Call me a knee-jerk liberal (I just was) but I believe in redemption. I am not disagreeing with you that some people should be locked up for a really long time so they can't do any more harm. Where we may disagree is on how wide the net should be cast.

>Rehabilitation is a total failure - until the person who needs rehabing finally makes the decision to change their ways. I think a sentencing matrix should be enacted so people could clearly see the road ahead. People who have been convicted 10 times or more (convicted, not arrested) should become property of the state. We have thousands who have been arrested and convicted more than 20 times. I call them "urban terrorists" because that's what they are. They think those of us who work are suckers, and I think they are criminals worthy of a license plate press.
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>>I like the idea of rehabilitation as opposed to jails...or putting actual criminals in the jails instead of the 19 year old kid who got caught with a joint. How many people were put in jail last year for victimless crimes? Take a kid that is borderline and toss him in jail and it's like college for criminals - so you started out with a dumb stoner kid and end up with a violent thug.
>>I know there is some facility in Texas that's actually figured that out (I think it might be Ft. Worth?? - I will have to check) and it's turned out to be such a huge success that other cities are modeling after them. You have to keep in mind John that almost all of these criminals will eventually be released - so coming up with a plan to keep them out or keep them from ever entering is important - otherwise you're stuck with a very bitter and violent person where at the start you didn't have that...basically creating a career criminal where there wasn't one to start with.