When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Wednesday, April 09, 2003
The number of Americans in prison is soaring largely because of mandatory sentencing laws that give judges no discretion. The crimes for which there are mandatory sentences are often mild, victimless crimes such as drug use or posession.
It is worth noting that as long as statistics have been kept the vast majority of prisoners are men in their mid-20s to mid-30s. Due to a slump in the age rangethat comits most of the crimes, the crime rate has dropped in cities across the country. Each mayor may have taken credit fo the drop, notably NY Mayor Giuliani, but the population shift was undoubtedly the primary reason for it.
There is no proof that harsh sentencing reduces crime; in fact indications are the opposite. Those U.S, state with the harshest sentencing also have the highest crime rates. Relevantly, they are states with the highest racism index. It's relevant because the percentage of blackmen in prison is 12 percent, more than seven times the rate for white men in the same age bracket. That is criminal itself!
Interestingly, in the era before AfricanAmericans achieved a measure of freedom, when lynching was tacily allowed and furious white juries went unchallenged by the Supreme Court, the majority of men in prison were of different ethnic heritage (not Enghlish). Most often, Irish.
Clearly there is racism going on to produce that result.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Ok, crime was cut, could we please cut the prison rate now?
The number of Americans in prison is soaring largely because of mandatory sentencing laws that give judges no discretion. The crimes for which there are mandatory sentences are often mild, victimless crimes such as drug use or posession.
The number of men and women behind bars today is four times what it was in the mid-1970's, and it continues to grow. This soaring incarceration rate is not tied to the violent crime rate, which is lower than it was in 1974. And it is out of line with imprisonment practices worldwide. The United States has about 700 inmates per 100,000 residents, compared with fewer than 100 per 100,000 residents in Germany, Italy and Denmark.--NYT Op Ed 4-9-03
It is worth noting that as long as statistics have been kept the vast majority of prisoners are men in their mid-20s to mid-30s. Due to a slump in the age rangethat comits most of the crimes, the crime rate has dropped in cities across the country. Each mayor may have taken credit fo the drop, notably NY Mayor Giuliani, but the population shift was undoubtedly the primary reason for it.
There is no proof that harsh sentencing reduces crime; in fact indications are the opposite. Those U.S, state with the harshest sentencing also have the highest crime rates. Relevantly, they are states with the highest racism index. It's relevant because the percentage of blackmen in prison is 12 percent, more than seven times the rate for white men in the same age bracket. That is criminal itself!
Interestingly, in the era before AfricanAmericans achieved a measure of freedom, when lynching was tacily allowed and furious white juries went unchallenged by the Supreme Court, the majority of men in prison were of different ethnic heritage (not Enghlish). Most often, Irish.
Clearly there is racism going on to produce that result.
Palema
5:01 PM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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