Getting Tougher with Offenders
The underlying problem is that American society is too lenient with violent criminals, thereby encouraging lawlessness. Serious crimes deserve serious punishment, no matter who commits them. Whether criminals are youths or adults and whether the crime is a first offense or a subsequent offense it must be punished unequivocally. The most promising solution is to get tougher with all criminals, to step up enforcement efforts, impose longer jail and prison sentences, and build more prisons.
What Should be Done?
Enact mandatory sentences. Make sure that a firm connection exists between the seriousness of the crime and the severity of the sentence, even if that means sending more criminals to prison. Step up law enforcement efforts so a higher percentage of offenders are caught and convicted. Don't let criminals off easy, even on their first offense. Make sure violent criminals get what they deserve, and make sure the rights and needs of victims of crimes are respected. Relax the due process rules so that a higher percentage of apprehended criminals are convicted and sentenced.
Arguments For This Approach
Most violent crimes do not result in arrest, and even when suspects are arrested they often go free. That's a fatal flaw, since would-be criminals see that they can get away with serious crime. The courts don't deal harshly enough with criminals, and as a result justice suffers. Society has a right to protect itself against violent predators, and an obligation to imprison individuals who resort to criminal violence.
Arguments Against This Approach
Simply locking up more people for longer periods of time does little to provide a safer society. Prisoners leave more dangerous than they were when they entered. In any case, we can't go on indefinitely locking up more and more people. Most people who commit serious crimes aren't calculators who would be deterred by the prospect of swifter, more certain, and more severe punishment. This approach does nothing to address the long-term causes of our crime problem. The real effects of get tough measures such as mandatory sentencing are strikingly at odds with their intentions. Relaxing the due process rules will deprive people of their civil rights.
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Comments
What needs to be done about Violent Offenders is when they are convicted of a Violent Crime
after they have served their sentence or recieve a Suspended Sentence or Probation or a defered
sentence they have to register with the local law enforcement a the Department Of Corrections in
their State. Several States have already enacted this type of legislation. This type of registration
is just like the Sex Offenders Registration Laws or the Sexually Violent Offenders. This type of law
requires people convicted of First Degree Murder,Second Degree Murder,Manslaughter, Assualt
and Battery With a Deadly Weapon and other Violent Offenses. Each State can enact their own
Offenses . Though, it is time that Federal Legilation to be Enacted and States can recieve grants
from the US Department Of Justice. Though,each State would be allowed to enact their own offenses
as long as they meet the US Department Of Justice Guidelines. What this means is that it needs to
become a Federal Law that all States must enact A Violent Offenders Registration Law. It is
already required by Federal Law that every State has to have Sex Offenders Registration Laws
and they have to meet the US Department Of Justice requirements. Now it time that all States
that do not have a Violent Offenders Registration Act to enact it or it is time that the Federal Government
to enact this type of legislation.I know that many lives can be saved. in The State Of Oklahoma
it has saved many lives.
Jerry Riddle
Norman,Oklahoma
I and some of my family members agree with the comment that registration should be equal across the board for all offenses. I believe anyone would want to know if there is a predator or habitual offender of any type in proximity of 'home'.
We don't agree that tougher laws will solve crime unless you simply just hand out the death penalty, and this still doesn't get to the root of the problem, which is what is out in society and even in the very homes of this nation; lack of a solid true family life.
However, until that gets fixed, and getting back to the half that have already "crossed that line", the fact is true rehabilitation is not practiced. I can hear many say money should not be wasted in such a manner, especially for the worst of the worst. That's fine, and this leads back to the final solution of just handing out the death penalty, for how can anyone expect someone who is incarcerated/trapped in a world where lack of morals exist to come out with a new set of morals. Now the proposal is to keep them in this immoral world longer before letting them back into society.
Certainly there are some that have a true sickness within them that prohibits positive maturing through rehabilitation. However, I know there are many, even for those who have crossed the line in the crimes the communities want to say are the worst of the worst, that really want to and can walk a different path. The research is out there if one wants to search the truth of both sides. Of course, if one thinks rehabilitation will not matter to the masses on trusting anyone again, I lead you back to the death penalty.
How can one expect anyone who is incarcerated to make it in society when, even after paying for their crime, "being sent to their room or the corner", and being released from said room or corner, to have a chance when society turns their noses up at them because they have 'fallen' in their attempt to understand and make it through life.
This is not a letter to say punishment should not fit the crime, but rather noting that as time moves on, the laws seem to be getting stricter, but crime is not going away. So go ahead and make the punishment fit the crime, but don't expect different results until the root of the problem, the way society wants to live with what they see on TV and hear on the radio.
On one other note regardless of whether someone believes in an Almighty or not, both sides profess ways to correct the wrongs in our world, and no it's not through punishment, at least that's what is professed. One side thinks they have analyzed life to such detail they can now manipulate it to be what they want. The other side believes in a power so great, miracles can happen. Consequences for actions, sure. Thinking that we are the final Judge, that's quite a haughty position in which to place one self.
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