Monday, March 05, 2007

Bills increasing penalties for crimes are to legislators what poetry is to the artist

This is from a blog comment I left over at Shaine Mata's Session 80 with reference to Jessica's Law, which is up again this afternoon for debate on the House floor. But it applies to most bills increasing criminal penalties:
Most enhancements are not serious, evidence-based proposals. Bills increasing penalties for crimes are to legislators what poetry is to the artist - a written form of self expression. It's a way legislators say, "This is what I stand for. This is what I'm against." Well, who isn't against child molestation? That's hardly the point if jacked up penalties make family members less likely to report crimes.
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5 comments:

  1. Anonymous3/05/2007 11:07:00 AM

    Meanwhile the police and corrections officers regularly violate the law and can reasonably to go scot free.

    I grow more disgusted with law enforcement and corrections on daily basis.

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  2. Anonymous3/05/2007 11:17:00 AM

    I'm growing more disgusted with the Legislature every day.

    If they're so against child molestation why didn't they stop it at TYC on their watch? Instead of raising the penalties, why not just enforce the damn laws we have now, both against perpetrators and those who covered up, even if some of those coveruppers turn out to be legislators or the governor?

    What does it matter if you raise penalties when people in power look the other way when one of their friends victimizes a kid?

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  3. Anonymous3/05/2007 01:14:00 PM

    Scott:

    This has nothing to do with post so I apologize in advance but I figured if anyone knew, it would be you. What is the status of no-knock search warrants in Texas?

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  4. Gritsforbreakfast3/05/2007 01:27:00 PM

    Haven't seen any new legislation on no knock searches. Their status is "common" and "overused."

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  5. Anonymous3/06/2007 10:20:00 AM

    The other similarity is that legislators consider enhancements a dalliance, something trivial, which is how most people consider poetry.

    Yes, it's a show, but it's amazing how cavalierly "enhancements" are suggested around here as the answer to every problem. Really it stems from a lack of imagination. We need to elect smarter people.

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