Crimes of Survival: a New Trend in Criminal Justice Reform Rationalizes Stealing
Earlier tonight, Tucker had a guest who explained a new theory of crime that allows for a two-tier justice system: one for orginary citizens and another for those who are homeless, poor, or otherwise disadvantaged.
Christopher Rufo of the Documentary Foundation said the "survival crime" theory has been talked about in Left-wing academic circles since the 1980s, but has only recently been implemented as an actual policy in some cities–cities like his hometown of Seattle.
He says the results in Seattle have been "catastrophic." Talks about the homeless encampments all over Seattle and the huge rise in crime (250% over LA and 400% over NYC).
In an article published last week, Rufo talked about the effects of this policy in cities around the country:
The problem is that cities like Seattle and San Francisco have not just “decriminalized homelessness” or “decriminalized poverty”—they have increasingly decriminalized crime.
Over the past five years, the classification of survival crime has expanded well beyond stealing the proverbial loaf of bread. In California, for instance, Proposition 47 downgraded theft of property valued at less than $950 to a misdemeanor, meaning that the police are unlikely to pursue even habitual shoplifters and thieves.
''The predictable result: a statewide rise in petty theft.'' Seattle and King County recently released new guidelines calling on police officers to stop arresting individuals for all “homelessness-related crimes,” with the goal of “eliminating racial disproportionality” and ensuring that policies “do not penalize homelessness and poverty.”
''Meantime, city and county prosecutors have dropped thousands of misdemeanor cases against “vulnerable populations.”'' All this has caused widespread frustration among residents and law enforcement officers. As one veteran Seattle cop told me: “We have basically stopped enforcing the law against the homeless population. Political leaders don’t want it and prosecutors won’t pursue charges. It’s a waste of time.”
In New York City, the NYPD has backed off from arresting people for subway fare evasion, on the grounds that enforcement has a disparate impact on the poor; farebeating has risen sharply since the new policy was enacted.
https://www.city-journal.org/survival-crimes
…………..
==For moar++
Rufo on Tucker tonight.
https://youtu.be/kZY19MnMjTY
c. ~48 min mark
https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2018/12/20/the-u-s-cities-with-the-most-homeless-people-in-2018-infographic/#690a8c0a1178