NFT: John Oliver segement on US Prisons

and privately run correctional facilities, things will never change.

Remember, stockholder value is much more important than human rights.

Incredibly well written and delivered pieces.

US has more people in prison than China does and it's not even close eve relative to the population size difference.

The Daily Show but I have found his new show must watch TV. This weeks' prison segment,the expose' on FIFA,Gay rights in Africa-each week he not only entertains but challenges our sensibilities!

Incarceration rates skyrocketed in the 80s. Mandatory minimums is one the the dumbest creations of tough talking empty suits. Why actually work to solve problems when we can just lock up people for smoking crack (and fine those snorting coke)?

The (sliver of) good news is that attitudes toward drugs are liberalizing somewhat and, in addition, it's an area where the left and libertarian right overlap.

And Oliver is great.

& it skews towards punishing African Americans & Hispanics more harshly than whites.

In comment 11779420 Samiam said:

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US has more people in prison than China does and it's not even close eve relative to the population size difference.

China also executes more prisoners then every other country combined. So that might impact their prison statistics.

Not saying the US doesn't have a problem, but China is probably a bad comparison.

In comment 11779431 Overseer said:

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Incarceration rates skyrocketed in the 80s. Mandatory minimums is one the the dumbest creations of tough talking empty suits. Why actually work to solve problems when we can just lock up people for smoking crack (and fine those snorting coke)? The (sliver of) good news is that attitudes toward drugs are liberalizing somewhat and, in addition, it's an area where the left and libertarian right overlap. And Oliver is great.

The problem is that even if you lock up people who are actual "professional" drug dealers (as opposed to those who deal just to support a habit) they're pretty easily replaced, and the ones who aren't have in many cases figured out how to conduct business from prison, our prisons being of course unconscionably harsh and all.

I was going to like the format of the show - I thought it would be a little too derivative of the other ones. But he has been great.

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In comment 11779453 Motley Blue said:

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Oh please. That's just hyperbolic. Is there disproportionate impact? Sure. But you don't get a lengthy sentence without multiple sentencing events dealing hard drugs.

for those that may have missed it.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Net Neutrality - ( New Window )

and I loved this piece. He just keeps churning out great segments.

other countries.

In comment 11779513 GMAN4LIFE said:

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other countries.

What do you mean?

For the individual, but that doesn't really matter to the prison systems. You'd be hard pressed to find one prison in this country that doesn't operate at near capacity. Empty bunk or a cell? Yeah, we can find somebody to fill it.

Don't have 50 guys doing a year or more, then fill those spots with 2500 guys doing a week. The money is the same.

that people convicted of dealing drugs at multiple sentencing events get hard time? I have a lot of problems with the way things are done and I certainly understand that there are social and economic factors influencing criminal behavior, but you're still talking about violent criminals and drug dealers.

to perform this song to end the show. An important song from an amazing band.
Prison Song - ( New Window )

I meant non-violent criminals who are incarcerated over crimes where the only victim is themselves and maybe family members with hurt feelings.

Shit, driving on a suspended license can get you up to a year in prison in my state. Don't know what it's like for every other state, but I'd venture to guess it's pretty similar.

To me that's crazy.

That's a huge reason why we imprison way too many people, but far too many things are criminalized to begin with.

I can't recommend Harvey Silverglate's "Three Felonies A Day" often enough.
Link - ( New Window )

In comment 11779670 Motley Blue said:

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I meant non-violent criminals who are incarcerated over crimes where the only victim is themselves and maybe family members with hurt feelings. Shit, driving on a suspended license can get you up to a year in prison in my state. Don't know what it's like for every other state, but I'd venture to guess it's pretty similar. To me that's crazy.

Yeah some of that is idiotic, no doubt. Now in VA misdemeanor time is 1 for 1, so 12 months is really six months unless there is a mandatory minimum (which is usually no more than 20 days), but it is rarely imposed in that quantity.

I'm not disagreeing that there are problems, but the people pulling hard time for drugs, especially at the federal level, are predominately people on their second or usually third sentencing event for dealing hard drugs. It's easy to miss the forest for the anecdotal trees and you may still be upset about a guy convicted of dealing cocaine for the 2nd or 3rd time getting decades in prison, but that's what you're more likely to be dealing with.

The vast, overwhelming number of offenders in prison are there for having committed multiple crimes, and I am not talking about breach of peace or selling marijuana. Far from the view of comedians and other observers with an axe to grind, judges don't throw people into prison as a matter of routine, just the opposite. There are diversion programs that are intended to give people a second and sometimes a third or fourth chance, probation, community service and other ways to avoid prison. Even with all the diversion programs, there are plenty of people who end up committing multiple crimes after having been through the diversion programs. What then?

So you guys tell me. If someone decides to make serious crime a way of life or is so unremittingly stupid (I know of one gentlemen who was given a year to perform 100 hours of community service; he performed zero), what would you like to do with these people?

In comment 11779670 Motley Blue said:

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I meant non-violent criminals who are incarcerated over crimes where the only victim is themselves and maybe family members with hurt feelings. Shit, driving on a suspended license can get you up to a year in prison in my state. Don't know what it's like for every other state, but I'd venture to guess it's pretty similar. To me that's crazy.

Depends why you have a suspended license. Is it because of a DUI? If so, a year in prison is light (IMO).

In comment 11779755 GIANTSr01 said:

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In comment 11779670 Motley Blue said: Quote: I meant non-violent criminals who are incarcerated over crimes where the only victim is themselves and maybe family members with hurt feelings. Shit, driving on a suspended license can get you up to a year in prison in my state. Don't know what it's like for every other state, but I'd venture to guess it's pretty similar. To me that's crazy. Depends why you have a suspended license. Is it because of a DUI? If so, a year in prison is light (IMO).

A year in prison for driving after a DUI suspension? Usually there is an option for a restricted license, but either way you want people to work. I get taking their license after a DUI, but unless they're drunk when they're pulled over for driving suspended too a year is awful harsh.

In comment 11779422 TheMick7 said:

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The Daily Show but I have found his new show must watch TV. This weeks' prison segment,the expose' on FIFA,Gay rights in Africa-each week he not only entertains but challenges our sensibilities!

It's a tough watch, but I actually wish it were literally a must watch. Like, everyone in America should watch it.

In comment 11779743 HomerJones45 said:

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Far from the view of comedians and other observers with an axe to grind, judges don't throw people into prison as a matter of routine, just the opposite.

That's weird... I was able to watch his segment without coming to such a hyperbolic conclusion.

Just cut the prison population by A LOT, but keep them privatized. That would likely improve conditions, (though possibly not). But Privatizing means we don't have to pay for them and if we cut the prison population, that's better than those people being in a state run prison.

In comment 11779809 BestFeature said:

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Just cut the prison population by A LOT, but keep them privatized. That would likely improve conditions, (though possibly not). But Privatizing means we don't have to pay for them and if we cut the prison population, that's better than those people being in a state run prison.

What do you mean 'we don't have to pay for them'? It may be more efficient if run by the private sector (it may not be, I don't know) but we are certainly still paying for it.

to appreciate.

In comment 11779743 HomerJones45 said:

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The vast, overwhelming number of offenders in prison are there for having committed multiple crimes, and I am not talking about breach of peace or selling marijuana. Far from the view of comedians and other observers with an axe to grind, judges don't throw people into prison as a matter of routine, just the opposite. There are diversion programs that are intended to give people a second and sometimes a third or fourth chance, probation, community service and other ways to avoid prison. Even with all the diversion programs, there are plenty of people who end up committing multiple crimes after having been through the diversion programs. What then? So you guys tell me. If someone decides to make serious crime a way of life or is so unremittingly stupid (I know of one gentlemen who was given a year to perform 100 hours of community service; he performed zero), what would you like to do with these people?

Can't agree with you any more. I am no expert in our criminal system nor the condition of our prison but I have watched his show and when he talks about things, I am an expert in, I see how stupid his comments are. Thats true for all comedians, if they really knew a lot about the problems, they won't be joking around about it. I'd just take it with a grain of salt or better yet not even care about it and just laugh it off.

In comment 11779455 Dunedin81 said:

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In comment 11779453 Motley Blue said: Quote: . Oh please. That's just hyperbolic. Is there disproportionate impact? Sure. But you don't get a lengthy sentence without multiple sentencing events dealing hard drugs.

Check your privlidge.

news must be couched as entertainment. Being informed is no longer a civic duty, its a medicine that people need to be tricked into taking.