> focus on convictions

Yeah, it's like they don't even care about your well being.

Kind of defeats all the bullshit supporting the War on drugs as well. If we actually cared about the damage of drugs, we'd be researching them and teaching the REAL effects in school -- but, that would also mean admitting they don't automatically kill you, make you insane, or addicted. A shitty life that leaves an empty hole is the reason for most addiction-- let's be honest about that.

If we wanted less crime, we'd spend more on after school programs and counseling and maybe a fucking living wage so the single parent doesn't have a kid who joins a gang because their never home or always tired.

Most crimes that are measured are what poor people do, and the things rich people do that are damaging are less investigated or actually legal. Like, donating to a candidate is LEGAL??? That's a bribe -- why are we fooling ourselves?

Most people will never have anyone do as much damage to them as ten days in jail does to a person. And about 80% of the people in jails in some cities are there because they couldn't pay the fines. Oh, we don't have debtors prisons anymore, but, most of the people in prison are poor or have learning disabilities that made their formative years hell without proper support -- and so, most of them are poor as well.