Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It's disturbing fact that in Indianapolis one is much more likely to be murdered or sexually assaulted than in New York City. The federal Department of Justice crime statistics have reported this in their annual crime statistics report spanning the last several years. It begs the question, what is New York doing that Indianapolis is not?
NYC's last mayor got really tough on crime. There was a former transit officer who posted on another forum about how they helped reduce crime on the subway system. Get ready for it: They arrested people who violated the law!! Yes. You see, it has been illegal to jump a gate to board a subway or elevated train in NYC. For some amount of time, NYPD transit just turned the other way if this happened. They also didn't do a lot to stop it (ie: Didn't station cops at the entry points). Well they started to do some research and found out that a vast majority of the people who they caught who were robbing, raping, etc. on the transit system also failed to pay to use the system. So according to this former transit cop, they stationed cops at the pay gates to as many subway entry points as they could. Someone jumps the gate, they went to jail. No summons to appear, no warning, straight to jail. Their more serious crimes magically dropped on the system. Now they may have four or five robberies per day, but this same transit cop said that most of those, if not all, are teenagers who bully another teenager and steal their I-Pod or whatever. Since it involved theft with use of force or threat of force, it goes from theft to robbery.
The problem we have in Indy is a housing problem for criminals. Governments have to treat criminals a certain way when they are in jail. One thing they can't do is just over crowd the jail. So Marion Co. has caps on their jail population. This caused judges to allow lower bails, and in some cases, out right releases of certain criminals.
Even those who get prison can do minimal time. Say you get five years for an armed robbery. So long as you behave, you will only do 2.5 years. Then, if you take some college courses, or work towards your GED, you get even more time off shaved. Plus you get credit for all the time you spent in jail pre-trail, and you get double that due to the good bahavior rule. So if you spend seven days and one hour in jail before your case is resolved, you would get credit of time served for 16 days.
I'm not sure if jailing people really keeps them from repeat offenses. But, the city, county, and state should do something because they do have an obligation to keep violent criminals off the street. Our governments choose a billion football field and a $300M convention center instead of a new jail. There is only so much taxation people will take. If crime gets too out-of-control, people will just leave. Yes, I don't want to go through life doing nothing. On July 4th, many surrounding towns and cities had their own fireworks. If things in downtown Indy get worse, people will just avoid downtown Indy. No need to lock yourself in home, just go to areas that provide places to eat, things to do, etc. outside of downtown Indy.
I'm not sure if jailing people really keeps them from repeat offenses. But, the city, county, and state should do something because they do have an obligation to keep violent criminals off the street. Our governments choose a billion football field and a $300M convention center instead of a new jail. There is only so much taxation people will take. If crime gets too out-of-control, people will just leave. Yes, I don't want to go through life doing nothing. On July 4th, many surrounding towns and cities had their own fireworks. If things in downtown Indy get worse, people will just avoid downtown Indy. No need to lock yourself in home, just go to areas that provide places to eat, things to do, etc. outside of downtown Indy.
Well I don't think that the problem is putting too few people in jail. I think that an argument could be made for more restrictions on violent offenders getting out early though. The only way to keep the jails from overcrowding is to stop putting people in jail for 10 years for drug offenses. It's funny how you can be smoking marijuana and committing a bigger offense than theft.
Well I don't think that the problem is putting too few people in jail. I think that an argument could be made for more restrictions on violent offenders getting out early though. The only way to keep the jails from overcrowding is to stop putting people in jail for 10 years for drug offenses. It's funny how you can be smoking marijuana and committing a bigger offense than theft.
Show me one case, one cause number, that shows proof of someone who got more time for solely smoking marijuana than someone being charged for one count of theft. There isn't any. Both of these crimes usually get slaps on the wrist. While I'm not a big fan of the war on some drugs, the fact remains that most of those arrested only for simple drug possession of marijuana almost never go to prison. If they have a felony amount, maybe, but then again, most folks with a felony amount are likely dealing to some extent. It is the dealing of drugs that seems to be connected to a good number of the homicides we have.
The problem is putting too few people in jail, because that is exactly why these "former felons" end up back out in society and end up getting killed themselves or end up being suspects in killings. Either legalize all drugs, or keep those with certain amounts locked up. If someone is moving cocaine, crack, or marijuana, their two year stint (if that) in DOC isn't likely to force a change in their behavior. Such a person already has the deck stacked against them (not saying it isn't their fault, just the way it is). They usually have little or not education, now have a felony which will hinder them getting a job, and their own personal greed takes them from a $9/hour dock job back to selling because they want thousand dollar rims for their cars, jewelry, HDTVs, etc.. So the cycle just continues: In, out, in, out until they get shot and killed, or end up in for life because they shot and killed someone else. At a minimum, we need serious time for those who victimize others or use guns in a criminal manner.
The problem we have in Indy is a housing problem for criminals. Governments have to treat criminals a certain way when they are in jail. One thing they can't do is just over crowd the jail. So Marion Co. has caps on their jail population. This caused judges to allow lower bails, and in some cases, out right releases of certain criminals.
Even those who get prison can do minimal time. Say you get five years for an armed robbery. So long as you behave, you will only do 2.5 years. Then, if you take some college courses, or work towards your GED, you get even more time off shaved. Plus you get credit for all the time you spent in jail pre-trail, and you get double that due to the good bahavior rule. So if you spend seven days and one hour in jail before your case is resolved, you would get credit of time served for 16 days.
I'm not sure if jailing people really keeps them from repeat offenses. But, the city, county, and state should do something because they do have an obligation to keep violent criminals off the street. Our governments choose a billion football field and a $300M convention center instead of a new jail. There is only so much taxation people will take. If crime gets too out-of-control, people will just leave. Yes, I don't want to go through life doing nothing. On July 4th, many surrounding towns and cities had their own fireworks. If things in downtown Indy get worse, people will just avoid downtown Indy. No need to lock yourself in home, just go to areas that provide places to eat, things to do, etc. outside of downtown Indy.
You made some very good points. I believe that prisoners will no longer be able to take college courses to get time cuts because contracts with Indiana State University, Oakland City College and other colleges were terminated by the State of Indiana.
Well I don't think that the problem is putting too few people in jail. I think that an argument could be made for more restrictions on violent offenders getting out early though. The only way to keep the jails from overcrowding is to stop putting people in jail for 10 years for drug offenses. It's funny how you can be smoking marijuana and committing a bigger offense than theft.
For the record, the usual policy for posession of marijuana is to write a ticket (summons) to the alleged violator who if they appear in court is offered diversion. Ask any cop or judge. Go sit in in the major felony drug court (Court 20) and take a big lunch and a good book because you are going to be there a long time before you see somebody get 10 years.
For the record, the usual policy for posession of marijuana is to write a ticket (summons) to the alleged violator who if they appear in court is offered diversion. Ask any cop or judge. Go sit in in the major felony drug court (Court 20) and take a big lunch and a good book because you are going to be there a long time before you see somebody get 10 years.
Never said 10 years, but at the same time the penalty is often more than shoplifting or petty theft.
Downtown crime is up. It's not as safe as some make it out to be.
From when? This point last year? Maybe so. From this point six months ago? Most definitely. But crime is always higher in the summer, and it's almost guaranteed to tame down when the thugs are actively skipping school (or whatever it is they start doing in September) rather than having no obligation to be there.
But is crime up from 20-30 years ago, when Indy shut down at 5:15 pm? I doubt it. The only people left downtown at night were homeless. Granted, there weren't rich people living downtown to mug back then either, so criminals sought other hotspots--and crime all across the country was at is worst in the 80s. You hear more about it these days because its an anomaly in a generally safe downtown which is considerably safer than similar cities with less vibrant downtowns. I'd rather be stuck in Indy after dark than downtown Columbus.
Quote:
Originally Posted by indy18
I used to live in the Ransom place neighborhood and there is absolutely no way in hell I would walk from the center of downtown to my house alone at night. I doubt I'm alone.
You probably aren't alone, but there are also tons of people living in Ransom Place who sought the area because of its close proximity to downtown--i.e., you can walk there. I personally have never felt uncomfortable walking around downtown Indy late at night, and friends who were with me on those occasions felt fine as well.
Hey toxic. Why would you not hang out on the circle at 2 am? It's OUR CITY and you should be able to. Thugs tried to mug me in broad daylight and thank God I am a grown up and responsible for my own safety and used my handgun to win the confrontation. I still see those would be attackers pan handling on the corner and when they see me they cross the street.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
