Give it another 50 years or so and statutory sentencing probably go away. It's a system that moves so slowly that it can take multiple generations to correct wrongs. I think that's considered a feature for long-term stability, but it seems like poor design to me.
If you look at a long enough timescale, we are trending in the right direction.
California’s Determinate Sentencing Law was enacted not long ago, in ‘77. What would you call that? A local minimum? In any event, I can only wait as long as I’m not convicted of a crime which carries a statutory sentence. How long is it fair for those already sentenced to wait from the comfort of their prison cells?
It's not fair, but I meant 50 more years. I figure real change takes about 4 generations to happen.
If it makes you feel better, you can think of the non-violent imprisoned as grains of sand on the scales of justice. Your persistent outrage helps push for change in the same way.
