http://statenews.com. When should economics influence the criminal justice system? It’s a question that Michigan finds itself tackling after the state House passed a bill to revise the state’s current policy regarding criminal eligibility for community corrections programs. en-us Gryphon 2.2.3b-tsn (woodward)/Foundry5 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:42:10 -0400 webmaster@statenews.com http://statenews.com./index.php/comment/view/40797 One easy step: get rid of those “send ‘em a message” sentences. And those “nobody wants to look soft on criminals” sentences. My local judge (not in MI) just gave a 96-year sentecne to a middle-aged man. Other states love to sentence guys to five consecutive life terms; gotta wonder how they’ll find the perps in their next incarnation. Frankly, most of the over-80 set is not a threat to the public, and thosee few odd cases can be kept in light-security prisons … no floodlights and triple rows of razor wire needed. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:24:14 -0400 http://statenews.com./index.php/comment/view/40797 http://statenews.com./index.php/comment/view/40809 Well Said RC. Our incarceration rate, and the sentence lengths in this country is out of control. Once politicians took it upon themselves to revise our sentencing laws to appear “tough on crime” instead of relying on criminal justice experts and legal theorists, we got ourselves in trouble. We put way too many people in prison for way too long, and it does little to accomplish any of the philosophical goals of criminal justice (deterrence, retribution, utilitarianism) And you’re right RC, as my Sentencing professor would often say “crime is a young persons game” Generally we don’t see much criminal activity from those over 25-30. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:42:10 -0400 http://statenews.com./index.php/comment/view/40809