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The Wheel of Incarceration

 Fighting crime one spin at a time
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(-2) 		  [vote for,
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Here's a thought, for those who feel that America's justice system is a revolving door. Why not create a giant wheel, ala Wheel of Fortune, that has individually marked segments containing punishments ranging from "Pay fine $1000" to "Death Sentence". Make sure each segment has equal representation on the wheel, ie: if there are three fines then there are three executions as well. However do not make suspended sentence an option. How many petty criminals would think twice when faced with the possibility of life without parole or even lethal injection for shoplifting?
—Apologetic_Cynic, Jan 25 2004

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       Blah, Blah, Blah.
—sufc, Jan 25 2004
   

       How many petty would-be law-makers would think twice when the wheel dictates they actually have to administer a lethal injection to a shoplifter?
—lostdog, Jan 25 2004
   

       A wheel will distribute the chances evenly. That is not realistic. The likelihood of each sentence must be weighted with other parameters, such as income (before taxes), density of skin color, age, ...   

       To include all parameters the system would have to be computer based, even though the user interface could be represented as a wheel. The perfect system would not even require a specific charge. Once a year everybody has to "Go to the Wheel". Based on last years performance the wheel assigns a crime and a penalty. No investigation, no judge, no lawyers, just a clerk to record all required information and spin the wheel. Taxpayers could save billions.
—kbecker, Jan 26 2004
   

       That fights crime?
—spacecadet, Jan 26 2004
   

       baked in Logan's Run -- both the wheel and even UnaBubba's comment -- UnaBubba -- are you looking for a ramdon 10% or the oldest would do?
—theircompetitor, Jan 26 2004
   

       I really prefer the ramdon distribution. :)
—theircompetitor, Jan 26 2004
   

       //How many petty criminals would think twice when faced with the possibility of life without parole or even lethal injection for shoplifting?//   

       Only some.   

       Crime is not generally undertaken by those who have a firm grasp on the consequences of their actions.   

       Even those who understood the risks might determine that if there was the same potential penalty for shoplifting and murder, they might as well improve their chances of not getting caught by killing the store clerk, and taking their chance on the wheel.
—dbsousa, Jan 29 2004
   
      
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