Sewing-Machine comments on [Link] Why prison doesn't work and what to do about it - Less Wrong

12 Post author: mesilliac 30 July 2012 05:30AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 31 July 2012 12:14:49AM 1 point [-]

punishment - perhaps this is intended to work as deterrence, but it's clear that this is not the case.

This is not clear to me, in fact the opposite seems more intuitive. Why don't you think punishments deter crime?

Comment author: Bill_McGrath 31 July 2012 01:33:54AM 1 point [-]

A few things lead me to this conclusion. a) High crime rates. b) High levels of recidivism. And though it wasn't something I was aware of before, it seems relevant c) the fact that it seems people underestimate how unpleasant prison will be reduces its effectiveness as a deterrent. I agree the opposite seems more intuitive, but it doesn't seem to be the case.