Comments on: Sad Statistics http://www.woodka.com/2008/04/23/sad-statistics-2/ “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” Alan Watts Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:39:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Donna http://www.woodka.com/2008/04/23/sad-statistics-2/comment-page-1/#comment-128349 Donna Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:26:57 +0000 http://www.woodka.com/?p=2097#comment-128349 Most women in prison are there for writing bad checks or drugs or similar crimes. Most of the men are there for drug crimes or burglaries. My nephew sometimes gets tossed in jail because he's mentally ill and if he's whacked out on the streets they don't know what else to do with him. Usually he gets sorted into treatment, but the police shouldn't have to be the gatekeepers for the mentally ill. The three strikes law has thrown many into prison for very long sentences who really committed what are very minor crimes. One of my friend's sons went to jail for a year because he was driving drunk and killed someone, what he really needed was therapy for his alcohol abuse problem. Good thing he was a tough kid who knew martial arts or he probably would have been killed or severely injured in prison. Another friend's daughter served a year because she was with her boyfriend during a robbery and he talked her into taking a few swings at the old woman they were robbing. Not saying they didn't deserve their time, but here's the thing - they're white. If they were black, they would have gotten much longer sentences. A third of black men are in jail or have served time. Yet we're told there is no discrimination in the country. Right. A "free" society that locks up more of its people than any other country on earth. Some freedom. Most women in prison are there for writing bad checks or drugs or similar crimes. Most of the men are there for drug crimes or burglaries. My nephew sometimes gets tossed in jail because he’s mentally ill and if he’s whacked out on the streets they don’t know what else to do with him. Usually he gets sorted into treatment, but the police shouldn’t have to be the gatekeepers for the mentally ill.

The three strikes law has thrown many into prison for very long sentences who really committed what are very minor crimes. One of my friend’s sons went to jail for a year because he was driving drunk and killed someone, what he really needed was therapy for his alcohol abuse problem. Good thing he was a tough kid who knew martial arts or he probably would have been killed or severely injured in prison. Another friend’s daughter served a year because she was with her boyfriend during a robbery and he talked her into taking a few swings at the old woman they were robbing. Not saying they didn’t deserve their time, but here’s the thing – they’re white. If they were black, they would have gotten much longer sentences.

A third of black men are in jail or have served time. Yet we’re told there is no discrimination in the country. Right.

A “free” society that locks up more of its people than any other country on earth. Some freedom.

]]> By: gerry rosser http://www.woodka.com/2008/04/23/sad-statistics-2/comment-page-1/#comment-128306 gerry rosser Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:54:07 +0000 http://www.woodka.com/?p=2097#comment-128306 I see this incarceration story here and there, and never see any hard numbers on how many of those in jail are violent criminals (that is, convicted of crimes involving violence and/or the threat of violence). I never see the author take a position on who ought to be in prison, and who not. Here's a question: Do we have higher incarceration rates because we have more crime? (By "crime" I mean any act which would be defined as a crime in any given nation we are using for comparison purposes). Is a free society like ours, with our myriad of protections for those accused of crime, naturally going to be prone to more misbehaviour? I see this incarceration story here and there, and never see any hard numbers on how many of those in jail are violent criminals (that is, convicted of crimes involving violence and/or the threat of violence). I never see the author take a position on who ought to be in prison, and who not.

Here’s a question: Do we have higher incarceration rates because we have more crime? (By “crime” I mean any act which would be defined as a crime in any given nation we are using for comparison purposes). Is a free society like ours, with our myriad of protections for those accused of crime, naturally going to be prone to more misbehaviour?

]]>