9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 15
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Like 3 Tweet 9 0 Print Text
Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is BecomingSoft on Crime
Michael Baronersquos article on the home page ldquoTime to Ease Up on Crimerdquo is
excellent His survey of recent history on criminal-justice policy is invaluable
Barone correctly observes that policymakers and the public properly realized that
the pendulum had clearly swung too far in the direction of leniency in the 1960s
Accordingly some of the six-fold increase in incarceration in the following few
decades was necessary to keep the public safe from violent and dangerous
criminals As Barone explains however in the last several years we have begun to
see a slight drop in incarceration rates amidst a growing consensus that too many
low-risk nonviolent offenders had been swept into an increasingly vast prison
system that too often did not provide results commensurate with the cost to
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September 6 2013 558 PM
By Vikrant P Reddy Marc A Levin
Comments 0
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9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 25
Like 3 Tweet 9 0 Print Text
Our only quibble with the article (and itrsquos a small quibble) is in the framing of new
policy approaches as ldquoeasing up on crimerdquo The new policy approaches being
embraced by conservatives such as David Keene Ed Meese and Grover Norquist
(all signatories to the Right On Crime Statement of Principles) are actually pretty
tough mdash but theyrsquore also more sensible than what we had been doing
Take for example a probation program in Hawaii that has received rave reviews
from many conservatives Itrsquos called the Hawaii Opportunity Probation with
Enforcement Court mdash or the HOPE Court In many jurisdictions missing a drug
test or testing ldquodirtyrdquo while on probation is repeatedly ignored until finally the
court becomes exasperated and sentences the repeat offender to a lengthy prison
stay
HOPE works differently The offender does not receive several slaps on the wrist
followed by a lengthy prison stay they receive a swift and certain sanction The
judge for example might sentence the first-time probation offender to a weekend
in jail If the offender violates a second time a slightly longer sentence is given mdash
perhaps a week In this way the sanctions are ldquograduatedrdquo until the offender
straightens up or the court recognizes that prison time andor drug treatment are
necessary
Since HOPE was instituted in 2004 the rate of missed and failed drug tests has
dropped by an extraordinary 80 percent The reason is simplemdashpeople respond to
swift and certain sanctions better than they respond to sanctions that seem distant
We know one professor who likens the HOPE Court approach to commonsense
strategies for disciplining a child If a child repeatedly takes cookies from the cookie
jar sensible parents do not repeatedly say ldquodonrsquot do that againrdquo and then ground
the child for a month once the tenth cookie is stolen Instead after the very first
cookie is stolen the child goes to the corner for a brief ldquotime outrdquo
The HOPE Court works in other words because it applies tough love Itrsquos ldquotough
on crimerdquo to punish somebody immediately for a parole violation rather than
waiting for repeated violations before throwing the book at them
mdash Vikrant P Reddy is a policy analyst for the Texas Public Policy
Foundation and the foundationrsquos Right On Crime initiative Marc A Levin is
director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy
Foundation and policy director of the foundationrsquos Right On Crime initiative
Share
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The Campaign Spot
The Agenda
Exchequer
Right Field
Bench Memos
Human Exceptionalism
Your E-Mail Here
(Simply insert your e-mail and hit ldquoSign Uprdquo)
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 35
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9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 45
1 comment
Leave a message
Newest Community ⤤Share
Reply
George Pepper bull 3 days ago
Im so glad you used drug laws as an example because drug laws are nothing
more than a bonanza for shysters and the prison-industrial complex Idjits
1
Com m ent feedr Subs cribe via em ai l
0
Share rsaquo
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 55
copy National Review Online 2013 All Rights Reserved
Home | NR Digital Home | Donate | Media Kit | Site Problems | View Mobile Site | Site Problems | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 25
Like 3 Tweet 9 0 Print Text
Our only quibble with the article (and itrsquos a small quibble) is in the framing of new
policy approaches as ldquoeasing up on crimerdquo The new policy approaches being
embraced by conservatives such as David Keene Ed Meese and Grover Norquist
(all signatories to the Right On Crime Statement of Principles) are actually pretty
tough mdash but theyrsquore also more sensible than what we had been doing
Take for example a probation program in Hawaii that has received rave reviews
from many conservatives Itrsquos called the Hawaii Opportunity Probation with
Enforcement Court mdash or the HOPE Court In many jurisdictions missing a drug
test or testing ldquodirtyrdquo while on probation is repeatedly ignored until finally the
court becomes exasperated and sentences the repeat offender to a lengthy prison
stay
HOPE works differently The offender does not receive several slaps on the wrist
followed by a lengthy prison stay they receive a swift and certain sanction The
judge for example might sentence the first-time probation offender to a weekend
in jail If the offender violates a second time a slightly longer sentence is given mdash
perhaps a week In this way the sanctions are ldquograduatedrdquo until the offender
straightens up or the court recognizes that prison time andor drug treatment are
necessary
Since HOPE was instituted in 2004 the rate of missed and failed drug tests has
dropped by an extraordinary 80 percent The reason is simplemdashpeople respond to
swift and certain sanctions better than they respond to sanctions that seem distant
We know one professor who likens the HOPE Court approach to commonsense
strategies for disciplining a child If a child repeatedly takes cookies from the cookie
jar sensible parents do not repeatedly say ldquodonrsquot do that againrdquo and then ground
the child for a month once the tenth cookie is stolen Instead after the very first
cookie is stolen the child goes to the corner for a brief ldquotime outrdquo
The HOPE Court works in other words because it applies tough love Itrsquos ldquotough
on crimerdquo to punish somebody immediately for a parole violation rather than
waiting for repeated violations before throwing the book at them
mdash Vikrant P Reddy is a policy analyst for the Texas Public Policy
Foundation and the foundationrsquos Right On Crime initiative Marc A Levin is
director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy
Foundation and policy director of the foundationrsquos Right On Crime initiative
Share
From Around the Web by Taboola
Denver Post RepublicansDominating CO Recall Election
An Unbelievably Small EffortAgainst Many Many Many Targets
The Overrated German EconomicModel
Bring on the Draconian Cuts
Reveille 9913
This Day in Liberal Judicial ActivismmdashSeptember 9
Alimony for Egg FreezingCommodifies Children
CONNECT WITH NRO
NRO LIVE BLOG FEED
The Corner
The Campaign Spot
The Agenda
Exchequer
Right Field
Bench Memos
Human Exceptionalism
Your E-Mail Here
(Simply insert your e-mail and hit ldquoSign Uprdquo)
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 35
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ThePostGame
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Ever
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Toxic Belly Bug Fix
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You Fired
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Tel Aviv Fashion Week
Vice Magazine
Print Digital iOS Google Android
SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL REVIEW
by Taboola
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 45
1 comment
Leave a message
Newest Community ⤤Share
Reply
George Pepper bull 3 days ago
Im so glad you used drug laws as an example because drug laws are nothing
more than a bonanza for shysters and the prison-industrial complex Idjits
1
Com m ent feedr Subs cribe via em ai l
0
Share rsaquo
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 55
copy National Review Online 2013 All Rights Reserved
Home | NR Digital Home | Donate | Media Kit | Site Problems | View Mobile Site | Site Problems | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 35
1 Stock Obama does not want
you to know about
Investscom
The 1 Worst Metabolism
Killing Food Ever
Unleash Your Thin
Is Driveway Sealcoating worth
the money
Angies List
How to Protect Yourself From
Credit Fraud
Daily Finance
Lindsey Vonn Tells Vogue No
More Marriage
ThePostGame
26 Dogs Having the Best Day
Ever
BarkBox
From The Web You May Like
Pastor Mocked for His lsquoBiblical Money
Codersquo Gets Last Laugh (Moneynew s)
The 1 Exercise Thats Making You OLD
(Avoid) (Old School New Body)
The Most Dangerous Beaches for Shark
Attacks (Vincent Briatore)
You Wont Believe What Else Your
Dishwasher Can Do (ulive)
10 flushable facts about the toilet
(Angies List)
Mark Steyn - Now It All Makes Sense
Rich Lowry - Re Lets Not Repeat Key Iraq
Mistakes
Thomas Sowell - When the Libya Lies Fell
Apart
Stanley Kurtz - Mark Steyn is Losing
Jonah Goldberg - Clear-Cut Stupidity on
Syria
More From The Web
The 1 WORST Food For Your
Digestion (Are You Eating It)
Toxic Belly Bug Fix
Nine Comments That Could Get
You Fired
Monster
Tel Aviv Fashion Week
Vice Magazine
Print Digital iOS Google Android
SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL REVIEW
by Taboola
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 45
1 comment
Leave a message
Newest Community ⤤Share
Reply
George Pepper bull 3 days ago
Im so glad you used drug laws as an example because drug laws are nothing
more than a bonanza for shysters and the prison-industrial complex Idjits
1
Com m ent feedr Subs cribe via em ai l
0
Share rsaquo
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 55
copy National Review Online 2013 All Rights Reserved
Home | NR Digital Home | Donate | Media Kit | Site Problems | View Mobile Site | Site Problems | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 45
1 comment
Leave a message
Newest Community ⤤Share
Reply
George Pepper bull 3 days ago
Im so glad you used drug laws as an example because drug laws are nothing
more than a bonanza for shysters and the prison-industrial complex Idjits
1
Com m ent feedr Subs cribe via em ai l
0
Share rsaquo
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 55
copy National Review Online 2013 All Rights Reserved
Home | NR Digital Home | Donate | Media Kit | Site Problems | View Mobile Site | Site Problems | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
9913 Fewer Prisoners Doesnrsquot Mean US Is Becoming Soft on Crime | National Review Online
wwwnationalreviewcomcorner357860fewer-prisoners-doesnt-mean-us-becoming-soft-crime-vikrant-p-reddy-marc-levin 55
copy National Review Online 2013 All Rights Reserved
Home | NR Digital Home | Donate | Media Kit | Site Problems | View Mobile Site | Site Problems | Contact Us | Privacy Policy