Netherlands to Close 8 Prisons: Not Enough Criminals

[TheEvilDetector]

http://blog.mpp.org/uncategorized/netherlands-to-close-prisons-not-enough-criminals/05262009/
http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2246821.ece/Netherlands_to_close_prisons_for_lack_of_criminals

They let you smoke marijuana without throwing you in jail.

[Pennsylvania]

http://blog.mpp.org/uncategorized/netherlands-to-close-prisons-not-enough-criminals/05262009/
http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2246821.ece/Netherlands_to_close_prisons_for_lack_of_criminals

They let you smoke marijuana without throwing you in jail.

All this means is that there are plenty of rampant and homicidal drug addicts still at large on dutch streets. If we decriminalized murder, we would have need for fewer prisons as well, due to "fewer criminals". A positive correlative relationship between free marijuana enthusiasts and societal well-being has never been demonstrated.

[TheEvilDetector]

All this means is that there are plenty of rampant and homicidal drug addicts still at large on dutch streets. If we decriminalized murder, we would have need for fewer prisons as well, due to "fewer criminals". A positive correlative relationship between free marijuana enthusiasts and societal well-being has never been demonstrated.

You are 100% right, but why stop there?

To leave a job half done is endangering our society and I think you sound like someone who is very responsible and wouldn't want to endanger society.

I propose that we should put people who drink alcohol into jail, because if you drink alcohol, you run the risk of driving a car dangerously or behaving inappropriately/dangerously/violently. We can ill afford to run the risk of this, so preventative detention is very much warranted.

In addition, I believe it would be wise to put cigarette smokers in jail, because if you smoke cigarettes, you run the risk of dying early and depriving children/family/friends of your loving presence, which constitutes willful and planned emotional torture on those close to you, which apart from the physical after effects is a thought crime of the highest order.

I believe, we shall also put everyone who eats unhealthy foods in jail, due to the same rationale as cigarettes.

Pennsylvania, do you have any comments?

[Pennsylvania]

You are right, I think we should put people who drink alcohol into jail, because if you drink alcohol, you run the risk of driving a car dangerously or behaving inappropriately/dangerously/violently.

In addition, I believe it would be wise to put cigarette smokers in jail, because if you smoke cigarettes, you run the risk of dying early and depriving children/family/friends of your loving presence.

I am completely on board with your point of view Pennsylvania.

Sarcasm was implied of course ;)

[dannno]

All this means is that there are plenty of rampant and homicidal drug addicts still at large on dutch streets. If we decriminalized murder, we would have need for fewer prisons as well, due to "fewer criminals". A positive correlative relationship between free marijuana enthusiasts and societal well-being has never been demonstrated.

Oh, sarcasm.. I get it.

Nm..


Compared to other countries such as the USA, the crime policies of Netherlands are extremely lenient. Where one may be shocked about the leniency towards criminals, the crime rate in the Netherlands is generally low, especially when compared to other European countries with tougher crime policies such as the UK. Indeed in the UK they have found that 60% of inmates in British jails had served a jail sentance previously. Even in the USA where there is a prevalent view that crime is rampant in Amsterdam, the rate of deaths caused by crime rate was 1.22% per 100,000, where as in the USA it is 8.22% (1996).

http://www.allamsterdam.nl/article/38/How_safe_is_Amsterdam.html

[Danke]

Less people locked up, more people Pennsylvania can hit on.

[TheEvilDetector]

:)

[TonySutton]

All this means is that there are plenty of rampant and homicidal drug addicts still at large on dutch streets.

Are you sure?

Total crimes (per capita)
# 8 United States: 80.0645 per 1,000 people
# 9 Netherlands: 79.5779 per 1,000 people

Adults prosecuted (per capita)
# 1 United States: 48.029 per 1,000 people
# 10 Netherlands: 10.7919 per 1,000 people

Car thefts (per capita)
# 9 United States: 3.8795 per 1,000 people
# 15 Netherlands: 2.33559 per 1,000 people

Assaults (per capita)
# 6 United States: 7.56923 per 1,000 people
# 18 Netherlands: 2.68964 per 1,000 people

Robberies (per capita)
# 11 United States: 1.38527 per 1,000 people
# 16 Netherlands: 1.13549 per 1,000 people

Rapes (per capita)
# 9 United States: 0.301318 per 1,000 people
# 22 Netherlands: 0.100445 per 1,000 people

Murders (per capita)
# 24 United States: 0.042802 per 1,000 people
# 51 Netherlands: 0.0111538 per 1,000 people

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_adu_pro_percap-crime-adults-prosecuted-per-capita

EDIT: Forgot Burglaries

Burglaries (per capita)
# 17 United States: 7.09996 per 1,000 people
# 20 Netherlands: 5.55531 per 1,000 people

[jkr]

Sarcasm was implied of course ;)

phew that was AWESOME fun.

anyone else feel that ride?:D

[Krugerrand]

Total crimes (per capita)
# 9 Netherlands: 79.5779 per 1,000 people

Car thefts (per capita)
# 15 Netherlands: 2.33559 per 1,000 people
Assaults (per capita)
# 18 Netherlands: 2.68964 per 1,000 people
Robberies (per capita)
# 16 Netherlands: 1.13549 per 1,000 people
Rapes (per capita)
# 22 Netherlands: 0.100445 per 1,000 people
Murders (per capita)
# 51 Netherlands: 0.0111538 per 1,000 people
Burglaries (per capita)
# 20 Netherlands: 5.55531 per 1,000 people

How did they get from 15, 18, 16, 22, 51, 20 to # 9 overall? Parking tickets?

[sailor]

How did they get from 15, 18, 16, 22, 51, 20 to # 9 overall? Parking tickets?

My guess is tax evasion.

[TonySutton]

How did they get from 15, 18, 16, 22, 51, 20 to # 9 overall? Parking tickets?

I pulled different stats from their database. It also included things like fraud, embezzlement, etc. I tried to pull out the ones which are commonly tied to illegal drug use in the US.