Current Events > "Less incarceration, less crime" - interesting podcast

(+) Yeah! (+)

http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/multimedia/audio/2017/less-incarceration-less-crime

There is very little connection between how long you spend in prison and your likelihood of reoffending. The most important take-away is that having a swift and certain process for sanctioning behavior is more important than the severity of the punishment; you can deter people with criminal justice policies, but the best way to do so if through a parole or probation system with a tiered system of punishments (e.g., after your second parole violation you get sent to local jail for a temporary 30-day stay). If anything, longer lengths of stay in prison have a negative impact on recidivism rates.

Where does your state stand in terms of your incarceration rates, and growth in incarceration rates?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_incarceration_and_correctional_supervision_rate

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2015/Meeting%20Attachments/423/I13970/Handout%20%20Justice%20Center%20Presentation.pdf

(page 25 has a comparison of states between 2004 and 2013; my state, Arkansas, has the third fastest growth in incarceration rates in that timespan)
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The root problem isn't too much crime, but too many crimes.

My wife is a probation and parole officer. These people want to to blame everyone but themselves for their crimes. The only ones that see success on probation are the ones who actually want to make a change.
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