Launch HN: Promise (YC W18) – Cost-effective, more humane alternative to jail

Re:Launch HN: Promise (YC W18) – Cost-effective, more humane... by rsp1984 on Tuesday March 20, 2018 @04:39PM (#16632375)

I'm not convinced. Here's why:

Punishing criminals with jail time not only makes sense from the standpoint of protecting the community from bad elements. It also serves two other purposes that are often overlooked:

  1. Retribution for the crime committed. This is especially important if the crime had one or several clear victims.

  2. As a deterrent / warning for other potentially criminal actors.

Point 1 is important to support righteous citizens' trust in the state of law.

Point 2 is important to instill respect for the state of law in everyone else.

I am aware that this is not in line with more progressive / liberal opinions, but I haven't come across any good alternative models so far.

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Re:Launch HN: Promise (YC W18) – Cost-effective, more humane... by jedberg on Tuesday March 20, 2018 @04:41PM (#16632391)

I think their focus is on people who are pre-trial and haven't been convicted yet, so neither of your points apply to those people.

Their other focus is on parolees, so your points don't really apply to them either.

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Re:Launch HN: Promise (YC W18) – Cost-effective, more humane... by rsp1984 on Tuesday March 20, 2018 @04:57PM (#16632574)

Depends on your definition of being "in custody".

Here's how Promise works: We work in partnership with governments who release people from jail on condition that they work with Promise as an alternative to being in custody.

Not sure it only applies to pre-trial people or parolees. A clarification would be welcome.

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