I want to talk about Barkow's comment on the eighth amendment.
Sometimes prison sentences -- even the most severe -- are a rational response to crime. But often, sentences are the product of a political process in which politicians are scared of appearing soft on crime so they do not even question the reasonableness of a proposed criminal law. It is the norm, not the exception, for politicians to reflexively push for harsher sentences without considering empirical evidence about what level of sanction is necessary for deterrence or what impact a sentence will have on communities. It is an environment long on rhetoric and short on reflection.
This paragraph really hit the spot because that is literally what's happening within our justice system, it's corrupt and unbalanced. The court is not even bothering to see if the sentence fits the crime, all they care about is pushing for the harsher punishment because it's what everyone else does. But in hindsight that is why we have an overflow of prisons and with that leads to inhumane punishment. I understand there are some criminals that fits the punishment and that we shouldn't care about their living conditions but I can't find it in my heart to have them sleep in filth or get fed scraps.
The justice system is supposed to be fair but all there has been is another platform for political problems to air their dirty laundry. I don't get how the people who deserves the harsh punishments gets off with nothing but probation, yet others who openly commits a smaller crime gets a harsher punishment? I'm sure you're all thinking what I'm thinking but we know they will never admit to it, like Barkow said, it's good business right?
Sometimes prison sentences -- even the most severe -- are a rational response to crime. But often, sentences are the product of a political process in which politicians are scared of appearing soft on crime so they do not even question the reasonableness of a proposed criminal law. It is the norm, not the exception, for politicians to reflexively push for harsher sentences without considering empirical evidence about what level of sanction is necessary for deterrence or what impact a sentence will have on communities. It is an environment long on rhetoric and short on reflection.
This paragraph really hit the spot because that is literally what's happening within our justice system, it's corrupt and unbalanced. The court is not even bothering to see if the sentence fits the crime, all they care about is pushing for the harsher punishment because it's what everyone else does. But in hindsight that is why we have an overflow of prisons and with that leads to inhumane punishment. I understand there are some criminals that fits the punishment and that we shouldn't care about their living conditions but I can't find it in my heart to have them sleep in filth or get fed scraps.
The justice system is supposed to be fair but all there has been is another platform for political problems to air their dirty laundry. I don't get how the people who deserves the harsh punishments gets off with nothing but probation, yet others who openly commits a smaller crime gets a harsher punishment? I'm sure you're all thinking what I'm thinking but we know they will never admit to it, like Barkow said, it's good business right?
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