Not really a new or recent law that was enacted to "Fill up" our prisons.

 

Not new but incarcerating people for smoking marijuana has certainly led to overcrowding.

Arizona's immigration law was written by CCA lobbyists.

 

Prison Economics Help Drive Ariz. Immigration Law : NPR

Wasn't that struck down by Washington?

Not new but incarcerating people for smoking marijuana has certainly led to overcrowding.

 

I would say that almost NOBODY is in jail more than overnight for Smoking...growing, dealing, transporting maybe...but not for just Smoking it! That is a very weak misdemeanor.

Wasn't that struck down by Washington?

 

Not sure but it proves the point that private companies are helping draft laws that will incarcerate more people. It's their way of surviving.

 

Shocking Facts About America's For-Profit Prison Industry

I would say that almost NOBODY is in jail more than overnight for Smoking...growing, dealing, transporting maybe...but not for just Smoking it! That is a very weak misdemeanor.

 

Not in Louisiana.

 

Marijuana possession shouldn't carry a 20-year prison term: Editorial | NOLA.com

Not sure but it proves the point that private companies are helping draft laws that will incarcerate more people. It's their way of surviving.

 

Shocking Facts About America's For-Profit Prison Industry

 

I agree that is 100% wrong...but Insurance Lobby helped right Affordable Care Act. Several examples of corporations or industries helping write laws that benefit them over the years.

This subject absolutely kills me! The costs of incarceration , when added to judicial, law enforcement and prosecution are phenomenal. They are significant when compared to the cost of an Ivy League education. Meanwhile, the resources devoted to public education, especially teacher compensation, are pathetic. Of coarse, there are no private entities making money from public schools.

Not sure but it proves the point that private companies are helping draft laws that will incarcerate more people. It's their way of surviving.

 

Shocking Facts About America's For-Profit Prison Industry

 

I agree that is 100% wrong...but Insurance Lobby helped right Affordable Care Act. Several examples of corporations or industries helping write laws that benefit them over the years.

I agree that is 100% wrong...but Insurance Lobby helped right Affordable Care Act. Several examples of corporations or industries helping write laws that benefit them over the years.

 

Well, sure.

 

But AHCA doesn't put people in jail and ruin families.

Tax law doesn't.

Oil companies lobbyists do not.

This subject absolutely kills me! The costs of incarceration , when added to judicial, law enforcement and prosecution are phenomenal. They are significant when compared to the cost of an Ivy League education. Meanwhile, the resources devoted to public education, especially teacher compensation, are pathetic. Of coarse, there are no private entities making money from public schools.

 

Bottom line and what many many want to ignore is that SOME people don't want to be educated, trained or even offered jobs.

 

I agree teacher could be better compensated, but what I would like from education is a whole other discussion.

 

There are plenty of private companies making money from public schools...some run food service, some run the transportation and some even provide security. It's none of that goes back to the teachers or students.

So what would your suggestion be for those that repeatedly commit crime? Because even in cases of most felonies very very few first time offenders get sentenced to actual jail time. Repeat misdemeanor offenders will get maybe a year sentence with all but maybe 7 days probated and then get probation for the term of the sentence.

 

People that are in jail for any real length of time are habitual criminals in almost every case.

 

Not an easy solution until mindsets of the general population understand the issues. It is tied to money, jobs, segregation of classes, mental health, socioeconomics and reform. But it has to start with mindsets and understanding issues of poverty and we are a long ways from that.

 

But it is broken and tied to everything from welfare, disability, immigration, etc. We are not close to agreeing on those issues either. As I stated the easiest solution is to lock them up, but it is not effective, as you know.

 

I wish I had a solution, as in everything in problem solving for business and life, you must define the problem, the root causes of it and then find the solutions. The problem has changed over time. therefore, the solution that may have worked many years ago seems to not be working now.

Well, sure.

 

But AHCA doesn't put people in jail and ruin families.

Tax law doesn't.

Oil companies lobbyists do not.

AHCA can ruin families if almost every thing they make is going to pay outrageous health insurance. (trust me)

Break some Tax Laws and you are going to Jail/Prison.

 

But I get the point you are making.

So what would your suggestion be for those that repeatedly commit crime? Because even in cases of most felonies very very few first time offenders get sentenced to actual jail time. Repeat misdemeanor offenders will get maybe a year sentence with all but maybe 7 days probated and then get probation for the term of the sentence.

 

People that are in jail for any real length of time are habitual criminals in almost every case.

 

Doesn't the article note that poor people or people with mental problems often end up in jail for these minor offenses because they do not have the money to pay for the fines/court costs? Also it noted that a lot of the prisoners are simply awaiting trial and could not afford bail.

 

I think the point is that people without money are swelling the jail ranks. If you or I get busted for driving without a license or DUI we'd post $500 bail, go to trial and pay our fines. These people don't have the money for that so they sit in jail while awaiting trial and then might end up with jail time instead of paying a fine that they can't pay.

Doesn't the article note that poor people or people with mental problems often end up in jail for these minor offenses because they do not have the money to pay for the fines/court costs? Also it noted that a lot of the prisoners are simply awaiting trial and could not afford bail.

 

I think the point is that people without money are swelling the jail ranks. If you or I get busted for driving without a license or DUI we'd post $500 bail, go to trial and pay our fines. These people don't have the money for that so they sit in jail while awaiting trial and then might end up with jail time instead of paying a fine that they can't pay.

 

Every case I've ever seen in person where someone got a fine they were given several months or even a year to pay it. If they couldn't pay in many cases they were able to work it off.

 

One group that is filling our jails currently are "Dead Beat Dads" that don't pay their child support. It is a felony not to pay and the local jails have many in there for just that thing. I know our local dept returns people that are arrested in other states and counties because they have local warrants, the vast majority of these warrants are for failure to pay child support. I guess my question on that would be, should dead beat dads be put in jail or just let them go on not fulfilling their court ordered support for their children?

 

FWIW no one is making money from someone just sitting in jail because they can't bond out or are awaiting trial. State doesn't start paying the jail until there is a conviction. So it is in the jail and counties best interest financially to get people out as fast as possible after arrest while they await trial.

Bottom line and what many many want to ignore is that SOME people don't want to be educated, trained or even offered jobs.

 

I agree teacher could be better compensated, but what I would like from education is a whole other discussion.

 

There are plenty of private companies making money from public schools...some run food service, some run the transportation and some even provide security. It's none of that goes back to the teachers or students.

 

You mention public schools. This prison situation would be like if a private company was helping writing guidelines for passing onto the next grade where said private company and school system would profit from a kid failing and repeating a grade.