Europe at origin of chronic US execution dilemma

[Razgovory]

I'll admit your SAT question puzzled me as well.

[Ed Anger]

I like DP.

And he likes you

Even creepier than my post.

[sbr]

Oregon allows doctor assisted suicide but my understanding is that it is an oral dose of pills or capsules.

[Admiral Yi]

Come again?

[sbr]

Which part?

[The Brain]

Do Oregon doctors sell gift cards?

[Admiral Yi]

Which part?

The part you edited.

[sbr]

Which part?

The part you edited.

I had a typo because of auto correct on my phone.  I said oral fist instead of dose; that was the only thing I edited.

[Admiral Yi]

That's what I didn't get.

[sbr]

Ah ok, now I understand.

[The Minsky Moment]

I believe what the research shows is that the likelihood or certainty of getting caught does have a deterrent impact.  But the relatively severity of punishment is not as significant a factor.
The US tends to have longer or harsher penalties on the statute books than Europe but not really because those longer penalties are supposed to generate more deterrence.  The more important purpose is to generate prosecutorial leverage for plea and cooperation agreements, which have become key tools for obtaining evidence and convictions.  European systems tend to work differently in this regard - the penalties are lower in theory but there is much less of a chance that a suspect will be pled down and tried on a lower charge.

[DGuller]

I believe what the research shows is that the likelihood or certainty of getting caught does have a deterrent impact.  But the relatively severity of punishment is not as significant a factor.
The US tends to have longer or harsher penalties on the statute books than Europe but not really because those longer penalties are supposed to generate more deterrence.  The more important purpose is to generate prosecutorial leverage for plea and cooperation agreements, which have become key tools for obtaining evidence and convictions.  European systems tend to work differently in this regard - the penalties are lower in theory but there is much less of a chance that a suspect will be pled down and tried on a lower charge.

I think some of it is also down to American mentality.  We view prisons not as a measured punishment, but rather as a mechanism to segregate criminals from society.  Therefore, the longer the prison sentence, the more effective the prisons are at fulfilling that role.

[Capetan Mihali]

The US tends to have longer or harsher penalties on the statute books than Europe but not really because those longer penalties are supposed to generate more deterrence.  The more important purpose is to generate prosecutorial leverage for plea and cooperation agreements, which have become key tools for obtaining evidence and convictions.  European systems tend to work differently in this regard - the penalties are lower in theory but there is much less of a chance that a suspect will be pled down and tried on a lower charge.

We have much longer and harsher penalties in reality as well as on the books.  And Canada engages in a similar plea bargaining system, but doesn't have nearly the excessive prison sentences the US does.

[grumbler]

We have much longer and harsher penalties in reality as well as on the books.  And Canada engages in a similar plea bargaining system, but doesn't have nearly the excessive prison sentences the US does.

I think that, in Canada, a politician has to talk about doing something to increase the odds of catching criminals in order to be considered "tough on crime."  In the US, that title comes from  proposing laws that will fuck over minorities more than the current laws do.

[Barrister]

The US tends to have longer or harsher penalties on the statute books than Europe but not really because those longer penalties are supposed to generate more deterrence.  The more important purpose is to generate prosecutorial leverage for plea and cooperation agreements, which have become key tools for obtaining evidence and convictions.  European systems tend to work differently in this regard - the penalties are lower in theory but there is much less of a chance that a suspect will be pled down and tried on a lower charge.

We have much longer and harsher penalties in reality as well as on the books.  And Canada engages in a similar plea bargaining system, but doesn't have nearly the excessive prison sentences the US does.

I don't think we have a "similar" plea bargaining system.

Do we sometimes engage in plea bargaining?  Yes.  But the usual rule of thumb is that if you enter a plea you might get about 1/3 off your sentence as opposed to taking it to trial.

There's none of this 'if you don't accept our plea you're going to receive a 99 year sentence' kind of negotiating I hear about in the US.