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Midas wrote:
General Crime:
A new offence code should be introduced that evaluates criminal seriousness on a pre-determined points system of punishment.
A negative of this is almost giving people a certain amount of criminal activity they are allowed. A bit like people consider 3 points on their licence as acceptable. Equally, amongst the hard cases, it could become a trophy.
This idea isn`t an `Asbo`. If criminals want to accumulate points for crime, they will be locked away from society for longer - and by their own choice. A better alternative to the `light weight` court penalties that we presently have. I can understand your point, but it what you argue doesn`t add up.
These points will remain on record throughout their lifetime and they could accumulate more points for repeat offending which will also increase their jail sentence.
Okay but at the end you are judging the criminal and not the crime. I know this happens anyway, but this turns it INTO phpbb_an accountancy programme. What if someone commits a 90 point offence, does time, comes out and ten years later get INTO phpbb_some minor trouble for another 10 points?
British justice is based on human considerations and this seems to make it INTO phpbb_a bureaucratic adding up excercise. I understand the theory, but my first reaction was negative.
The short answer is this. If a criminal having been locked away for 10 years, and not having been encouraged by the suggested programs to be a model citizen then the short answer is yes. But say if he went away and was involved within the program he would have his points reduced and this may not necessitate one silly mistake becoming a long jail sentence.
Employment of Offenders:
this has difficulties too, because it can head towards forced labour and can be difficult when you have unemployment problems in the law abiding population.
Prisons are not holiday camps, but neither should they be a weapon of state oppression. There are many jobs that the `law abiding` population won`t do, and that is why we have an immigration crisis with many people working illegally. Anyway, it`s more to do with the criminal having his pride restored within society, and the cheaper alternative to government funding restrictions in getting some sorely needed projects completed. How often to do hear your local council say that are having to cut back on projects through costs. The greater percentage of this cost is wages - these people are not being paid, they are working to reduce their sentence.
Drug Offenders:
The whole drug problem is a mess. I agree with being harsh on the suppliers and giving help to the addicts, but I think you've really over simplified everything. I mean, if it was this easy, wouldn't the world have been dealing with it in a better way already?
I wrote to the Home Secretary (two governments) regarding this idea. Can`t be done - human rights is the lame excuse. Because an idea is basically simple, it doesn`t mean to say it is impossible. Or does it?
I got the idea one day whilst waiting outside the entrance to Euston Railway Station. A lady came over to me begging for money to buy food. She looked at first to be 50, but it soon became evident that she was in her 30`s, and her face was etched with wretched misery. She was also partially disabled and walked on a leg that appeared to have been broken more than once. Her arms had needle track marks, and as she spoke it was plainly obvious that she had been well educated and beneath that facial despair she was once very attractive. She admitted to me that her life was in a mess through her drug addiction, and that her leg had been broken by a pimp. She could see no way out of her worthless existence. But why should society care? Because it should and because it will liberate many victims from it.
Prostitution:
Prostitution should be legalised and prostitutes should be employed in brothels that are run and monitored by the state,
I'm sure there would be many benefits going this route but there are many problems with legally accepting, and there for accepting in society, prostitution as a profession. Would you want your daughter to consider it a respectable career option?
Regardless of whether or not it is legalised, there will always be prostitutes. If your daughter or mine chose to become one, I know we will shocked and horrified. But that`s up to her is it not? Anyway, you live in Germany where prostitution is legalised. How many of your friend`s daughters are hookers? I can`t see the logic in that response as it does read like a `knee jerk` reaction. Consider also that there will no longer be girl`s - mostly foreigners being forced by pimps INTO phpbb_a life of prostitution. The recently raided brothel in Birmingham bears that out.
The long term aim of this penalty and punishment program is to actually reduce crime, and not to add more felons to the burgeoning prison system.
Programme, programme! (sorry, being pedantic). I don't think it will make much difference. Without changing the attitudes then things will carry on the same. The police and prison services probably should be increased anyway. I don't see how a points system alone is going to change the level of crime. Locking people away for longer is my authoritarian opinion, but that can be done immediately by making prisoners do their full time.
Quote:
You offer no alternative, but instead support an ethos that I feel encourages more criminals rather than reducing them. Why shouldn`t they be allowed to work and learn a decent trade and at they same time reduce future penalty sentences. All prisoners are not hard core felons - they can be changed. Many are victims of environment and their own loss of self-worth. If they don`t they (as you argue for longer sentences), will be locked away for longer.
Anyway, these ideas are not cast in stone, so I would appreciate your feedback on them.
Midas
Purely immediate, knee jerk reaction thoughts.
Yes, I can see. But we should all think more deeply, there can be change. But we need the will to follow them through. Sitting back and dismissing something new from a PC terminal isn`t offering us much hope for the future. I am no `bleeding heart` liberal. But the present system of crime and punishment stinks, and without change it will create even more criminals for the future.
Midas
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