1% of US adults are in prison Options

[Spectatrix]

Not 1 in 100 has been in prison at some point in time... no, 1 in 99.1 were in prison (at the same time) at the start of the year.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/02/28/prison...n.ap/index.html

[pebkac]

The rate of increase for prison costs was six times greater than for higher education spending, the report said.

I remember Rafalovich (my Criminology professor) saying that it's been proven that there's almost a direct relationship of prison spending to crime rates. The reason for this being that most governments usually cut back spending on education as prison costs increase. And if there's one thing that's a cure for crime, it's education. Educated people are FAR less likely to commit crime than uneducated people.

Personally, I think we need to explore alternative techniques for punishing and rehabilitating people. Prisons cost too much and cause recidivism for a variety of reasons.

[Spectatrix]

I wonder what % of those incarcerated are there for soft drug crimes?

[impala454]

1% is not a huge number, honestly. If you'd titled the thread "2.3 million people are in prison" it wouldn't have been as surprising. Manipulation of numbers for a dramatic effect. Like when you see those commercials, "every 15 seconds someone dies from blah blah etc"

[impala454]

Personally, I think we need to explore alternative techniques for punishing and rehabilitating people. Prisons cost too much and cause recidivism for a variety of reasons.

[pebkac]

1% is not a huge number, honestly. If you'd titled the thread "2.3 million people are in prison" it wouldn't have been as surprising. Manipulation of numbers for a dramatic effect. Like when you see those commercials, "every 15 seconds someone dies from blah blah etc"

That's a higher percentage than ever in US history...

[impala454]

That's a higher percentage than ever in US history...

prob because the crime rates are higher than ever in US history...

maybe if a fo five was the punishment instead of jailtime, those numbers might go down.


well... at least the prison rates would

[Testm0nkey]

i thought "crime" rates were at all time lows

[blaarg]

1% is not a huge number, honestly. If you'd titled the thread "2.3 million people are in prison" it wouldn't have been as surprising. Manipulation of numbers for a dramatic effect. Like when you see those commercials, "every 15 seconds someone dies from blah blah etc"

OMG here we go again....

So what is a big number for the amount of people incarcerated? I mean 3% isn't that big of a number, that's still less than 10 million people...

Your grasp of statistics is STILL absolutely mind boggling to me...

I mean at 1% of the population, we are over SEVEN TIMES as much as most industrialized countries.
that is fucking ridiculous whether you believe 1% is "not a huge number" or not...

This quote says it all:
"The United States has 5 percent of the world's population and 25 percent of the world's incarcerated population. We rank first in the world in locking up our fellow citizens"

[Dogmeat]

That's because we have high standards here.

If we were a third world country, with our standards, we'd have half our population locked up.

Or, we could be China, and just shoot people because we're too lazy TO lock them up.

Wow the US is so evil

[chook]

I agree with dogmeat, but we really need to push education.

[Spectatrix]

1% is not a huge number, honestly.

You are quite insane. You know that, right?

[Mommy]

I have been watching a lot of the prison shows lately (or at least I was until the cable I was leaching was shut off...bastards), and they don't know how to house all the prisoners. All prisons are at max capacity. In most cases, non-violent offenders who get sentenced to for example 90 days in jail only end up serving 3 days because there is no room for them. They are on probation the rest of the time. Even drunk drivers get released early now.

I have to agree with everyone except Impala... 1% is a lot. We need to change something.

[rabble]

impala wants to wiretap and incarcerate everyone apparently

[chook]

impala wants to wiretap and incarcerate everyone apparently

And make it a 3rd Degree Felony to cheat on WOW?

[impala454]

You are quite insane. You know that, right?

Well, what number would be acceptable to you?

[impala454]

An you guys sure blow more smoke than anyone I talk to. "OMG 1% is a lot we need to do something!".

Do what!?!?

The only logical way to reduce this number is obviously:
1. People commit less crimes that land them in jail
2. We make less things illegal that put a person in jail.

#2 is stupid. #1 is not going to be fixed by helping education. #1 will be fixed by having harsher penalties for criminals, but since everyone seems to be focused on making penalties easier, and treating them like some poor little kid that got his hand caught in the cookie jar, #1 will never be fixed. in fact, it will continue to increase because people are less afraid to commit crimes.

[Spectatrix]

Actually, #2 is not necessarily stupid. I don't think marijuana usage should be illegal, for instance. *shrugs*

[impala454]

So now I guess someone needs to look up a breakdown of what those 2 million people are in jail for.

hell, lets just assume it's 1/2 of them just to entertain the idea. now the number of people in jail is 0.5%. does that make you all feel better? 0.5% of american adults in jail instead of 1.0%?

[Testm0nkey]

how do you explain progressive prisons that focus on rehabilitation see less and less excons returning to prison than your standard hard time chain gang prisons that are sometimes a century old?

or do you just stab yourself in the brain and refuse to acknowledge that?

[impala454]

how do you explain progressive prisons that focus on rehabilitation see less and less excons returning to prison than your standard hard time chain gang prisons that are sometimes a century old?

or do you just stab yourself in the brain and refuse to acknowledge that?

How do you explain that they actually do work? Or am I just supposed to believe everything you say since you never post any kind of data that supports all the stuff you pull outta your ass?

[rabble]

How do you explain that they actually do work? Or am I just supposed to believe everything you say since you never post any kind of data that supports all the stuff you pull outta your ass?

The same can be said for all the crap you post. Don't act like some all knowing jackass who thinks his shit doesn't stink.

Edit: I guess you could post sources for that dribble you posted a few posts back

[Mommy]

How do you explain that they actually do work? Or am I just supposed to believe everything you say since you never post any kind of data that supports all the stuff you pull outta your ass?

I've watched several reports on prison systems that have rehabilitation tactics. One prison allows the prisoners to take care of dogs from the shelter (until a home is found for them). Because the prisoners have a responsibility to maintain good behavior and care for the animal, they are actually being rehabilitated in a way. That prison has a very very low return rate. Most cons that leave there never return to prison. It's kind of a neat tactic if you ask me.

[impala454]

The same can be said for all the crap you post. Don't act like some all knowing jackass who thinks his shit doesn't stink.

Edit: I guess you could post sources for that dribble you posted a few posts back

It's pretty ironic to me that you do not at least quote the post you're talking about when you accuse me of not including sources.

Cat said "progressive prisons that focus on rehabilitation see less and less excons returning to prison". All I did was ask for where that data came from.

[impala454]

I've watched several reports on prison systems that have rehabilitation tactics. One prison allows the prisoners to take care of dogs from the shelter (until a home is found for them). Because the prisoners have a responsibility to maintain good behavior and care for the animal, they are actually being rehabilitated in a way. That prison has a very very low return rate. Most cons that leave there never return to prison. It's kind of a neat tactic if you ask me.

See, at least Jessica is attempting to explain.

So my next question would be, how much do those prisons cost to run, and how much would it cost to convert all prisons in the US to this type?

[pebkac]

See, at least Jessica is attempting to explain.

So my next question would be, how much do those prisons cost to run, and how much would it cost to convert all prisons in the US to this type?

Well, when you consider that the recidivism rate in TX is around 80%, I would imagine it would pay for itself in the long run.

[FORSAKENR320]

It's pretty ironic to me that you do not at least quote the post you're talking about when you accuse me of not including sources.

Cat said "progressive prisons that focus on rehabilitation see less and less excons returning to prison". All I did was ask for where that data came from.

shut up impala. you're the biggest bullshit artist on these boards. you try to hide your illogical and over generalized answers behind pretty words and looping sentances. when you are defeated in an arguement, you completely ignore what was said, and try to pick out a single PART of a sentance that isn't even the focus of the arguement and attack that, so that it appears you are still debating. sit down and shut up, you sound way more intelligent when you aren't speaking.

[Mommy]

See, at least Jessica is attempting to explain.

So my next question would be, how much do those prisons cost to run, and how much would it cost to convert all prisons in the US to this type?

I think the shelter paid for the food and upkeep of the animals. The prison just had to let the dogs stay with the prisoners in the cell and give the prisoners time out in the yard to play with the dogs and let them do their business. I'm not positive though. Something like this seems like it would be cheap to run though since both the prison and the animal shelters are usually government funded. I think most of these guys were violent offenders too. The point was to help them be calm and work with problems and stuff. The dogs were routinely checked to make sure they were being taken care of properly.

[impala454]

Another fun fact (if 1% is a big number) how about this number to boggle your mind:

2.5 million WoW subscribers in the US = ~0.83% = ~ 1 in 115
(although the ratio would be higher if you remove the age groups that don't play the game)

or even:

10 million total worldwide = ~ 0.15% = ~ 1 in 600 people on the earth play WoW

[Mommy]

So I get criticized for mentioning I'm pregnant in a lot of threads (its a boy btw!!! ) and Duane gets criticized for making every thread gay... can we criticize you for WoW'ing up every thread?

[impala454]

Well, when you consider that the recidivism rate in TX is around 80%, I would imagine it would pay for itself in the long run.

So you have no idea how much it would cost to provide all 2.3 million inmates with a dog, along with all of the logistics of it, and you assume it would pay for itself. Gee why didnt anyone think of this before!

[impala454]

So I get criticized for mentioning I'm pregnant in a lot of threads (its a boy btw!!! ) and Duane gets criticized for making every thread gay... can we criticize you for WoW'ing up every thread?

For my admittedly terrible memory, I don't recall anywhere besides this thread that I've mentioned it where it was off the topic. And it actually helps me with my point here, that people are just trying to "wow" (haha pun intended) us with numbers. You guys who gasp at these numbers seem easily taken by percentages and big numbers, and much less likely to just chalk it up to the fact that there are bad people out there that are going to do bad things. And that it shouldn't be anyone's responsibility to rehabilitate them but themselves.

shut up impala. you're the biggest bullshit artist on these boards. you try to hide your illogical and over generalized answers behind pretty words and looping sentances. when you are defeated in an arguement, you completely ignore what was said, and try to pick out a single PART of a sentance that isn't even the focus of the arguement and attack that, so that it appears you are still debating. sit down and shut up, you sound way more intelligent when you aren't speaking.

yawn. more people complaining about the way I post. here's some advice, attack the post, not the poster. When you start to attack the person and not their words, you show you've lost.

[Mommy]

For my admittedly terrible memory, I don't recall anywhere besides this thread that I've mentioned it where it was off the topic. And it actually helps me with my point here, that people are just trying to "wow" (haha pun intended) us with numbers. You guys who gasp at these numbers seem easily taken by percentages and big numbers, and much less likely to just chalk it up to the fact that there are bad people out there that are going to do bad things. And that it shouldn't be anyone's responsibility to rehabilitate them but themselves.

I know you criticized Duane, but I can't remember who jumped on me. I didn't say you did it though. I was just saying...

[FORSAKENR320]

yawn. more people complaining about the way I post. here's some advice, attack the post, not the poster. When you start to attack the person and not their words, you show you've lost.

i don't remember trying to get involved in this debate..... i'm just telling you, you're a numb-nutted jizz basket lame ass pot calling the kettle black. thats all

[rabble]

An you guys sure blow more smoke than anyone I talk to. "OMG 1% is a lot we need to do something!".

Do what!?!?

The only logical way to reduce this number is obviously:
1. People commit less crimes that land them in jail
2. We make less things illegal that put a person in jail.

#2 is stupid. #1 is not going to be fixed by helping education. #1 will be fixed by having harsher penalties for criminals, but since everyone seems to be focused on making penalties easier, and treating them like some poor little kid that got his hand caught in the cookie jar, #1 will never be fixed. in fact, it will continue to increase because people are less afraid to commit crimes.

From now on all I'm going to do is ask for sources. I'd really like to know the study or report that was taken/prepared that proves these points.

Thanks!

[impala454]

From now on all I'm going to do is ask for sources. I'd really like to know the study or report that was taken/prepared that proves these points.

Thanks!

/golfclap way to give up there chief

[impala454]

i don't remember trying to get involved in this debate..... i'm just telling you, you're a numb-nutted jizz basket lame ass pot calling the kettle black. thats all

and like I said, all you're doin is complaining about the way I post, just like is always done once I make a point. it's a sure sign. "I can't think of anything else to say, so I'll string together some childish words and call you a name or say something about the way you post"

[FORSAKENR320]

and like I said, all you're doin is complaining about the way I post, just like is always done once I make a point. it's a sure sign. "I can't think of anything else to say, so I'll string together some childish words and call you a name or say something about the way you post"

once again, you completely ignore what people are saying. these things you accuse people of? YOU"RE WORSE ABOUT IT THAN THEY ARE


get that through your fat head.

it's like hitler complaining about being persecuted for his beliefs

[rabble]

/golfclap way to give up there chief

So asking for sources is giving up? First off, I'll need a source for that, secondly, you asked cathryn for a source, does that mean you gave up?

[chook]

So asking for sources is giving up? First off, I'll need a source for that, secondly, you asked cathryn for a source, does that mean you gave up?

Just make up some metrics.