The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
Today’s Question: It’s a running joke that when someone gets arrested for theft, they get released the same day, even if they’re repeat offenders. In many cases, that’s true. Other countries punish thieves with death, amputation, imprisonment, lashings, etc. Why do you think the United States is so soft on criminals? We’re not saying thieves should die for stealing, that’s just insane, but a little harsher sentence than what we currently give them wouldn’t hurt.
Here are some examples of other countries and their punishment for thieves, according to Google:
Capital Punishment:
- Afghanistan, Algeria, Cameroon, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea: May impose the death penalty for theft, especially aggravated or recidivist cases.
Imprisonment:
- Romania: Theft can result in imprisonment ranging from 1 to 12 years, with harsher penalties for aggravated theft (3 to 20 years).
- Germany: Theft is punishable by imprisonment up to five years or a fine.
- China: Penalties for theft can range from public surveillance to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the crime.
Other Penalties:
- Sharia Law: Some countries following Sharia law may impose amputation of the hand for theft.
- Corporal Punishment: In some historical and current contexts, corporal punishment like caning or public shaming may be used.
Examples of Specific Countries:
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Mexico: Petty theft can result in prison sentences ranging from eight months to two years.
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France: Penalties for theft can range from 5 years in prison to life imprisonment, along with fines, depending on aggravating circumstances.
Excellent question! The world wonders the same thing! I’ve often wondered this too! But to get an answer you have to get into the head of the liberals democrats who are the proponents of this, and why they want it.
I remember watching an episode of worlds toughest prisons, they showed a madagascar prison and it made our prisons look like a walk in the park. Aint nobody wanting to stay at that prison.
america is soft compared to other countries.
your post reminds me of a time we went to Old Sac, and parked near the prison/jail (whatever it is). What did we see? A group of youths playing basketball or doing whatever. Commit a crime, play basketball (using taxpayer funded equipment). Not much of a deterrent, is it?
It used to be too many bleeding heart liberals, now it’s because of the Dems contempt
for the United States, and anybody that doesn’t agree with them. It is the Dems that want
to defund the police, it is the Dems that elect the public officials that are soft on crime, It is the Dems that think it’s OK to shoot the CEO of United Healthcare in the back, murdering him. It is the Dems that demand the police stand back and allow thieves to smash and
grab. It is the Dems that allowed riots to get out of control and burn and destroy cities. It
is the Dems that let an estimated 20 million illegal invaders into the United States, allowing them to run amok, commit crimes and give them sanctuary. It is the Dems that are battling Trump’s administration, wasting time and money in an attempt to bring back a criminal illegal invader from El Salvador. Shall I go on? No, that’s enough for now, you get the picture, and if you don’t, you are a fool living in a life of denial.
+1,000
If there is no threat of substantial incarceration,
there is no deterrence to criminal behavior
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On 27 March 2022 El Salvador passed The State of Exception.
‘El Salvador closes 2024 with a record low number of homicides’
114 homicides.
https://tinyurl.com/at9nxs7c
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For year 2024 for all of El Salvador, Homicides 114.
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For year 2024 city of chicago, Total Homicides 610.
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But, not to worry, . . . . . woke liberals will FIX
The State of Exemption is the best thing El Salvador goverment has done for the hard working good citizens of this Nation.
People have been now freed and are very happy without all these criminal running the neighborhoods. But yet the “Human Rights Group” are claiming the rights of criminals are being violated. How come they never showed up to protect the good citizen rights? Some things I still don’t understand. But one thing I know is that Bukele is greatly admired by many all over the world.
The State, Local County Officials and City Mayors are not willing to spend the $$ to build, staff and maintain prisons. They would rather spend the money on Social Programs and wages and benefits for their employees. It is very expensive to build and operate a jail or prisons and provide for the prisoners, especially complete heath care. The staff at these facilities are among the highest paid employees of the State, Counties and Cities with extremely generous benefits including early retirement. The progressive DA’s add to the problem by refusing to prosecute crimes.
Prisons would not have to cost so much if we did not provide all the luxuries. I wish we would try something new like locking people up for short-term but sever stayd. IE 1 month( for most crimes) wirh no TV, no radio. no gym and only a round of bread & water every day.
Prisoners would never want to go back! The term is short enough that they would not be im bittered or influenced negatively by others. And the prisons would basically have a revolving door so we would have room and would not need to build new ones.
Make consequences to terrible, to risk . . . . .
Chain gangs of the old south . . . . .
Exactly. Just go on YouTube and watch any documentary on CECOT this is the prison where now illegal criminals are being sent from USA to El Salvador. Any criminal watching whether illegal or homegrown might want to rethink what they are doing so they don’t end up there. This is nothing like USA prisons.
The “woke” & “cancel Culture” that has been tolerated and allowed to grow by the self entitled & “me first” attitudes. Too many “bleeding hearts” in political power not wanting to upset their constituency at election time.
1) Prosecutors blame cops for not properly arresting and investigating criminals. Cops blame prosecutors for not prosecuting criminals and thus waste theirs effort.
2) prosecutors and cops blame lack of resources to go after low level criminals.
3) if the criminals go to trials, judges hand out less sentences or toss the cases.
4) the prison industry says they don’t have spaces to house low level criminals and over packing prisoners is a violation of cruel and unusual punishment.
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Because of people who make decisions based on emotions rather than logic, reason, and law.
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The US actually has one of the highest conviction and recidivism rates worldwide. The prison system is big business. They are also schools, where petty criminals can compare notes and when released return to their trade, better educated. The crime justifies bigger government, rights restrictions and surveillance.
I would start with our local governor who dismissed the death penalty in this state despite the voters wanting it.
i would continue with those who feel like a prison should be a country club or at minimum a motel 6. These folks did a crime, it is not a vacation but we treat them that way with free medical, books, etc. Prisoners are treated better than our children in school.
Being caught, especially in California, is a reward based system. We are not soft on crime, we just don’t punish. We don’t follow follow Federal Immigration laws.
Being back hard back breaking labor. Forget the weights and free time, it should be hard time.
But we will not because we have too many people who think everyone can be saved – they can’t!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_United_States_incarceration_rate_with_other_countries#:~:text=In%20202%2C%20the%20United%20States,facilities%20(prisons%20and%20jails).
Because the criminals have more RIGHTS than the normal law abiding citizen does. I’m sorry but a person who commits a heinous crime needs to face a tough punishment or face the death penalty.
We have a larger percentage of our citizens behind bars by population than any,
and I mean any, industrialized nation. So the question assumes a fallacy.
Go ahead and check, I’ll wait right here.
Perhaps that is a result of not having a strong punitive process that discourages repeat offenders. You have to choose… not to be a Criminal.
20% of the prisoners in the USA are NOT United States citizens.
Not all the USA is soft on Criminals.. Just a component that has gained power over the process (like pushing Prop 47) and, for some reason, believes that if you don’t prosecute and incarcerate Criminals.. They will stop being Criminal.
Those aren’t criminals, they’re voters.
And therein lies the problem.
Something the woke and liberals can not comprehend,
there are two types PREDATORS and PREY.
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Unfortunately, in California revolving doors should
be installed. Am not going to rehash AB-109,
Props 47 and 57.
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soros has done damage,
https://tinyurl.com/5n7r5emt
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With criminals turned out onto our streets people feel unsafe.
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“If you scare people enough, they will demand removal of freedom”
—Elon Musk
. .
Which of your rights would you willing to surrender in return
for some democrat politician’s hollow promise of safety ???
Wait for it . . . . . .
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Liberal politicians and judges, they love to say its just property. But when you lose your car because they took your catalytic converter and can’t go to work that’s not just property. Insurance rates go up, you go to a store everything is locked up all for the convenience of criminals. Thank you Newscum and friends. Two DA’s recalled lets make it three.
We quit hanging horse thieves.
How can America be considered soft on crime when we have more prisoners incarcerated than any other country on Earth?
@Guido
How can I be out of money? I still have checks left.
Criminals are pampered, especially in California. And as mentioned, the have more rights than honest law abiding citizens.
Criminals should be made to really pay for their crimes. Put them to work picking garbage, fixing roads, abating hazardous open space areas and forests that are overgrown and that present a fire hazard…… and more.
I knew a guy that did two years (almost) in Lompoc Federal Prison.
When his sentence was completed they had to make him leave.
An interpretation presented is one from an 1895 U.S. Supreme Court case which stated, “it is better to let the crime of a guilty person go unpunished than to condemn the innocent.”
Note this is from the US Supreme Court
Quite simple. Because those who are soft on crime have never had a serious crime committed against them.