In the current US setup, you’re absolutely correct.
c. 1300, from Anglo-French. The exact definition changed over time and place, and even the distinction from misdemeanor or trespass is not always observed. In old use often a crime involving forfeiture of lands, goods, or a fee or a crime punishable by death. Variously used in the U.S.; often the sense is "crime punishable by death or imprisonment in a state penitentiary."
We have overused it to get more people into prison for a lot of reasons that aren’t necessarily worthwhile to the people who have to fund those systems.
If the people regain control of the prison system and law, there are probably a lot of things we are going to have to rethink how they work and why we’re doing it. What are the end goals?
There’s probably going to need to be a period with a lot shorter leash and much more strict consequences while the “fear of God” is reestablished, metaphorically, if not hopefully literally.
I wasn’t stating what the term is, though, but where it came from for purposes of understanding.
In the current US setup, you’re absolutely correct.
We have overused it to get more people into prison for a lot of reasons that aren’t necessarily worthwhile to the people who have to fund those systems.
If the people regain control of the prison system and law, there are probably a lot of things we are going to have to rethink how they work and why we’re doing it. What are the end goals?
There’s probably going to need to be a period with a lot shorter leash and much more strict consequences while the “fear of God” is reestablished, metaphorically, if not hopefully literally.
I wasn’t stating what the term is, though, but where it came from for purposes of understanding.
Yeah. It’s also always possible I’m totally full of crap. :-). Same as everyone else. Just some thoughts though.