Shoud you be able to buy your way out of jail time?

[Richard]

Yes.  But only if the criminal justice system didn't work my way.


My way:

Murders, rapists, molestors, etc. -- death by hanging the next morning

I would probably close down many jails.  If you're not a danger to society, you're not going to go to jail, period.  Instead, you'll be fined... a lot.  You stole $1,000,000?  You're going to pay it all back, plus more.  If you can't pay up, you'll still go out and make a living, but 15% or whatever will be taken from you for the rest of your life, or as long as it takes, until you repaid what you owed.  And no, this money isn't going to the government; it is going to those who you commited the crime against.

The only people that will sit in jail are those that are genuinely a danger to society.  Say, you've beaten your wife for the 4th time. Obviously, you're not going to pay your way out.


Now, in today's world where restitution doesn't really exist, I do think if you do so, you should walk away if you're no harm to society.  If you did commit fraud that costed $100,000, and you pay back $500,000, thats fine.  Go, and be productive.  No sense in locking you up.