I think that it needs to stop throwing innocent people in jail and start giving harsher punishments to those who are guilty.

On violent offenders? - yes on nonviolent (drug) offenders? - no In my opinion - we should make more room in prisons for people who hurt and abuse people.

Yes, I think violent crime needs much tougher penalties, especially domestic violence - which is often pretty much blown off. Non violent things like larceny and fencing don't worry me so much.

Considering that - in Australia, at least - the majority of inmates are drug offenders, I think there needs to be a much stronger focus on long term, stable and effective rehabilitation than tougher laws. It costs the state government roughly around $130,000 per year to house an offender in prison. It costs only roughly around $30,000 to rehabilitate that offender and send him or her back into society a clean, functioning person. I see absolutely no point in making laws tougher if the corrections system is letting offenders sit there and rot. Allow them to at least redeem themselves - if possible - fully and completely before returning them to society.

For hate, sex and violent crimes -Yes! I was reading the "matter of record" a few weeks ago I came across one person who after being released from prison was picked up and charged for not registering as a convicted sex offender. Then he was released on his own recognizance. I'm thinking WTF! He gets out and fails to register, gets arrested for it but they release him just because he says he will show up for court!!!???? Thats crazy! He should be put back in prison for failing to register. This country has thousands of sex offenders who are not registered that should be hunted down and punished, then maybe there would be less repeat offenders, or at least we would know who to look at first.

Yes and always. But it needs to treat intermediate criminals and teach them how to be good earning people with legitimate skills so they need not resort to crime in order to make a living.

You bet I do. I want to see probation and parole completely done away with as well as being let out on bail. Criminals treat all three like a joke and that's exactly what they are. You might as well just cut them lose to do what ever they want if you're going to do that. With bail they just walk away and don't even bother to show up for court. So what if grandma loses her house? As to parole and probation to me it's not even punishment. It's a slap in the face of the victem. Probation does nothing, but teach them the system's soft. With parole if a judge says ten to twenty it better be at least ten years and not five with parole for good behaviour. As far as I'm concerned if the jails are too crowded let that be just one more deterant for them not to reoffend. Oh, you don't want to be in a crowed jail? Then don't act up, you idiot. Just so you all know where this is coming from. My brother has a rap sheet as long as my arm. He has had in jail rehabilataion. He's been on parole and probation so many times the jail needs a revolving door. Guess what? He just duped the system again. He told them he needed let out early to care for our mother. They let him out and we have not heard one word from him. We found out he was out when his P.O. Officer called looking for him. Seems he missed yet another parole hearing. I told the guy to issue the warrent and release the hounds.

no there are so many laws now ...use the ones they have already ... the mentality seems to be lock everyone up , the U.S. is building so many new jails its a joke ... you would think that if something is not working then you would fix it instead of going down the same road and for some of the things they lock you up for just makes you shake your head .... for a supposed democratic country you have so many laws stopping freedoms right across the board and the very first thing is ...lock them up

Laws are tough. Enforcement is not.