>
> But as with everything else, the shift to the right, right, right. the
> idea that it's more effective to give people sentences of less than 6
> months doesn't seem to be considered. The author's argument was that,
> less than 6 months is enough to convince the jailbird that he should
> never want to be there again. It had a deterrent effect, iow. After
> that, though, and the jailbird gets used to it, learns how to navigate
> the system, finds his or her place in the pecking order, makes new
> friends, etc.
Interesting study by Craig Haney on this. A number of felons in Florida were released early because of prosecutorial misconduct. They were matched with felons who served their full sentences, and recidivism rates were tracked. The felons who were released early were less likely to return to prison.
Miles