Car theft seems up and car thieves don't seem to do time. Seems like stealing a car is a big deal to the person owning the car and the courts just slap hands. This morning our local news makes a big deal out of a guy that did a chase in Dec. and and just got into another chase after stealing the same car...Why was he out so soon? I have had 3 car stolen and I would probably shoot the next one if I caught him, someone needs to do something....One was my 69 camaro I had put thousands in to that came back a shell, even took my seats.

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Official Abuser of Boinc Buttons...
And no good credit hound!

Car theft seems up and car thieves don't seem to do time. Seems like stealing a car is a big deal to the person owning the car and the courts just slap hands. This morning our local news makes a big deal out of a guy that did a chase in Dec. and and just got into another chase after stealing the same car...Why was he out so soon? I have had 3 car stolen and I would probably shoot the next one if I caught him, someone needs to do something....One was my 69 camaro I had put thousands in to that came back a shell, even took my seats.

Been there, done that. Years ago my 62 falcon was taken. Some farm worker decided he needed transportation at the cost of leaving me on my feet. I was luck and a locking gas cap not only allowed him to be caught but the cars was recovered mostly undamaged. He destroyed the wing window breaking into the car and he was a careless smoker so the card smelled (I am a non smoker) and needed a good cleaning to get it where I could stand it. They should be made to feel the pain that you feel when something important to you is taken.
Note: that is also when I was force to get a credit card because I discovered I couldn't rent a car without one. I was lucky the car was recovered so fast because I was stranded without wheels.

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The problem with car thief's doing time, is the way laws are written. Many states have it as a felony charge, however the penalty is minor, unless they are sentenced as a habitual criminal, which then they get more time, but not as much as they should. They get out, they do it again. Once a crook, always a crook. Its just like druggies, they spend time in prison, get out, do it all over again. Law's need to be beefed up in my eyes. I'm with you though Hiamps, fortunately in my state, and I know there are others, your vehicle is concidered an extention of your house, I have no problem holding someone at gun point for stealing it, its concidered stopping a felony in progress. Weather my life is in danger or not, doesn't matter. Thankfully I've never been a victim to having a car stolen, but thats not to say it can't happen.

Car theft seems up and car thieves don't seem to do time. Seems like stealing a car is a big deal to the person owning the car and the courts just slap hands. This morning our local news makes a big deal out of a guy that did a chase in Dec. and and just got into another chase after stealing the same car...Why was he out so soon? I have had 3 car stolen and I would probably shoot the next one if I caught him, someone needs to do something....One was my 69 camaro I had put thousands in to that came back a shell, even took my seats.

Had the first case even come up in front of a judge when he did the second one? Doubt it. Takes about 3 months to do a pre-sentencing report and that is if there was a plea bargain.

Bail is to make you show up in court, not to prevent you for doing it again. And the way the bail system works it is more likely they will do a crime to pay the bail bondsman. Remember no parole agent at this point because they are still innocent.

System is overworked and judgeships are political chips so the seats aren't filled. Revolving door just so the building doesn't collapse from the weight of the paper.

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The problem with car thief's doing time, is the way laws are written. Many states have it as a felony charge, however the penalty is minor, unless they are sentenced as a habitual criminal, which then they get more time, but not as much as they should. They get out, they do it again. Once a crook, always a crook. Its just like druggies, they spend time in prison, get out, do it all over again. Law's need to be beefed up in my eyes. I'm with you though Hiamps, fortunately in my state, and I know there are others, your vehicle is concidered an extention of your house, I have no problem holding someone at gun point for stealing it, its concidered stopping a felony in progress. Weather my life is in danger or not, doesn't matter. Thankfully I've never been a victim to having a car stolen, but thats not to say it can't happen.

A few years ago in England and Wales, the law was changed so that anyone found guilty of theft three times would automatically get a three year sentence. Except in exceptional circumstances.
The social services then got exceptional circumstances to mean all druggies.
You get lesser sentence for pleading guilty.
You can get sentence reduced to half for good behavior.
Custody prior to court case counts as prison time.
Judges were told to reduce custodial sentences because of prison overcrowding.
etc. etc.

Outcome is that less than 20% actually go to prison, and most of them do 6 months or less.

Americans sure love the prison system. Maybe there's another way.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_pri_per_cap-crime-prisoners-per-capita

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I do not fight fascists because I think I can win.
I fight them because they are fascists.
Chris Hedges

A riot is the language of the unheard. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Americans sure love the prison system. Maybe there's another way.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_pri_per_cap-crime-prisoners-per-capita

Prison in our country to some degree is a vacation. Yes, your freedoms are restricted but most of the time you are not forced to work or punished. I don't want to send someone to prison, but I do want to make sure that person won't commit a crime again. Science fiction offers some good ideas on how to accomplish this, but none of them are doable with our current level of science. I am willing to listen if you have a better idea.

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How about a national goal of full employment?
People with a future tend to not want to ruin that future by committing crimes.

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I do not fight fascists because I think I can win.
I fight them because they are fascists.
Chris Hedges

A riot is the language of the unheard. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

How about a national goal of full employment?
People with a future tend to not want to ruin that future by committing crimes.

People who commit crimes do it because it pays better or because it requires little effort. On the other hand, many times people steal to support a drug habit. It's possible if drugs could be obtained at a lower cost by addicts they wouldn't need crime to pay for their habit.
One problem we have in California is our prisons have a large number of people being held for drug charges. If they weren't trying to sell drugs they may get better treatment if they were not in jail.

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How about a national goal of full employment?
People with a future tend to not want to ruin that future by committing crimes.

People who commit crimes do it because it pays better or because it requires little effort. On the other hand, many times people steal to support a drug habit. It's possible if drugs could be obtained at a lower cost by addicts they wouldn't need crime to pay for their habit.
One problem we have in California is our prisons have a large number of people being held for drug charges. If they weren't trying to sell drugs they may get better treatment if they were not in jail.

Dena, you asked a question and I gave just one of many possible answers but you went off on some unrelated angle here.

Wouldn't you agree that people with hope for the future would be less inclined toward criminal activities?

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I do not fight fascists because I think I can win.
I fight them because they are fascists.
Chris Hedges

A riot is the language of the unheard. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

How about a national goal of full employment?
People with a future tend to not want to ruin that future by committing crimes.

People who commit crimes do it because it pays better or because it requires little effort. On the other hand, many times people steal to support a drug habit. It's possible if drugs could be obtained at a lower cost by addicts they wouldn't need crime to pay for their habit.
One problem we have in California is our prisons have a large number of people being held for drug charges. If they weren't trying to sell drugs they may get better treatment if they were not in jail.

Dena, you asked a question and I gave just one of many possible answers but you went off on some unrelated angle here.

Wouldn't you agree that people with hope for the future would be less inclined toward criminal activities?

I did reply to you but to put it another way, criminals don't care about their future. They live for the day and don't think beyond that. Our criminal systems is set up so you have to be a repeat offender before you are locked up for a long time. If you can think of a way to make them give up an easy life of crime for the hard work of a profession you will have done more than our legal system has.
I care about my future and know the value of it but criminals don't care about it.

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Hi, I thought (only) the Netherlands had hotel's (zero star) instead of prison's. And the punishment was way lower, then in the U.S.A.

Seems a mistake, but not only car thieves serve low or no sentence. Or break out and leave Holland. Then takes 3 or more years, before they're arrested again and do (a little) time.

Drug dealers, users rarely ever do time, make out about 34 to 55% of jail population.
Joy-riding isn't even considered a crime, the owner gets the blame.
Had my Alpha stolen once and was arrested for stealing my own car, lost my keys during swimming with my GF, lucky she could back up my story and, ofcoarse, I had papers, drivers licence, passport, insurance, etc.

It sure looks like the Netherlands have become a criminal center in Europe, low prison sentences only made it worse.

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To hell with it. I'm convinced.
We need public floggings and hangings...there's no other way.

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I do not fight fascists because I think I can win.
I fight them because they are fascists.
Chris Hedges

A riot is the language of the unheard. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

To hell with it. I'm convinced.
We need public floggings and hangings...there's no other way.

Now that just might work.

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To hell with it. I'm convinced.
We need public floggings and hangings...there's no other way.

Now that just might work.

Step in the right direction.

Tattoo "CRIMINAL" across the forehead on the second offense. Third offense weld the cage door shut.

Seriously the issue is that people in the USA feel entitled. They don't feel as if they must work. Until that changes, nothing else will!

Jobs would help. But the income tax makes sure that the USA doesn't have jobs. How? Because in the bad old days before income tax the USA was financed on import duties. Now they are so low all the jobs can be exported and the goods imported to cheaply.

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To hell with it. I'm convinced.
We need public floggings and hangings...there's no other way.

That sure has the best chance of anything I can think of....Sad but true. Too bad Parenting isn't taught in school and anyone can have a kid.

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Official Abuser of Boinc Buttons...
And no good credit hound!

If the law changes will you guys all let me know when you get a speeding or parking ticket?
I'd like to come down to witness the public flogging in the town square.

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I do not fight fascists because I think I can win.
I fight them because they are fascists.
Chris Hedges

A riot is the language of the unheard. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

If the law changes will you guys all let me know when you get a speeding or parking ticket?
I'd like to come down to witness the public flogging in the town square.

Don't look at me, your the one who suggested the idea! On the other hand the reason why the Flogging was so revolting was because for a long time it could be done without a trial. It was used far to often for offenses that it shouldn't have been used for. Also some countries still use caning as a form of punishment which would have about the same effect as flogging.
I don't get speeding or parking tickets, but if flogging was punishment, I would make sure I didn't have a violation.

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Suggested out of pure frustration at the lack of alternatives suggested by you and your fellow Americans.

Loading up the prison system really isn't an alternative. It's a make work project for the private sector in America.

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I do not fight fascists because I think I can win.
I fight them because they are fascists.
Chris Hedges

A riot is the language of the unheard. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Suggested out of pure frustration at the lack of alternatives suggested by you and your fellow Americans.

Loading up the prison system really isn't an alternative. It's a make work project for the private sector in America.

I don't know about Canada but a big "Job" here seems to be sitting at a freeway exit with a sign wanting a handout...Some even say will work for food...My best friend and I had a big yard cleanup to do so we decided to see if any would work. Out of 11 people we asked, not 1 wanted to work and we were offering $10 an hour cash for 5 hours. A lot of people simply don't want to work and feel everyone else owes them a living. Then they complain about the rich....

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Official Abuser of Boinc Buttons...
And no good credit hound!