penalty. Some people might disagree because people can sometimes be reabilitated and taught right, but think about what those poor children go through. They are innocent and helpless. These are our babies, how dare them, shame on them.

Answer 4

One thing is...if we can free a person from prison using DNA why can't we put them in prison with DNA only? No big trials & all that... when our constitution was written there was no DNA.

We should also limit a person to a max of 2 appeals...prisoners on death row for decades is absurd!

Make prison so bad that a person will not do anything for fear of being imprisoned!

Stop all the bleeding hearts from being sure the families of prisoners get to visit....punishment is punishment!

Answer 5

Overhauling the criminal justice system would very difficult to near impossible.... there is a lot of bureaucracy to over come. But I suppose that would still be easier than overhauling the hart of mankind to prevent crime in the first place.

Answer 6

Require police and prosecutors to reveal ALL evidence collected in an investigation to the jury prior to trial. The so called "Rules of Evidence" are convicting way too many innocent people. Cops and prosecutors are now allowed to use deception to convince juries.

Answer 7

Enforce the laws on the books ... with very few exceptions. Get the liberal, bleeding-heart judges off the bench and ignore the ACLU! They are undermining our society. Without set parameters and enforcement with punishment for those who believe the can play by their own rules, society deteriorates. The laws exist for the betterment of the majority and to keep order. No rules ... chaos!

Answer 8

I would endorse three strikes your out ,,,By that I mean if you violated three major crimes against society I would support three strikes your out of the country ,why do we allow them criminals to break our laws 15 or twenty times
and keep sending them back and forth to jail ,
Castro had more brains than us he shipped them out to us

Answer 9

yes to many criminals get to many chances do away with probation and parole the people that the crimes were against did not get a second chance .Also people who murder should automatically get the death sentence,Sh!theads who do crimes against children should be castrated and locked up forever,I could go on and on but I think you get the point.

Answer 10

consistent application of judicial laws regardless of race, gender, or wealth. I would also require quick speedy time frames to achieve outcomes/judgements. ........... and lawyers as well as selve-serving political groups have to accept and move on at times.