A mind exercise for the tough-on-crime types.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

Imagine a punk. One of those lowlifes you love to see busted. Let's assume his offense was... lemme see... ah, burglary. Broke into somebody's house while there was nobody, took TV, stereo, DVD player, and a couple of computers. Tried to sell them, was caught.

The exercise is: write a punishment that you would consider EXCESSIVE for that person.

[meegbear]

1. Strapped to a chair ala "A Clockwork Orange" ...

and made to watch Fox News nonstop.

[phasma ex machina]

6. Truly evil to lower the nation's average IQ just for the sake of a little pay back.

Machiavellian manipulator Murdoch approves.

[Withywindle]

2. First offense? Nobody physically hurt?

Anything more than a year or two in prison would be excessive, IMO.

Property crimes without violence are orders of magnitude less serious than violent crimes, IMO. I think that hypothetical burglar should be punished much less harshly than, say, a drunk driver who killed someone.

[paulsby]

4. and that's harsh, compared to what they get

a first time burglar with no priors (in every jurisdiction i have worked) will almost always get probation

generally speaking, at least in state court, you have to WORK to get jail time

with juveniles, it's even worse. juvenile auto thieves, until recently were practically guaranteed SIX convictions BEFORE a sentece to juvenile hall

seriously.

it's frigging ridiculous

england, btw, has MUCH harsher penalties for auto theft. i was amazed

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. All of that and no death penalty. Proves you don't need the DP to be "tough on crime".

Europe, in general, is a place the thanatophiles like to pretend doesn't exist.

[paulsby]

10. i have no problem

with the DP, but i certainly don't think it's "necessary" to be tough on crime. one can be quite tough w/o a DP.

england is WAY toughter on auto theft, and sweden of all places is way tougher on DUI's.

i think a lot fo crap that is illegal - shouldn't be.

but when it comes to victimizing other people, especially when using violence, i am tough on crime.

when it comes to people using drugs, or stuff like that, i don't think that should be a criminal thang

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Memo to the Arpaioids: unreccing does NOT count as participating in the exercise, mmmkay? -nt

[kctim]

7. More than 5 years would be excessive

its obvious splapping them on the wrist as we do now isn't going to deter them in any way.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. Maybe there'd be space for the burglars if not for this psychotic compulsion to fill the jails with

nonviolent drug users.

[kctim]

12. Yep, can't argue against that

hell, even my Republican friends agree with you on that one.

[NuttyFluffers]

9. being nibbled to death by gerbils

being nibbled to cripple status by gerbils... just about right. make sure they go for the hands.

:+ :hide:

[el_bryanto]

11. Causing him physical pain - beating him or the like.

I'm not sure what the point to this is.

Bryant

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. Making people aware that there IS such a thing as EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT.

Here is the mindset I have a problem with:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7297383#7298329