I think many people are born anti-social (criminal) and it is almost inevitable they will be taken into the system (yes, genetic). However, the modern justice system is a for-profit organized-crime division of an increasingly untrustworthy and paranoid government. Yes, it is true… the NSA really is spying on you… and you… and you too. Due to the justice system’s advancing development, it has a very large appetite. Thus it is starting to suck people into the vortex that would probably have a productive future but for one minor event. The disenfranchisement which occurs from a young person’s major exposure to our corrupt system as a result of minor event/crime is pushing many many “off” buttons forever. In this way the beast spreads its seed for future meals.

The police are the largest street gang in America. SWAT raids on homes are up 3000% in the past ten years. Many a cop has been caught on tape committing criminal thuggery to their victims. SWAT has been used on old women whose houses smell like cleaning chemicals and other lame excuses to violate rights, destroy property, and, too often, kill people. Military attitudes, personnel, training, weapons, vehicles, and aircraft. (Have you already forgotten the two little asian women shot to bits in LA last year… they were delivering newspapers… cops said they looked like a big black guy.) Prosecutors aim for a conviction any way they can. Honesty is not important. A cop can and will lie to you. Ignoring and suppressing evidence of innocence is common. The overall system is not about punishment/rehabilitation as much as it about squeezing every penny in can from its prey… it is hungry. Those caught up in the system tend to be mentally ill and/or low IQ. They generally don’t target those innocents who will get a good lawyer and drag it out into the daylight… not yet anyway. The result is we have the modern day version of debtor’s prison. Sad that some think it is an improvement. Nicer building, you bet, same Dirty Harry system however.

46% of the budget in Ada goes to public safety, 16% to courts… and they are lesser equipped than many. Sorry, but I felt safer in 1971.

L.D. – are you trying to combine “church and state”? Be careful; you’ll end up with a fat lawsuit!
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A discussion of criminal justice is straying off-topic, but if the moderator will allow, I’d like to respond.

I consider myself a Christian, L.D., but that “turning the other cheek” thing only goes so far. If you read the story about the long-held Idaho prisoner… he’s been paroled on numerous occasions, and keeps ending up back in da joint because he’s a habitual violator.

You may have a point about first-time offenders. Maybe their punishments are too harsh in some cases. (If it were up to me, I’d free all the reefer-smokers. That seems like a rather benign and victimless violation.) But society has to dispense both mercy AND justice, and frankly, there are some folks who just won’t play nice in society. It’s hard to feel too much pity for habitual violators.

EDITOR NOTE–I took the picture. Think how old I feel!