Releasing Dangerous Criminals Is Not Criminal Justice Reform

I debated whether or not to write this article, but I have a lot of ideas on how to reduce incarceration rates, rehabilitate those who can be, and break down what is known as the “prison industrial complex” that is alive and well in America today.

Releasing more rapists and pedophiles is definitely not one of them.

I saw once again the fake statistic “only 5% of pedophiles re-offend” and of course, I had to respond because this study only looks at data 3 years after release. The U.S. Department of Justice cautions that any study looking at recidivism (reoffense) rates only 3 years after release for child molesters is artificially low. In fact, 5-15 years after release those numbers jump as high as 23% after 5 years, 27.8% after ten years, and 35.4% after 15 years.

Researchers also caution that “it is important to recognize recidivism rates derived from follow-up periods of 5 years or less may mislabel a considerable proportion of repeat offenders as nonrecidivists.” 

What’s more, nearly 4/10 of all sex offenders (not just pedophiles) are returned to prison within three years due to a commission of any new crime or a violation of their parole, and according to RAINN’s statistics that number is as high as 60% within 5 years. So it’s not exactly saving the taxpayers money by reducing incarceration rates, and new prosecutions again cost money. 

And when they do commit another sex crime, victims of sex crimes are more likely to have substance abuse issues, which is yet another cost to taxpayers in the form of treatment programs. So, not very effective is it? But not only is this ineffective at bringing about much-needed changes to our criminal justice system, it completely delegitimizes the movement to do so as a whole. 

And this terrible idea seems to be paired with several others. 

Whenever I now hear the words “criminal justice reform” I think of cashless bail. I think of making it illegal for cops to chase after criminals driving recklessly on the streets. I think of making shoplifting somehow into a “victimless crime” as much-needed pharmacies are closed down in poorer neighborhoods, leaving its citizens stranded with no access to needed medications. 

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But the worst of all of these things is letting rapists, child molesters, and other violent criminals out of prison to prowl low-income neighborhoods. And when thinking of those who suggest these things I think of bourgeois rich people, living in safe neighborhoods, where police response time is 7 minutes or less. 

Don’t the poor deserve to live in safe neighborhoods too? Or is your sympathy only for the devil and not for the victims?

So now that I’ve talked about all the problems I have with criminal justice reform, what suggestions do I have to reduce incarceration rates, and rehabilitate people?

Well for starters I would take a harder look at nonviolent offenses and see what we can do instead of prison. What do I suggest?  Involuntary commitment/involuntary drug rehabilitation. They have a choice, go to prison for the crimes they commit, or go to a nice cushy place for rehabilitation from either drug addiction or mental illness. After that, they go to a nice halfway house to help them find a job so they can support themselves. 

Then to sweeten the deal, expunge their record if they stay clean from drugs and/or take their medications as prescribed for their mental illness for a certain period of time.

And although many people don’t like the idea of a mental hospital, let me point you to the cold hard facts. The mentally ill weren’t just “released” from mental hospitals in the 1950s, they were “involuntarily committed” from mental hospitals to prison.  Is it ableist to point out that mentally ill people make up 44% of those incarcerated? Maybe. But at least I’m living in reality.

Which is better? Locking them up in prison so you can pretend you’ve “respected their civil right to hear voices/be drug addicts” or get them the actual help they need to live in society?  Drug addicts can lead normal, healthy lives if they stay off drugs. Mentally ill people can live normal healthy lives if they take their medications. Why not spend resources on these people?

My next suggestion would be to reform parole. 

As many as 64% of parolees return to prison without completing their parole. There are few studies on why this is, but more research should definitely be conducted to determine how we can get more people to successfully complete their parole and what methods do and do not work. 

My third suggestion is instead of considering jail time for certain offenses is to consider utilizing fines/monetary punishment. 

For example, instead of incarcerating someone for stealing money from a company/person, perhaps dock their pay until the money they stole is paid back. Instead of incarcerating people for prostitution, perhaps give them a $500 fine.  And again if drugs/mental illness are involved, offer rehabilitation resources.

My fourth suggestion is to encourage police officers to employ less lethal methods (rubber bullets, pepper spray, tasers, etc) and increase police training. 

My last suggestion is to bring back “broken windows policing”. For those of you who are unfamiliar, it is the idea that cracking down on smaller crimes (ie individual grabbing someone and pulling their hair) prevents bigger crimes (that same individual shoving someone on the train tracks and killing them). Makes sense right? Until social justice warriors decided police were “just being mean” and compared these methods to “stop in frisk” (they are NOT the same, as officers explain here.)

If you get people help before they commit a crime that ruins their lives, that’s better for them and for society at large. There are lots of reasonable ideas to reduce incarceration rates, help people and help society, this is certainly not an exhaustive list. 

But nobody is going to take you seriously when your policies are actively making the public unsafe, and you continue to prioritize the most vile offenders (rapists and pedophiles) you can find while leaving low-level offenders completely out of the discussion. 

Will so-called “criminal justice reformers” reform their own policies and actually help people? Time will tell, but I’m not holding my breath.