Hacker News Reader

Comment by parfe | Hacker News Reader

What makes him think he's any better to deserve to be sentenced to the comfort of his own home than the thousand other felons he's housed with? Because he violated campaign laws and not drug laws? Or because he had money he shouldn't have to face actual prison time? Or that he had powerful friends advocating on his behalf?

Another upstanding citizen who doesn't care about an issue until it personally affects him. Where was his concern of the expiration date of frozen meet when he had the power to do something about it? Didn't care much about the animals in prison then.

View on HN

> Another upstanding citizen who doesn't care about an issue until it personally affects him.

I think this is false. He authored and passed criminal statue reform legislation in the state senate. He also clearly cares about people outside his own community: For example, he was a active proponent of urban education, co-founding a group of charter schools, teaching ACT prep courses to disadvantaged students, and much more. See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Smith_%28Missouri_politic...

That's not really the main point of the article, and he doesn't dwell on it. I imagine anyone in such a situation would plead to have an easier sentence, right?

I agree with the first part of your comment. He seemed to agree with the "You don't belong here" comment, which I disagree with. Do the crime, do the time. "What a waste" was a bit more accurate -- a waste to have him in jail, and a waste to have so many people in jail overall.

That said, your 2nd point is incorrect. He specifically mentioned working to reform MO prison statutes -- albeit, without consulting corrections officers.

The part he agrees with is that it is a waste.

I doubt there are many people entering prison who think they belong there.

Perhaps, but the beginning of the article reeks of him thinking he's somehow "too good" for prison, and that his transgression was just a temporary moral weakness.

While I'm glad he's bringing attention to the tragedy that is America's incarceration debacle, it would be nice if it didn't have to take a rich white guy getting put in jail before people take note that there is maybe a better approach to dealing with crime.

I think "It would’ve saved taxpayers about $175,000" was the reason he wanted to be sentenced to "the comfort of his own home".

And you also seem to be assuming that everyone else's prison sentence is 100% perfect and just.

So why didn't he advocate for leniency in the thousands of other instances where "it would've saved taxpayers about $x"?

Would that help win an election?

I haven't read the book but I suspect from the article that's one of its conclusions.

He did. I read the book. One of his biggest legislative accomplishments before prison was reducing from felony to misdemenaor status cases where dads failed to pay child support (usually due to their not having work). Lots of guys were going to prison with felony records for the crime of being divorced and broke. Saving taxpayers money was a big part of the argument for getting this passed.

Yes, I'm sure that sitting at home and getting to go out and coach baseball instead of being stuck in a prison had nothing to do with his reasoning.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com