Von Smallhausen said:
In the threads being referred to, huge increases in sentances have been proposed with no attempt to actually make it more likely for people to get caught. When you know you're not going to get caught (or it's incredibly unlikely to get caught) sentancing doesn't really matter.
So your average burglar sees a 6 month sentence as a free for all to get in someone's house as he knows a short sentence is what he gets IF he gets caught. I am at a loss as to how you think a lower sentence will affect clean-up rates ? Even for a reduced sentence, your burglar will not cough a job with no evidence against him. He will only do that if he is bang to rights, ie his or her DNA places them at a scene where they shouldn't have been. A detective saying cough this job and you only get 6 months will not wash unless there is evidence there in the first place.
I've not said that reducing sentances will improve cleanup rates
What I've said is that improved cleanup rates will reduce crime, provided sentancing is sensible.
With a much improved cleanup rate (it currently runs about 10% for burglary, so only 1 in 10 crimes gets solved, and that includes the inept and incompetant criminals, as well as the seasoned pros) it certainly does become an issue. IF you get the cleanup rate up, to say 90% (not unreasonable as other countries do manage it), then nearly every time you commit a crime, you're going to get put in prison. (The 6 month thing was just an example, it could always be increased). That would be a fairly major deterannt.
I agree with the reapeat offender concept. In my judgement, any burglar convicted a third time would get the maximum of 14 years and if that is deemed draconian then draconian it is. While in custody, they cannot burgle.
I wouldn't have too much of a problem with that in all honesty. But simply implementing that without trying to improve cleanup rates isn't going to deter anyone.
Also, in terms of clear up rates, look at the bigger picture. A burglar does 30 burglaries and then gets caught at it by the cops and is bang to rights. They know they are going over the wall and that is when the TIC's kick in. Is there any other jobs you want to have ? Thats when a lot of burglaries get detected. They may be charged with one or two and get many more TIC'd.
Well, again, if you could get cleanup rates up, this would be less of an issue.