←back to thread

America’s incarceration rate is in decline

(www.theatlantic.com)
236 points paulpauper | 1 comments | 25 Jun 25 17:14 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
rwmj ◴[25 Jun 25 17:58 UTC] No.44380094[source]▶
The question not even asked by the article is ... why?
replies(2): >>44380463 #>>44380558 #
standardUser ◴[25 Jun 25 18:40 UTC] No.44380558[source]▶
From what I've read, mostly sentencing reform and less aggressive drug prosecution/more drug diversion. That and the general trend for crime to recede in wealthy, stable societies.
replies(1): >>44382463 #
pjdesno ◴[25 Jun 25 22:44 UTC] No.44382463[source]▶
It's not just law enforcement and sentencing - there are verifiable numbers for the results of certain crimes - homicides and auto theft come to mind - and most have declined precipitously.

E.g. Boston had 1,575 reports of auto theft in 2012, compared with 28,000 in 1975; Massachusetts had 242 murders in 1975, and 121 in 2012. (a 56% drop in homicide rate, as population went up 14%)

replies(1): >>44383867 #
3eb7988a1663 ◴[26 Jun 25 03:05 UTC] No.44383867{3}[source]▶
That car theft number is blowing my mind. I would have easily guessed 10x that.

Are there any aspects of the crime that make it less appealing? Electronic counter measures too good? Price of replacement parts no longer carry a premium? Too easy to get caught?

replies(2): >>44383963 #>>44388742 #
1. smallmancontrov ◴[26 Jun 25 03:34 UTC] No.44383963{4}[source]▶
Consumer goods went on a 50 year deflation streak while health care, housing, and education pumped to the moon. That's its own problem, but it's hard to steal any of those three things.