I like to think more in terms of wasted money. Imprisonment is a waste. For the murderers take a hand or arm. If they repeat take the other, eventually they won't have the physical apertures to commit the crime in the first place. Maybe also exile them to Mexico or something. Make them not our problem. For everyone else who's non-violent I think community service and house arrest plus the public shame of being a convict should be enough.
Maybe forced education along-side community service, so they are forced to become better via becoming smarter...
I say this tongue in cheek (a little) as a staunch progressive and bleeding heart liberal. I know it's not humane to 'take an appendage', and I'm against the death penalty, but also as a pragmatist that would much rather see tax-payer dollars spent on single-payer healthcare than incarceration - we need to ensure public safety from those who may not be able to be fixed. I'd like to honestly find something that is streamlined, cost effective, and has zero incarceration time involved, is humane as possible and benefits the most people in society. Murderers and violent thieves (with a deadly weapon) lose varying 'lengths' of their appendages. There should be a line drawn at things like bar fights, and maybe leniency for first-timers. Could be as small as 'take a pinky'.
If we could completely end private prisons, and insurance in the country we'd save a ton of money per capita to use for other much more worthy endeavors.
Maybe forced education along-side community service, so they are forced to become better via becoming smarter...
I say this tongue in cheek (a little) as a staunch progressive and bleeding heart liberal. I know it's not humane to 'take an appendage', and I'm against the death penalty, but also as a pragmatist that would much rather see tax-payer dollars spent on single-payer healthcare than incarceration - we need to ensure public safety from those who may not be able to be fixed. I'd like to honestly find something that is streamlined, cost effective, and has zero incarceration time involved, is humane as possible and benefits the most people in society. Murderers and violent thieves (with a deadly weapon) lose varying 'lengths' of their appendages. There should be a line drawn at things like bar fights, and maybe leniency for first-timers. Could be as small as 'take a pinky'.
If we could completely end private prisons, and insurance in the country we'd save a ton of money per capita to use for other much more worthy endeavors.