• So I agree with 90% of this, and I don’t understand why you’re getting downvoted. That being said, the one thing I can’t get behind is worse punishments for violent crime. I’m not saying violent crime is good, but basically all of the evidence suggest that worse punishments do nothing to curtail it, and in fact make it more likely. The longer someone spends in prison, the less likely they are to reintegrate into society. If the goal is to reduce violent crime, rehabilitation is far more effective than deterrence.

    • @nivenkos@lemmy.world
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      21 year ago

      It’s not about putting people off doing, but stopping them re-offending. If they’re in prison for 40 years for murder, they can’t murder someone else. If it’s only 5 years, they can.

      This isn’t some theoretical thing either - it’s the current reality in Europe. Almost every criminal has prior convictions, often serious ones.

      https://polisen.se/aktuellt/nyheter/2023/mars/atta-ars-fangelse-for-valdtakt-grov-misshandel-och-manniskorov/ - here’s one example:

      Gärningsmannen har tidigare dömts för liknande brott, senast 2017 till drygt fyra års fängelse och 2009 till sju års fängelse.

      Two prior convictions for sexual violence - then committed a horrific kidnapping and rape after his second release.

      Or this one: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-55666623 - already a known sex offender, went on to commit further crimes.

      Or this guy - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-56569863 - an illegal asylum seeker who had avoided deportation so far, etc.

      There’s one sentence that guarantees no re-offending, and I think we need it for serious violent crime (especially repeat offences).

      • I don’t disagree with this, but it sounds like you’re talking less about violent crime in general and more about sexual battery and premeditated assault, which makes up a relatively small proportion of violent crime.

        Most violent crime is just regular conflict that escalates into throwing punches, and throwing these people in prison is the quickest way to push them away from lawfulness and down the path of crime. Prison is just networking for criminals.

        • @nivenkos@lemmy.world
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          21 year ago

          Yeah, I mean like serious, repeat crime. Robbery too - one of my friends was robbed at knife-point and beaten by 4 guys.

          The police caught one and he was an undocumented “minor”, since he was considered a “minor” (but they all say that) he was put in a youth holding centre before trial. And then right before trial just walked out as there’s no security, he has no papers and just disappears, free to meet up with his gang and rob more people again.

          It’s madness - Europe has become much less safe due to stuff like this. Like it’s one thing to accept refugees, etc. but we need to have absolute zero tolerance for those who end up worsening our own society.

          I agree for stuff like an odd bar-fight, or aggressive argument, etc. then it shouldn’t be sentenced near as badly, as they can be rehabilitated and don’t pose a threat to the general public.