On Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:02:11 -0400, HK wrote:

Theft, typically, is a non-violent offense.

That is only because we decided to call theft robbery if it is
violent. And it is only non violent if the victim chooses to not
resist.

Casady

Richard Casady wrote:
On Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:02:11 -0400, HK wrote:

Theft, typically, is a non-violent offense.

That is only because we decided to call theft robbery if it is
violent. And it is only non violent if the victim chooses to not
resist.

Casady


Oh, I think there is a bit more to it than that. Theft, for example,
typically does not involve the thief directly engaging face to face with
the victim. If you are held up at gunpoint, you've been robbed. If
someone steals a pocketbook from a desk, the crime typically is not
robbery, is it?

According to the OED, robbery...


1. a.1.a The action or practice of feloniously seizing, by violence or
intimidation, property belonging to another; spoliation, depredation.

I seem to recall discussing the fact that the United States imprisons a
higher percentage of its population than any other modern western
nation, and what might be done to lower that number. My suggestion was
to reduce sentences for non-violent criminals and to decriminalize
certain offenses, such as possession of "personal" amounts of pot.

On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:58:48 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:55:34 -0400, HK wrote:

Oh, I think there is a bit more to it than that. Theft, for example,
typically does not involve the thief directly engaging face to face with
the victim. If you are held up at gunpoint, you've been robbed. If
someone steals a pocketbook from a desk, the crime typically is not
robbery, is it?


The problem is, it is just a matter of time before a thief becomes a
robber. It only takes getting caught in the act.

You have still not given us your idea of what deterrent there is for a
guy who just wants to be a thief for a living.

Don't know about the general U.S. incarceration laws, but some states
have "3 strike" laws. Felony theft will get you life in prison - or
close to it - when you strike out.
Personally, I think prisoners should be working to at least partially
pay the bills.
Work, or solitary confinement. On macaroni and cheese.
Seems that prisoners used to produce things in prison, notably license
plates in Illinois.
They could at least be sewing American flags so we don't have to
import them from commie China.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:58:48 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:55:34 -0400, HK wrote:

Oh, I think there is a bit more to it than that. Theft, for example,
typically does not involve the thief directly engaging face to face with
the victim. If you are held up at gunpoint, you've been robbed. If
someone steals a pocketbook from a desk, the crime typically is not
robbery, is it?

The problem is, it is just a matter of time before a thief becomes a
robber. It only takes getting caught in the act.

You have still not given us your idea of what deterrent there is for a
guy who just wants to be a thief for a living.

Don't know about the general U.S. incarceration laws, but some states
have "3 strike" laws. Felony theft will get you life in prison - or
close to it - when you strike out.
Personally, I think prisoners should be working to at least partially
pay the bills.
Work, or solitary confinement. On macaroni and cheese.
Seems that prisoners used to produce things in prison, notably license
plates in Illinois.
They could at least be sewing American flags so we don't have to
import them from commie China.

--Vic



There's an awful lot of hypocrisy, hate, and stupidity built into our
criminal justice system. We put too many people away for too long a
time, treat them worse than dirt, provide almost nothing in the way of
rehab and training, and then we're surprised when they get out 20 or 30
years later and return to a life of crime. Well...what did we expect?
Just what we got, so we can build more prisons.

On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:58:48 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:55:34 -0400, HK wrote:

Oh, I think there is a bit more to it than that. Theft, for example,
typically does not involve the thief directly engaging face to face with
the victim. If you are held up at gunpoint, you've been robbed. If
someone steals a pocketbook from a desk, the crime typically is not
robbery, is it?


The problem is, it is just a matter of time before a thief becomes a
robber. It only takes getting caught in the act.

Robber confronts victim intending to take from victim.

Thief tries to steal undetected.

jps wrote:
On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:58:48 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:55:34 -0400, HK wrote:

Oh, I think there is a bit more to it than that. Theft, for example,
typically does not involve the thief directly engaging face to face with
the victim. If you are held up at gunpoint, you've been robbed. If
someone steals a pocketbook from a desk, the crime typically is not
robbery, is it?

The problem is, it is just a matter of time before a thief becomes a
robber. It only takes getting caught in the act.

Robber confronts victim intending to take from victim.

Thief tries to steal undetected.

Typically, precisely.