Great if we follow those methods we'll all be building houses on top of [risons, and all of our schools will be next to prisons. The fact that most prisons in California already hold two times as many inmates as they are supposed to hold is just crazy. They are going to have to build more prisons soon, or they're going to have to stop arresting people and putting them in prison for life for stealing 4 chocolate chip cookies.

What is filling our prisons is the mistaken belief that individual liberty means freedom from responsibilities. Normal people rise to meet expectations.

 

Government needs to stop micromanaging the lives of productive, law-abiding American citizens and begin protecting them from the habitual low-lifes who would do them harm.

 

I would impose stiff sentences for first offense violent criminals. On the second violent offense, the perpetrator would be too old to breed by the time (s)he was released from prison. My early release program would involve voluntary sterilization.

If someone has ZERO money, they have ZERO money. That means it does not matter how cheap something is. You can find ways to purchase prescription drugs even if you do not need them, but you still see people breaking into pharmacies around the nation don't you? It happened to a pharmacy right next door from me...

 

Probably because the guy had NO MONEY and needed a fix, or needed to sale some drugs.

A fifth of the cheapest vodka still goes for around 7 or 8 dollars. The street value of one Oxycontin pill is estimated at $40 (http://www.drugpolicy.org/drugbydrug/oxycontin/). Quite a difference there.:sssh:

Your first point is pure speculation. Show me evidence, and I'll believe it.

 

On your 2nd point, more people get DUI's with Alcohol because alcohol is LEGAL and readily available. Drugs are not. While it can be easy to get them, not everyone knows where, or how.

 

HIV doesn't just go through needles. That person may get HIV, and go on and have sexual relations with many people and never tell them, because he/she doesn't want to or because he/she doesn't know. Doesn't just go through needles.

 

On your last point, once again that is just speculation. There is no evidence to back that claim up, and if there is I'd love to see it.

You brought these points up. I'd like to see the all of the homicides caused by marijuana, cocaine, heroin usuage.

 

Marijuana is just as easy to get, especially in dry counties.

 

I'm well aware of how HIV can be spread, but I tried to find evidence backing dirty needles. But I can't find one site talking about the spread of HIV among drug users because of sex. EVERY site talks about needles. This can be kept down if the industry is regulated and watched better.

 

Once again, you brought this point up. Show me the violence caused by the usage of the drugs and not the inflated prices and the illegal trafficking.

 

HB20, we have tried this expirement before...it was called Prohibition, it didn't work. It spawned violent crimes as I have said it does. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like we have learned from these mistakes.

 

And it's not just the legalization of drugs I am for. I want all consensual crimes to be legal. I don't want the government to tell me I have to wear a seat belt. I don't want the government to tell me what I can and can't watch. If I choose to visit a prostitute, I want to be able to. If I feel the need to put 1k on the Wildcats Sunday I want to be able to. If I choose to marry three women and they consent and are ok with this, then I don't want the government to stop me. If I choose to watch pornography, I don't want the government to stop me. The list goes on and on.

 

Cars are one of the leading causes of deaths in this country. Should we get rid of them next?

What is filling our prisons is the mistaken belief that individual liberty means freedom from responsibilities. Normal people rise to meet expectations.

 

Government needs to stop micromanaging the lives of productive, law-abiding American citizens and begin protecting them from the habitual low-lifes who would do them harm.

:thumb::thumb:

OK...let's discuss Kentucky's statistics. Because, as disturbing as all the other data is, the increase in Kentucky's inmate population is the largest jump in the country. Why is that?

 

One question I have is, don't we have Hawaiian women prisoners in Kentucky as some sort of agreement? Could that be a contibuting factor to the statistic?

It doesn't have to be a "beating" and not all cases will include a sister or a grandmother.

 

It could be a gang member fighting a gang member. A felony assault, if I'm not mistaken, is any assault which results in physical harm. That could be punching someone in the face and bruising their face. Doing that 3 times should equal a LIFE TIME in prison?

 

I understand what you are saying but, do you think that someone convicted THREE times for THREE different felonies is going to suddenly become a productive member of society. While I am sure there are many cases of the bad going good there are many many more of the bad continuing to be bad.

 

3 Strikes isn't perfect (the law not the moderator) but it is better than having these offenders on the streets.

I know people that are serving at least 12 years in federal prison for 1st offense marijuana charges due to mandatory minimums. I think our laws are way out of whack.

 

They were trafficking, producing or importing!!!! They are not there for having a joint or a nickle bag on them. To get 12 years they were probably also caught near a school.

 

While some may argue that marijuana is harmless, the people making the money from it are not. They are the same as any other drug dealer, they are in it for the money.

.......Once again, the violence you see and hear about is the violence associated with trafficking the drugs, not the actual use.

 

 

I would guess most drug violence is not in the trafficking part, after all it is a business for these people. The violence comes from the drug user hooked on OC or Meth doing whatever they can think of to get more money just to get more drugs. The users are absolutley where the violence and crimes come in, from home invasions to robbery to shoplifting. Just go sit in your local disrtict or cicuit court and listen to the arraignments first thing in the morning. I would estimate 70% of the individuals that I have witnessed in court are there due to some kind of drug issue.

There are currently 384 people in the Kentucky State Prison system from Pulaski County.

With a population 59200 that means 1 in 154 are in the prison system.

 

KOOL KY Online Offender Lookup

 

Just go to the bottom and put in your county name to see the number of state prisoners attributed to your county.

 

(Hint: click on the number next to the names to see all of the actual charges not just the ones listed on the front page)

I understand what you are saying but, do you think that someone convicted THREE times for THREE different felonies is going to suddenly become a productive member of society. While I am sure there are many cases of the bad going good there are many many more of the bad continuing to be bad.

 

3 Strikes isn't perfect (the law not the moderator) but it is better than having these offenders on the streets.

 

I feel like the people committing these crimes should be punished, but I do not think that locking them up for the rest of their lives is the answer.

What's the statistics on felons released early from prison/jail that commit other crimes soon afterwards? I would say fairly high. I know of cases in my county where victims were shot in the head and another where a person was beaten to death. Both individuals served years in prison, were finally released, and were back in prison in a year. Rehab all you want, but it doesn't always work. I still say build more prisons if it takes it. Get criminals off the street. Protect the public from predators and criminals, and stop the bleeding heart mentality. Be realistic.

What's the statistics on felons released early from prison/jail that commit other crimes soon afterwards? I would say fairly high. I know of cases in my county where victims were shot in the head and another where a person was beaten to death. Both individuals served years in prison, were finally released, and were back in prison in a year. Rehab all you want, but it doesn't always work. I still say build more prisons if it takes it. Get criminals off the street. Protect the public from predators and criminals, and stop the bleeding heart mentality. Be realistic.

 

Recidivism rates are very high. A large number of crimes committed in the US are committed by a small percentage of people.

 

However, I agree that we need to be realistic. If someone commits a crime worthy of a lifetime in prison, sentence them to that lifetime in prison. However, I do not think stealing 4 chocolate chip cookies is worthy of a lifetime in prison.

Recidivism rates are very high. A large number of crimes committed in the US are committed by a small percentage of people.

 

However, I agree that we need to be realistic. If someone commits a crime worthy of a lifetime in prison, sentence them to that lifetime in prison. However, I do not think stealing 4 chocolate chip cookies is worthy of a lifetime in prison.

I admit, stealing cookies is not a serious crime. But if the individual has a long record of stealing, then something has to be done. One day it's cookies, the next day it could be jewelry or cars.

I admit, stealing cookies is not a serious crime. But if the individual has a long record of stealing, then something has to be done. One day it's cookies, the next day it could be jewelry or cars.

 

In this case it was the persons third felony. He broke into a place and left with 4 cookies. Was arrested, and sentenced to 25 to life. While I agree that since he was a repeat offender, he should be punished harshly...but 25 to life? Not necessary.

In this case it was the persons third felony. He broke into a place and left with 4 cookies. Was arrested, and sentenced to 25 to life. While I agree that since he was a repeat offender, he should be punished harshly...but 25 to life? Not necessary.

I agree. That's overboard.