H.R. 261 - The Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2007
July 30, 2007 – 7:36 pmSomeone just pointed me toward Bill H.R. 261. As if this bill wasn’t enough to anger me, the comments made on the website are even worse.
What is wrong with America? Yes, our prisons are overcrowded. Yes, when someone commits a crime their family suffers. Do we really believe that a nonviolent offender should get off early because they didn’t directly harm someone? Come on, people. If you don’t want your family to suffer, don’t commit the crime.
Nonviolent crimes include drug offense, embezzlement, tax fraud, and identity theft, just to name a few. No, these crimes did not physically harm anyone, but these are not crimes without victims. When someone decides to participate in a nonviolent crime, there can be thousands of people affected. Tax fraud pulls money away from the support of our troops, education system, and health care systems. Identity theft can ruin someone’s life. Drug offenders affect hundreds to thousands of people by providing them with the means to physically and mentally harm themselves and others. What kind of message are we sending to the younger generation when we state that these offenders over a certain age can be set free?
There are laws in place to regulate and govern society. Allowing a range of flexibility in these areas shows the world that we are desperate for a “quick fix” and not firm in our actions. Its sad and thoroughly disappoints me. I can only hope that this bill does not pass and that these nonviolent offenders serve the sentences they brought upon themselves.
5 Responses to “H.R. 261 - The Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2007”
I BELIVE IN THE BILL H. R 261 FEDERAL BUREAU NONVIOLENT OFFENDER RELIEF ACT OF 2007 YES THEY COMMITED A CRIME AND THEY ARE PAYING FOR IT MAYBE NOT THE FULL SENTENCE BUT EACH CASE SHOULD BE REVEIWED AFTER THEY ARE SENTENCED THEN OFFER THE RELIF ACT TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY INCLUDING DETANIED NON US CITIZENS IF THEY CAN BE DEPORTED THEN DEPORT IF NOT THEN TREAT THEM AS A US CITIZEN AND REHILBILATATE THEM JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IF THEY COULD JUST GIVE THESE PEOPLE CLASSES AND TEACH THEM HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITHOUT BREAKING THE LAW WHILE THEY ARE THERE AND SOME KIND OF THING FOR WHEN THEY ARE OUT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING SOCITY GOOD I TRULY DO NOT THINK THIS IS A QUICK FIX . EVERY INDIVIDUAL CASE SHOULD BE EXAMAINED
By kat on Sep 24, 2007
I DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THIS I BELIVE THAT TIME SHOULD FIT THE CRIME AND THE ALOT OF NONVIOLENT WERE SENTENCED TO MORE TIME THAN VIOLENT PEOPLE. AND EVERY CASE SHOULD BE LOOKED AT INDIVIDUALY. AND SENTENCE THESE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS TO ALTERNITIVE SENTENCING SO THEY ARE NOT TAKING UP SO MUCH SPACE AND MONEY. DID YOU KNOW THAT IT COST ALMOST 30,000 DOLLARS A YEAR PER PERSON TO HOUSE THESE
INMATES?? AND IF THESE CURRENT AND FUTURE INMATES CAN GET REHABILITATION IN OTHER WAYS THAN TO SERVE UMPTEEN AMOUNT OF YEARS IN PRISION. COME ON FELLOW AMERICAN WE ARE SMARTER THAN THIS. TO LOCK THEM UP AND THROUGH AWAY THE KEY. YES IF THEY BROKE THE LAW THEN THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED BUT LETS FIND ALTERNITIVE WAYS
By KAT on Oct 6, 2007
Alright, then. I was waiting to approve your comment until I had time to form an intelligent response. Now, I don’t need one.
I’m not against people expressing their opinion. But when it comes to Internet communication, there are a few courteous rules of engagement. Obviously, you need to take a Web 1.0 course.
First, and I quote “COME ON FELLOW AMERICAN WE ARE SMARTER THAN THIS. TO LOCK THEM UP AND THROUGH AWAY THE KEY. YES IF THEY BROKE THE LAW THEN THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED BUT LETS FIND ALTERNITIVE WAYS” - they have this awesome invention called spell check. When you are commenting on Wordpress, they underline the words spelled incorrectly. Red = wrong. Green = improper grammar. Come on, fellow American; we are smarter than this. You said it yourself.
Second, it is rude to type LIKE THIS unless you are intending for your response to come off as screaming. I don’t think you meant it this way. Turn off caps lock. The world will thank you.
Thank you for sharing your opinion. Next time, try to use your Internet manners. It is just as easy for me to select “Deny Comment” as it is to choose “Approve Comment”.
By Ms. Foo on Oct 6, 2007
H.R. 261 definately has pros and cons. I haven’t studied it and so will reserve my opinion for when I do. I will say this much, over 13 years ago a Superior Court Judge took a chance on me when many thought I should be locked up some more. I have not since given him reason to regret what he did.
By Jon C. Dec 19, 2007
By Jon C. on Dec 19, 2007