Crime

While I could go down the rabbit hole analyzing the US Department of Justice, I find local crime to be more worthwhile to write/read about.  Most people care about crime in their communities and how to best deal with it.  I'd like to take this opportunity to distinguish a common criticism of Libertarianism from that of anarchy.  Libertarians favor local government duties that uphold the freedoms and will of the people.  We very much appreciate local public services like police and firefighters.  The only reason I mention that is because I have corrected many critics of this philosophy that mistakenly assume that the desire for small, principled government equates to the desire for no government at all, and that simply isn't true.

In order to preserve our freedoms we must prevent those in our society who would do harm to others.  That concept is the basis for most laws against crime in our country, states, counties, and municipalities; with some exceptions.  Clearly, a local government must serve its citizens by protecting them with a police force, but what steps can be taken to maximize the safety of the people while preserving their freedoms?  What practical prison solutions can we establish for those who commit crimes, once convicted?

Stealing our hearts will get you 10 years.

In an effort to answer those questions, I propose a few general suggestions.  Obviously, a one-size-fits-all solution is not possible, but these guidelines would arguably improve your local law enforcement and justice systems:

• Effectively and efficiently train local law enforcement officers in both weapons and local/federal statutes.  Make sure that all officers are informed to properly protect citizens and their rights with the proper knowledge and tools at their disposal.
• Make criminals pay full restitution to their victims.  If offenders knew that they were fully financially liable for their crimes, they might reconsider committing them in the first place, particularly if they were unable to afford restitution.
• Allow citizens to protect themselves.  Even the shortest law enforcement response time can be the difference between a life and death situation.  As a matter of fact, Gun control laws often yield increased crime and are unconstitutional.
• Punish violent crime more severely.  Assault, rape, and murder ought to be dealt with severely without potential for bail or early parole.  While state enforcement varies, federal sentences mostly enforce 80% of time served before early release is allowed and that should be eliminated.
• Abandon illogical statutes.  Without getting too much into it here, the war on drugs has failed.  It is time to stop turning casual users into hardened criminals in the prison system, and time to stop telling adults what they can or cannot do to their own bodies.
• Allow jailed criminals to work or earn college credit while incarcerated.  This will reinforce a life of rehabilitation and make the transition to a productive life after jail more possible, reducing the likelihood of repeat offenders.  If restitution is required, earnings can go towards victim repayment.
• Independently audit both law enforcement and local courts on a regular basis to ensure the utmost protection of civil liberties in the criminal justice system.  While the failure to convict a guilty person is a tragedy, the false conviction on an innocent person is a travesty.

Think these suggestions are too tough or don't go far enough?  Leave a comment with how you would do things differently below.