tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287999849939481621.post1869153533335422317..comments2023-10-29T04:03:59.255-07:00Comments on Leftwing Criminologist: George Monbiot on PrisonsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287999849939481621.post-16285328868290350902008-06-29T04:30:00.000-07:002008-06-29T04:30:00.000-07:00"It's very problematic to look at the % of inmates..."It's very problematic to look at the % of inmates per capita and to then conclude on how punitive a country is, because crime rates and non-prison methods of punishment differ widely across the world."<BR/><BR/>Agreed but it does allow for a very easy method of doing comparisons which won't be too far out for many countries (in my opinion its probably the best measure of any if you are just taking one thing). As you say though, to do a proper comparison you would have to look at non-custodial penalties, conviction rate, consistency of sentencing and a whole host of other factors.Leftwing Criminologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369810078697007763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287999849939481621.post-58141439170415079482008-06-29T02:58:00.000-07:002008-06-29T02:58:00.000-07:00The US is certainly one of the more punitive natio...The US is certainly one of the more punitive nations. I don't dispute that. <BR/><BR/>But England and Wales don't have the death penalty, so all other things being equal, you could expect higher average sentences, because murderers, rapists etc are not executed. <BR/><BR/>It's very problematic to look at the % of inmates per capita and to then conclude on how punitive a country is, because crime rates and non-prison methods of punishment differ widely across the world.Leon Bertrandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07904286692877156809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287999849939481621.post-83298064026453395192008-06-27T03:26:00.000-07:002008-06-27T03:26:00.000-07:00I didn't get the impression that Monbiot was 'defe...I didn't get the impression that Monbiot was 'defending' those countries (I am assuming by 'those countries' you mean Sudan, Syria et al) insomuch as he was making a point regarding our perception of their judiciary. <BR/><BR/>Doesn't the fact that the US has both the death penalty <I>and</I> the highest prison population per head illustrate that the death penalty is redundant as a deterrent? (Or have I just reiterated Renegade Eye's point...)Highlanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13071300726235352555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287999849939481621.post-14448384268271407462008-06-27T01:32:00.000-07:002008-06-27T01:32:00.000-07:00@ leon bertrandI don't think the author is defendi...@ leon bertrand<BR/><BR/>I don't think the author is defending those countries, but you raise a good point as to the effect the existence of the death penalty has on imprisonment - I would expect it to be rather small though as a much greater percentage of people are locked up (we're talking 100s of people executed to 10000s people imprisoned) - if Britain had the death penalty i think it would barely make any difference on the prison population so i don't think it undermines the authors arguement, although he should have pointed this out.<BR/><BR/>I think the point renegade eye was making was that as well as having the highest prison population, the US also has the death penalty too - then again I would still argue that only a small percentage of people who are imprisoned are executed every year.Leftwing Criminologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369810078697007763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287999849939481621.post-18381346014417549752008-06-27T01:13:00.000-07:002008-06-27T01:13:00.000-07:00Actually, Renegate, you raise a good point.Those m...Actually, Renegate, you raise a good point.<BR/><BR/>Those most of those other countries the author defends have the death penalty, and would rely on that to punish the severest crimes. <BR/><BR/>If death is more severe than imprisonment, I would say that the author is being deliberately misleading...Leon Bertrandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07904286692877156809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287999849939481621.post-68849263357645551852008-06-26T20:58:00.000-07:002008-06-26T20:58:00.000-07:00The US also has the death penalty.The US also has the death penalty.Frank Partisanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536211653082893030noreply@blogger.com