lurkette

Oh calm down. You take one situation like this and generalize it to the entire criminal justice system. Quit overreacting. The criminal justice system is not perfect and things like this are examples of that imperfection. But one anecdotal story like this - or a hundred anecdotal stories, even, is hardly call to declare that all ciminals fail to answer for their crimes and are not punished by our criminal justice system. Why automatically jump to "fail to punish" instead of "fail to rehabilitate"? What evidence do you have that the system is "all about NOT punishing the criminal"? And I hardly think this is the "land of the poor old less fortunate" when there are 2 million people currently in U.S. prisons.

http://www.charleston.net/stories/06...ailbirds.shtml

In fact, as mandatory sentencing has become the norm, and as sentences have become harsher (particularly for minor drug offenses), and as the prison population has risen (in short, as our criminal justice system has gotten harsher) the recidivism rate has risen:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/reentry/recidivism.htm

What changes would you make to the system to improve it, and what evidence do you have that those changes would reduce crime? (Not being a smartass, just wondering if you have any ideas to contribute.)

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