It is easy for us as Americans to react to crime by wanting to remove the criminal from society. We can call it 'tough on crime', or 'justice', or whatever we want to call it, but what it really boils down to is America doesn't know how to deal with the problem of crime. Rather than deal with the root problems, we kick the problem down the road for future generations and future administrations to deal with.
I recently heard on the news that 1 in 107 people in the United States is incarcerated. While the U.S. has 5% of the world's population we have 25% of the world's prison population (35% of the world's population of female prisoners).
No one would deny that crime should be punished as a deterrent to future criminal conduct. But statistics prove that incarceration, particularly lengthy incarceration, does little to reduce the chances of re-offense. Michigan, in particular, cares little about these statistics as they continue to serve up sentences nearly two years longer on average than surrounding states. Michigan prisoners also serve roughly 120% of their minimum sentences while many other states actually offer sentence reductions for good behavior.
America needs to begin looking at positive, long-term alternative solutions to fear-based, lock-em-up-and-throw-away-the-key prison sentences. Victims deserve justice, but true justice involves dealing with the causes of crime, and also promoting restoration and rehabilitation.
America can change its image as the #1 incarcerating nation in the world, and Michigan can lead the way. But it will take courageous leaders who refuse to kick the problem down the road to future generations.
