Re:Second U.S. Agent Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bitcoin Theft
by tptacek on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @02:57PM
(#9766883)
Yes, that's what I think the right solution is too. I think the reason people get prosecuted for petty crimes is that our current sentencing laws have raised the stakes for both sides to nosebleed levels.
I think if we dialed sentences back to reasonable levels, a huge fraction of offenders would be able to plead out to non-custodial sentences, and because their BATNAs would be improved, people facing marginal charges would have a much easier time squaring off against prosecutors who would be much more likely to back down if a trial win was still likely to do little more than produce a probation sentence.
It's worth remembering though: most people incarcerated in the US are not incarcerated for drug crimes. Domestic violence and property crimes appear to dominate US metro incarcerations.
I think if we dialed sentences back to reasonable levels, a huge fraction of offenders would be able to plead out to non-custodial sentences, and because their BATNAs would be improved, people facing marginal charges would have a much easier time squaring off against prosecutors who would be much more likely to back down if a trial win was still likely to do little more than produce a probation sentence.
It's worth remembering though: most people incarcerated in the US are not incarcerated for drug crimes. Domestic violence and property crimes appear to dominate US metro incarcerations.