People

Sentence lengthsareentirelymadeup

There was no research that suggested them, no study tailored them for maximum effect, and we 100% know they don't enhance public safety (even accounting for incapacitation prison - on balance - reduces public safety)

Legislatures make them up for thousands of crimes and just "decide" what the lengths should be.....look into the legislative histories, they are entirely made up

So, I would really appreciate if people stopped treating sentence lengths like messing with them would be like losing the royal jewels or taking food from starving children.....most research suggests they are WAY TOO LONG to be efficient or effective

People respond that sentences are - in essence - a promise b/w a judge and a survivor of crime....I can understand that, but it doesn't make it okay that they are totally irrational promises in the first place....or that people have to live irrational promises out inside cages

We are all subject to thousands of laws with thousands of penalties and NONE OF THEM are created with any rational relationship between the crime committed and a good outcome, which should be the point....and people have to live those irrational sentences out..not okay

Just to finish this out....in this time when most Governor's have flat out refused to release elderly and sick incarcerated people during the COVID crisis....and MANY of those people have died.

Doesn't it kind of "suck" that the basis for that cruelty is totally irrational?