General Discussion

Donald Ian Rankin

(13,598 posts)

34. "Is it better to spend a year in prison, or to be the victim of one violent crime"?

Sat Jun 6, 2015, 10:08 AM

Jun 2015

The symmetry in the numbers makes it relatively easy to rephrase this problem.

In 1992, 0.7% of the populace spent a year in prison and 0.3% were victims of violent crime.

This year, those numbers are exactly the other way round.

Some of those crimes were murders, rapes, maimings etc, which are arguably worse to be a victim of that spending a year in prison. But I suspect that most of them were less unpleasant and harmful for the victims than a years imprisonment would be. So that's an argument in favour of 1992.

On the other hand, most of the people sent to prison had chosen to commit a crime - very minor crimes in some cases, but still crimes they chose to commit and could have chosen not to commit - whereas most of the victims of violent crime are innocent. I think that's a stronger argument in favour of the present day.

So, with some strong reservations, I voted "no".

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

48 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Sentencing reform: I'm going to present a false dilemma [View all] Recursion Jun 2015 OP

Of course it's a false dilemma, and reducing present... TreasonousBastard Jun 2015 #1

I think nobody has any idea what would happen if we returned to sane incarceration levels Recursion Jun 2015 #3

Well, we are dealing with hypotheticals here... TreasonousBastard Jun 2015 #6

Themistocles had a quote about empires Recursion Jun 2015 #7

CA has been doing early jail release. joshcryer Jun 2015 #10

How's it gone? (nt) Recursion Jun 2015 #11

Pretty damn well, lowest crime since 1967. joshcryer Jun 2015 #16

Depends on the time frame. MH1 Jun 2015 #29

I think in marketing/business terms... Wounded Bear Jun 2015 #30

But it's not really captive, some of us only think we are. MH1 Jun 2015 #33

If the hypothetical scenario means that 2x as many violent criminals are locked up no... Kalidurga Jun 2015 #2

Two points Recursion Jun 2015 #4

No that would be a stupid trade Kalidurga Jun 2015 #5

The needs of the many, etc, etc. joshcryer Jun 2015 #8

OK, let's run with "needs of the many" -- are more people harmed by mass incarceration Recursion Jun 2015 #9

Violent crime. joshcryer Jun 2015 #12

Most of them *were* non-violent when they went in (nt) Recursion Jun 2015 #14

And this transformation into violent people is something you are asserting without evidence. Bluenorthwest Jun 2015 #24

To say what? That some non-violent offenders become violent in prison? Recursion Jun 2015 #25

I think the reason there are so many people in prison now Blue_In_AK Jun 2015 #13

We absolutely do, and we need to control prison violence Recursion Jun 2015 #15

I know of someone formerly close to me Blue_In_AK Jun 2015 #17

Thanks. This: JDPriestly Jun 2015 #21

It's really terrible. Blue_In_AK Jun 2015 #23

Blackouts are incredibly scary JonLP24 Jun 2015 #28

Agree 100%. And as a society we often push alcohol on people. Chathamization Jun 2015 #46

I voted yes on principle ... ucrdem Jun 2015 #18

I agree. Blue_In_AK Jun 2015 #19

This presents a false choice. JDPriestly Jun 2015 #20

Thanks for repeating my first sentence Recursion Jun 2015 #22

Some of the responses to this thread make me cry. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2015 #36

Sadly, you're right Recursion Jun 2015 #37

I'm sure not what the point is to this JonLP24 Jun 2015 #26

Ridiculous. 99Forever Jun 2015 #27

Yes, it very much is. It forces people to think beyond their comfort zones. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2015 #42

No sir. 99Forever Jun 2015 #48

I would assume that GPS monitoring technology is better today than in 1992. Nye Bevan Jun 2015 #31

Can we expect crime levels like in Baltimore? Calista241 Jun 2015 #32

I was thinking of something very similar JonLP24 Jun 2015 #44

"Is it better to spend a year in prison, or to be the victim of one violent crime"? Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2015 #34

Right? I think that symmetry is kind of chilling Recursion Jun 2015 #35

I don't find it's chilling, because I doubt it's more than a coincidence. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2015 #38

True. They also have much higher tax rates and higher social spending Recursion Jun 2015 #39

Relevant, but far from the whole picture. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2015 #40

Or you're looking at the wrong thing kcr Jun 2015 #41

This is my favorite part JonLP24 Jun 2015 #47

This year has revealed some police departments don't like investigating rape JonLP24 Jun 2015 #45

Yes with the caveat that we need to focus on rehabilitation davidpdx Jun 2015 #43