The normalization of the criminal and the reintroduction of debtors prison.

[God23]

You can see it on an advert for Orange Juice.

It's lightened and glorified by television.

We now have the highest per capita percentage of people in jail/prison of any other civilized country in the world.

Ain't life grand!

Last night on my local news they had a "let's get the criminals" night when they published photos of people with warrants outstanding and a full 92% of them were for child support, failure to pay and failure to appear.

The show advertised "we are keeping your communities safe."

Yes, failure to pay is not good, but the very idea that imprisoning the people unable to pay to make them pay is insane. Believe me, if these people could pay rather than go to jail, they would. One of the "Criminals" was a 23 year old girl who was picked up at a Jack's Hamburgers for owing $23,000.00 in back child support. She will never be able to pay what the court ha prescribed. She will forever be poor and a dependent upon others.

Madd, and other such community watchdogs have forced our judicial system into insanity due to the fact that our lawmakers will forever bend to those with the most public exposure. Sorry, but the person who drives two blocks after two beers does not deserve the same punishment as the person who kills an innocent family with his car. Alcoholism is a disease. No something people hope for to fuck up other people's lives.

Drugs? really? How many of you can tell a story other than the story of them ruining the life of a relative or friend?


America's criminal system has become a recipient of knee jerk reactions rather than a tool for the betterment of America. "Nuff said."

[robinlynne]

1. Actually, I don't disagree with your overall theory, but in the particular case of

prison for child support. It works. I have seen it work. People who live life carefree, and don't bother to pay anything for their children all of a sudden get a life-changing lesson. they get shocked. they take it seriously. People who are honestly unable to pay are already making some sort of attempt, and do not get arrested. Arresting is after many many warnings have failed. I'm only talking about child support. It is appropriate. And they are let out as soon as they make arrangements to have wages garnished, etc.

[God23]

3. I understand, but I will disagree with you.

I lost my job, and was arrested for contempt and did three months in jail. Try to get a job after that. I had paid all my child support and had to pay 13K in interest for the years I was unemployed.

The whole Child Support system is nuts right now and has no view toward sanity rather than serving toward special interest groups.

[The Straight Story]

5. Hell, I overpaid child support and when I asked if they would go after the X for it

they said 'uh no' - even though she lied and cheated the system (did not report the adoption for nearly 2 years of my kids). Most I could do was go after her in civil court, which I did not do.

She also used my name to get utilities, etc - for which I am still paying for credit wise.

If I missed child support, I could have went to jail. She lied and cheated and they were not willing to do jack.

She has since died so not much I can do about it now :)

[MADem]

4. I agree with you. There are way too many people who don't meet their responsibilities

Sometimes, all they need is a wake up call. The usual routine, as you note, is they find out where the guy works and garnish his wages--he doesn't even see the dough; it's taken before he gets the check--and they leave him enough to live on. If he gets a tax return, that goes to the kid, not to the guy's bar tab.

[God23]

6. You're right in many cases....

But in many other cases, it's not like that as the person may only make minimum wage.

[MADem]

7. They don't leave the person without enough to get by...it doesn't do

anyone ANY good if the contributor can't get by him or herself. What often happens, though, is that the person who was living the free and single life has to make a few sacrifices to meet their responsibilities as best they can.

Unless the parents are sparring for other reasons (an acrimonious breakup) these things can often be mediated amicably.

[robinlynne]

8. Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule and to every law.

It is hard to make a law which will always be just for every person.

[God23]

2. Shhhhhhh.... Don't talk about such things.

Otherwise you will be labeled weak on crime!

[leftofthedial]

9. and the fewest with health care

and we're down to 17th on the democracy index

down to 12th on the human development index (and that's using flawed bush cabal economic propaganda)

republicans have fucked this country