newsobserver.com projects - Sentencing Commission - Comments

Great comment

James_Protzman — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:04:42 -0400

The lawn order crowd is indeed dumb about crime prevention, but given the state of North Carolina civic literacy, I don't hold much hope. Did you read this yet? Scary stuff.

Re: Sentencing changes pass

jayhurst — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:43:48 -0400

Don't keep getting suckered by the ridiculous fear-mongering. "Tough on crime" is another way of saying "dumb about crime prevention." The inmates getting relief from (outrageously long) sentences are not going to be dangerous rapists and murderers, it will generally be the non-violent property or drug criminal who got caught in the vengeful (read: anti-Christian) desire to imprison everyone possible, for as long as possible. The US Department of Justice has data that shows our draconian sentences don't stop rising crime in some years, though, while the Federal Bureau of Prisons has proven (empirically) that drug treatment programs reduce re-offense after release. Dumb-about-crime-prevention policies are overstuffing our prisons, which help bankrupt the State and make guards as well as inmates less safe (remember, if H1N1 wildfires through a stuffed prison, those guards can bring it home, and then home to you and your family). Let's stop knee-jerking, and actually get Smart About Crime Prevention with less spent on prisons, and more spent on drug treatment and mandatory education/job training (on pain of imprisonment).

Re: Sentencing changes pass

jesmyopinion — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:39:05 -0400

Just one more nail in the coffin of Democrats... They just raised taxes for every citizen in NC, and now they are going soft on crime by letting criminals out of jail early - beautiful - this should sell real well for Republicans during election time next year!

Re: Easley blames structured sentencing

aburtch — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:07:49 -0500

I believe it would be much more expensive to feed and house the additional inmates in the prison system than it would be to hire more probation officers and reform the way the department is run. Other states do not have same probation problems that we do and also have budget problems. The solution appears to be reform the department and put a renewed effort into prevention. It's not as easy as just saying "throw them in jail longer." Easley's comment seems like a cop-out to me.

Re: Tortuous torture

lefaim — Wed, 23 May 2007 20:10:27 -0400

Ah yes, the Nuremburg Defense. Good job Daughtry.

When the men and women of our armed forces take their oath they pledge to protect the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. We too often forget the latter in favor of the former.