tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post1921637130060194865..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: California parole reforms mirror Texas probation approachGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-34943852632654183292007-09-22T11:30:00.000-05:002007-09-22T11:30:00.000-05:00"The issue with California and Texas along with th..."The issue with California and Texas along with the nation will not be resolved until we make the risk of making money selling drugs less appealing with stronger sentences on drug dealers and the other hardened criminals."<BR/><BR/>That won't work. It's never worked. It can't work. The higher the risk the higher the profits. That's what the profit is about. <BR/><BR/>The greater the risk, the greater the profits, the greater the danger... the more dangerous the risk takers, and those set against the risk takers, become.<BR/><BR/>The greater the "Risk"... the more "Hardened" criminals and death we create.<BR/><BR/>Why wouldn't they become more dangerous? They aren't fighting about drugs. They are fighting about illegal and huge profits. They are fighting about not being locked up and punished.<BR/><BR/>Kill them? I once read about a Taiwanese Judge, who said, upon delivering another death sentence for drug crime, "What more can we do? Can we kill them twice?"<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you might recommend that we could kill not only them, but their entire families? If that wouldn't work to stop the risk takers, maybe we could kill their neighbors as well?<BR/><BR/>Suggestions of more severe penalties and more police supervision is a recipe for more of the same "unexpected" consequences and results.<BR/><BR/>It's hard to imagine why such consequences and results weren't expected in the first place.<BR/><BR/>Legalization and regulation are the only reasonable options. When that day comes, we can rationally deal with the actual problems of drug use, instead of all the bloody, dark and "unexpected" problems born of the complete prohibition of drugs.<BR/><BR/>The key word is "Rationally".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-50908467789648978612007-09-21T14:50:00.000-05:002007-09-21T14:50:00.000-05:00re: "The issue with California and Texas along wit...re: "The issue with California and Texas along with the nation will not be resolved until we make the risk of making money selling drugs less appealing with stronger sentences on drug dealers and the other hardened criminals."<BR/><BR/>The problem could also be solved by legalizing and taxing drugs. The tax money could be used to help youth learn skills and thereby earn a living in this society. <BR/><BR/>I have no problem with empty jails and prisons. It would be good for Police Officers and <BR/>Guards to also learn skills that provide a real value to soceity such as crime prevention!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-74307288330831846202007-09-21T08:31:00.000-05:002007-09-21T08:31:00.000-05:00The article identifies an on-going issue all over ...The article identifies an on-going issue all over the country. Both inmate and probation populations have increased and jails/institutions continue to struggle with overcrowding. Yet, as I have read crime is down natiionwide. Odd? I believe a lot of crime continues to plague our inner cities, and we fail to address changing the minds and souls of our youth. The glamour of crime continues to be the root of our problem. Easy money with drug dealing perpetuates the drama of our criminal society. The parolees look forward to their release to go back to the neighborhoods to make their fortunes or so they think. <BR/><BR/>The issue with California and Texas along with the nation will not be resolved until we make the risk of making money selling drugs less appealing with stronger sentences on drug dealers and the other hardened criminals. <BR/><BR/>To comment on Texas, it is a system of big treatment and weak on protecting society. The officers, both inside the wire and outside, supervising the felons are lost with low pay and no resources to do the job. Most new funding goes to treatment beds and not towards the staff that handle this dangerous population. Staff turnover is a major issue because the true professionals find other jobs leaving those behind with low pay and apathetic towards the system they serve. Boost the salaries of officers, treat them as the professionals, use them as a postive source to oversee these felons, and give the officers the necessary tools to effect change in society. Then, Texas will be worthy of mentioning as one of the true leaders in the country in regards to "criminal justice."<BR/><BR/>bAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-72502709988065985692007-09-20T18:07:00.000-05:002007-09-20T18:07:00.000-05:00it's a shame that states WAIT until time for parol...it's a shame that states WAIT until time for parole. How about "identifying" those sentenced with a charge that includes a mandantory minimum "evaluate" each to see if there are those who pose a low risk to reoffend and then give them a chance to earn GOOD TIME so that they can get out of prison faster, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com