Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

But you have to let them out at some point. The longer they’re in the more likely they’re going to be to commit crime when they do leave.



> But you have to let them out at some point.

The idea behind "tough on crime" is that actually, you don't: A nineteen-year-old mugged some people to pay for food/drugs/I'll-ask-my-caddie's-chauffeur-what-else-poor-people-spend-money-on? Great! We can use them as slave labor on and off for the rest of their life, and the less opprotunities for "off", the better.


Without some rehabilitation programs chances are that they will get back to prison regardless of how long or short it's their stay. I guess the gov has to decide if it's worth to pay for rehabilitation or just keep them in jails. The latter is easier to implement and to sell.


Re-offending rates are lower in counties that do provide rehabilitation rates, it’s pretty well known. So the US government is wrong on this point if that’s what they’re judging against.

Most people in positions of influence aren’t stupid though- clearly there is something else swaying the decision. I would imagine that for-profit prisons are probably the root cause.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: