[574] in libertarians
Laissez Faire Book News: CRIMINAL JUSTICE?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Chris Whitten)
Mon Jan 16 13:13:01 1995
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 1995 13:07:52 -0500 (EST)
From: Chris Whitten <lfb@panix.com>
Apparently-To: <libertarians@mit.edu>
The shocking truth--
welfare state nailed for promoting today's violent crime epidemic
CRIMINAL JUSTICE?
The Legal System vs. Individual Responsibility
edited by Robert James Bidinotto
(reviewed by Jim Powell)
* Now only 1.7% of serious crimes ever result in a prison
sentence.
* A Massachusetts man confessed to rape, but because of a
plea bargain deal, he was out of jail in just three days. He went
on to rape again.
* Convicted murderers, on average, spend less than 27 months
in state prison.
* "Insanity defense" murderers are typically released in
less than 18 months--and in one shocking case, a murderer was
released after a single day.
Such horrors, this dramatic book shows, are a direct
consequence of welfare state policies which started to destroy
our criminal justice system during the 1960s. The book gathers
together reports from 14 experts including David Kelley and
editor Robert James Bidinotto, the *Reader's Digest* star crime
reporter who, among other things, helped make notorious murderer
Willie Horton a potent issue during the 1988 presidential
campaign.
The authors tell how the welfare state sets a terrible
example, routinely stealing money from people and in myriad other
ways assaulting individual rights. The authors go on to explain
how welfare state policies relieve even the most violent
criminals of personal responsibility for their actions. The
authors chronicle the succession of laws and court decisions
which promote the cynical release of dangerous criminals by the
thousands.
The book demolishes delusions which lead officials to go
easy on criminals. For instance, the popular delusion that
poverty causes crime; the authors explain how criminal behavior
assures chronic poverty. The authors make clear why inadequate
fathers, tough schools and a competitive job market are lousy
excuses for crime.
Among the book's refreshingly radical recommendations:
repeal drug prohibition, abolish plea bargaining, abolish the
insanity defense, make punishment fit the act rather than the
criminal, enforce speedy trial laws, require minimum sentences
for repeat violent criminals, give victims a hearing and
consideration in sentencing, restrict parole, notify victims
about all criminal justice proceedings and the contemplated
release of criminals and apply death penalty for worst offenses.
Compelling book on a vital issue that affects all of us.
Book No. LL6242 (paperback) 304p. $19.95
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please send this review to anyone who you think might be interested
-------------------------------------------------------------------
*Criminal Justice?* can be ordered from Laissez Faire. Call
toll-free 1-800-326-0996 or (415) 541-9780, fax (415) 541-0597 or
write to: Laissez Faire Books, Dept. L40, 938 Howard St., #202, San
Francisco, CA, 94103.
To order via E-MAIL: Simply reply to LFB@panix.com, or write to Eric
Shoemaker, our customer service manager, at 74741.2631@compuserve.com.
For your security, you might want to first call and leave us your credit
card information and mailing address. (If you're already a customer we
probably have it.) After that you can order at anytime by e-mail using
only your name and the zip code of the address we have on file. (Your
zip code will verify your identity.) We will process your order using
the card and address we have. (If you would prefer to pay by check, you
can join our pay-in-advance book club, and order in the same way. Call
or e-mail for details.)
* Every order comes with a surprise free gift
* We ship most orders within 24 hours
* 30-day money back guarantee
You can pay for your order with a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover, or with
a check or money order. Include $3.25 for shipping. California
residents must include sales tax.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to let me know.
Thanks,
Chris
-------------------------------------------------------
Chris Whitten LFB@panix.com
Laissez Faire Books 1-800-326-0996
---The world's largest selection of books on liberty---
-------------------------------------------------------
Ask me about free Book News e-mail list, print catalog,
http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/lf/Laissez-Faire.html
-------------------------------------------------------
