Friday, February 18, 2011

Too many crimes?

Do we have too many crimes?

Maybe so, certainly there should be some common-sense used by Judges and prosecutors in seeking prison time for some sentences.

Do we want to fill up our prisons with folks who import orchids incorrectly or ship lobster tails in the wrong packaging?


Let's save prison space for the violent criminals, sex offenders and repeat and habitual criminals.

Wait!  What if they serve lobster tails with orchids??


Does Texas have too many crimes?
By Jim Forsyth - 103.5 Super X


The rate of violent crime in Texas has fallen sharply since the mid 1990s, and overall violent crime in Texas today is at its lowest level in more than thirty years, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at the state’s prisons.

The Texas Department of Corrections Institutional Division is bulging with convicts, and the Bexar County Jail is overflowing to the point that costs to the county are skyrocketing.

A conservative and business group says the reason is simply...Texas has too many crimes.

“There are thousands of amazing things you can be sent to prison for today by both state and federal courts,” said State Rep. Jerry Madden (R-Plano).  “You can go to jail for importing orchids without the proper paperwork, shipping lobster tails in the wrong packaging, and even for failing to return a library book.”

The rest of the story: