In a very real way, committing a serious enough crime to get locked up is a desperate measure to get some kind of governmental aid. Prison isn't cheap, especially if you're a youthful offender. It is far more expensive--per slot, per year--than education or full-time child care.
More on this when I have time to research.
I doubt this very much. Yes, prison is expensive, but a huge majority of expenses per prisoner is spent on things the prisoner doesn't want or need. Plus, a serious criminal conviction pretty much obliterates your chances of having anything resembling a fulfilling and successful professional career. If you're committing a serious crime because you see getting locked up as receiving governmental aid, you have major problems not only with the law but also with perception of reality.
ReplyDeleteAs to seeing prison as redistribution of wealth, this is more or less right; however, it's redistribution from taxpayers not to prisoners but to police officers, judges, prison guards and administrators, parole board members, you name it.
ReplyDeleteAnd all of those institutional players have a stake at continuing the transfer into the future.
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