American lifestyle? The outrageous court costs and fines for simple driving violations. The penalties for drug offenses that penalize an addict for a condition that is proven to be more of an "uncontrollable urge" than a purposeful criminal intention. Negatively afflicting the rest of ones life through judgments and fines and labels that only existed for a short time is no way to promote justice. Rehabilitation serves the public better than any amount of jail time or probation. Any person that is convicted of a non-violent drug offense can give the state more benefit through working and paying takes over the course of a lifetime then by serving unnecessary time, making them pay fines and costs and carrying the burden of a conviction with them into the workplace. Is the racket of securing our citizens into the legal system too much of a money maker to eliminate, or is it another means to keep Big Brother in our affairs without being obvious? What's your belief(s)?
2006-12-05 05:33:33 · 14 answers · asked by scottyurb 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Using the "get tough on crime" platform assures most politicians an instant win on election day. The scuzz-buckets do this usually on the coat-tails of some heinous, well-publicized crime (like Jon Benet, Polly Klaas, or Jessica Lunsford), when everyone is outraged.
They get elected, they enact mandatory minimums, 3-strikes, and other laws which totally take away the power of judges to rule on each individual case and circumstance. First-time offenders of non-violent crimes wind up going to prison for years under mandatory minimums. They lose their jobs, their houses, their cars, their kids, and are an even bigger burden when they are released and are unemployable because of their records..
Ironically, the burden of supporting the overwhelming prison and probation system today falls to the same taxpayers who elected the guy that pushed the "get tough" laws. The side-effects also become the problem of the taxpayers, like kids growing up with incarcerated dads and moms, moms resorting to welfare to make it, on and on.
There are only two things that may turn the tide: when Americans realize that their tax dollars are supporting a few Charles Mansons, and thousands of little guys. They are also paying four times as much for the elderly, non-violent prisoners that the parole board refuses to release. No one wants the Mansons back on the street, but why support someone's grandma that sold a bag of dope 30 years ago when she was young and stupid?
Most Americans have no sympathy for inmates, until it happens to them or a loved one. Then they go screaming to the same legislators who enacted the law with their own blessings, to "do something." And as we know, once those doors clang shut, it's too late.
The only other option which may eventually quell this is the fact that one day, when almost everyone has been arrested at least once, or has a loved one in prison, then there will be no one left to continue voting for these lawmakers. They will have to find something else to pontificate about, at our expense.
As there are currently millions of Americans in prison, we may not have long to wait. Felons may not be allowed to vote, but their families can.
2006-12-05 05:59:58 · answer #1 · answered by His Old Lady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People seem to always think that they know best and that everyone should behave as they want people to behave. This is what causes groups of people to come up with such things as Home Owners Associations where anyone in their area must adhear to rules that others have set forth. Our legal system is much the same except on a much, much larger scale. When this happens it is quite easy people to be imprisoned "for their own good", cause they obviously can't be responsible enough to behave how some other person wants them to other than how that individual thinks about the groups' rules. Now usually people disagree on types and lenghts of punishments for breaking said rules and when this happens enough the groups of people must have a system to deal with the assessment and delivery of punishment so lawyers and courts were invented. After these inventions there was found a need to assess when the incarcerated person has been punished enough and should be free to go, so the parole system was then formed. Over time the entire legal system has turned into such a large beast that once a person is charged with a crime, the trial isn't even convened for months or sometimes years after offense. During this time the person is generally placed in jail unless they can afford to post a bond ensuring that they'll show up on their court date. And of course all of these steps in the legal process require paperwork and people to type the papers, sort the papers, transfer them from one place to another, read the papers, and eventually store the papers. All of these people must have assistants as well, so by the time you look at the whole legal process and exactly how many people are involved is ther really any suprise that they'll all want a chunk of money from the courts? Therefore we have high court costs. Now if it weren't for those people who like to see others follow rules, and if everybody would just mind their own business, we could greatly reduce the need for a lot of laws and alleviate the problems of overcrowding in prisons. In short we are what we are, we all responsible for what you are complaining about.
2006-12-05 05:55:46 · answer #2 · answered by Strikernow 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's been a well documented fact that the prison system doesn't work. However, fining or - even worse, rehabilitation is viewed by many as "getting away with it", and may even be viewed by the criminals as such. Many people only think that justice has been served if the criminal suffers the same as or to a greater extent than the victim. Unfortunately people's perceptions will most likely win in this case, not what would be better for society as a whole.
2006-12-05 05:38:04 · answer #3 · answered by Mordent 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The government gets off on the power and they could give 2 sh!ts about what it does to the lives of those that are convicted.
The government is greedy and will make any law they can to try to get more money out of than they already do with us paying taxes. I am only referring to people that are involved in nonviolent, victimless crimes...If there is a victim...hang em outt o dry.
I hate our government.
2006-12-05 05:38:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is not anything we will be able to do. It was once pr oven to me whilst my gran daughter was once abducted by way of this Mexican lady and dropped at her in Texas after which was once stuck in Mexico. We ran a assess on her and she or he had approximately 14 aliases. She was once stuck by way of the FBI and the Mexican police in a motel in Laredo Mexico with my little one, her boyfriend and her son. She signed a confession (which effectively was once out of place, misplaced). She is now unfastened to roam round and do her crimes. She has oodles of cash however does now not paintings. The FBI is ignoring us. I bet it's good enough for her to do that. I simply pray that she do not do it to a few different little one. Who is aware of what number of children she has taken. The gov't simply do not care. I bet they've extra main matters to do than appear for abducted children. It's all in WHO YOU KNOW. If you're a legislation abiding citizen, you're on the backside of the barrel. Wish I had recommendations on what to do, I've attempted for seven months now to no avail. God Bless
2016-09-03 12:13:44 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry but drug addicts are not typical to american lifestyle...at least not mine, and i think we're fairly typical america. Yes the addiction is uncontollable once you start it, but you have to make the choice to start, if you don't, then it's not like drugs are going to come find you and make you an addict. As for driving fines and such, I live in Jax, Fl, which I truly believe has more stupid, careless, aholes on the streets than anywhere else in the world, and I personally think they should be punished more severly and more often. When they drive like idiots, not only are they taking chances with their own lives and property but with mine, not to mention my childrens. The next jerk in a mustang who cuts me of leaving half an inch of space doing ninety down a 45 I hope ends up in jail.
2006-12-05 05:39:44 · answer #6 · answered by S J 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Crime has become big business for all involved-police, f..... lawyers, court system, judges(ex lawyers), penal system-building of courthouses, prisons , detention centers and upkeep for all of the above.
Lawmakers are a bunch of egomaniacs who spend their time in office figuring how to stay in office and collect their huge pensions.
They say they are serving us. Yeah, right!!!
2006-12-05 05:49:36 · answer #7 · answered by Gone Golfing 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is sad that so many young people's lives are ruined by experimentation with drugs. Too many young people get tough sentences for minor drug offenses, it is clogging up our prisons and leaving rapists and murderers on the outside.
2006-12-05 05:37:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ridiculous isn't it. My brother is serving 75 yrs...they gave him a choice...snitch and you can go to re-hab, don't and you'll go to jail. I wish there was an answer.. bottom line, as far as justice is concerned...you get what you pay for .
2006-12-05 05:40:21 · answer #9 · answered by Marti 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the governement sets people up to fail, thereby proving its own predictions true in that "once a criminal, always a criminal."
2006-12-05 05:44:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋