My intolerance for “zero-tolerance”.
Under “zero-tolerance” policy there are no second chances, no three strikes, its just your caught, you blew it, in the slammer you go. No ifs, ands or buts. You’re slapped with detention, probation, expulsion, imprisonment. So sorry, but you broke the rules. Don’t commit the crime if you can’t do the time. I could go on, but I won’t.
Sounds good doesn’t it? Let’s put the fear of law back into those who would break the rules. No mercy, tough love and all that. Unfortunately, crime/rule breaking is not a simple issue that can be solved by a simple answer. Not all crimes are created equal and not all criminals are the same.
Case in point; you have two boys, Bill and Jake, both age 15. Bill has a bad reputation, is in jeopardy of flunking out of school, has a along list of prior convictions and is caught with 5 marijuana joints. Jake is a “good kid”, has good grades, has never caused trouble, but made a bad choice, tried a joint and got caught with it. Under zero-tolerance policy, both were caught with marijuana, therefore both deserve expulsion and perhaps imprisonment.
Now you may take the hard line and agree that both kids deserve what they get. Personally, I don’t. I don’t think Jake deserves nearly as severe a punishment as Bill does. I believe that extenuating circumstances should play a part in the judicial system. But policy dictates otherwise. God knows we don’t dare treat one person different from another!
There is at least one other problem with zero-tolerance, it’s the lawmaker’s easy way out. With “policy” automatically dictating what will happen, the authorities get to act politically correct, treating everyone equally, and they are free from having to make judgments based on the situation. They need not take any risks; politically, legally or ethically. Lawyers, judges, teachers and principles all get to hide behind a shield of “zero-tolerance” policy, keeping the status-quo. No one is expected to stick their neck out and state what is right or wrong with a given situation.
Simply put, Zero-tolerance can do serious damage to those of us that just made a bad choice and we will ALL stumble sooner or later. Also, it allows our authorities to take the coward’s way out. What do we pay them for anyway? As a society, shouldn’t we demand the proper punishment that fits a specific crime?
Sounds good doesn’t it? Let’s put the fear of law back into those who would break the rules. No mercy, tough love and all that. Unfortunately, crime/rule breaking is not a simple issue that can be solved by a simple answer. Not all crimes are created equal and not all criminals are the same.
Case in point; you have two boys, Bill and Jake, both age 15. Bill has a bad reputation, is in jeopardy of flunking out of school, has a along list of prior convictions and is caught with 5 marijuana joints. Jake is a “good kid”, has good grades, has never caused trouble, but made a bad choice, tried a joint and got caught with it. Under zero-tolerance policy, both were caught with marijuana, therefore both deserve expulsion and perhaps imprisonment.
Now you may take the hard line and agree that both kids deserve what they get. Personally, I don’t. I don’t think Jake deserves nearly as severe a punishment as Bill does. I believe that extenuating circumstances should play a part in the judicial system. But policy dictates otherwise. God knows we don’t dare treat one person different from another!
There is at least one other problem with zero-tolerance, it’s the lawmaker’s easy way out. With “policy” automatically dictating what will happen, the authorities get to act politically correct, treating everyone equally, and they are free from having to make judgments based on the situation. They need not take any risks; politically, legally or ethically. Lawyers, judges, teachers and principles all get to hide behind a shield of “zero-tolerance” policy, keeping the status-quo. No one is expected to stick their neck out and state what is right or wrong with a given situation.
Simply put, Zero-tolerance can do serious damage to those of us that just made a bad choice and we will ALL stumble sooner or later. Also, it allows our authorities to take the coward’s way out. What do we pay them for anyway? As a society, shouldn’t we demand the proper punishment that fits a specific crime?
posted by Kevin Ruesch | 6:26 PM
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