> The primary purpose is to promote economic growth by reducing societal costs by deterring crime and fraud (including 'civil' fraud like breaking contracts) in an orderly manner.
What is that based on? I can see wealthy property owners thinking that - that the police are there to serve their personal interests, including by enforcing the laws they control to a large degree - but I don't know any basis for it nor do I think other segments of the population would agree.
In fact, it's arguable that law enforcement has been to a great extent about power: The powerful suppressing the weak, such as minorities.
> The purpose is deterrence
If you mean, the primary means of law enforcement is deterrence, it seems plausible but there is a lot of research out there. Again, where does this theory come from?
Also, how is locking up innocent people a form of deterrence? That seems to be a form of oppression.
> Without deterrence, you get a negative spiral as we're beginning to see in cases like this where the purpose of justice system is being subverted
Crime rates are generally very low. Homicides and shootings have increased, but relatively equally across the country, in large and small communities. (source: recent FBI crime report) Where is the evidence that particular policies are causing an increase in crime?
What is that based on? I can see wealthy property owners thinking that - that the police are there to serve their personal interests, including by enforcing the laws they control to a large degree - but I don't know any basis for it nor do I think other segments of the population would agree.
In fact, it's arguable that law enforcement has been to a great extent about power: The powerful suppressing the weak, such as minorities.
> The purpose is deterrence
If you mean, the primary means of law enforcement is deterrence, it seems plausible but there is a lot of research out there. Again, where does this theory come from?
Also, how is locking up innocent people a form of deterrence? That seems to be a form of oppression.
> Without deterrence, you get a negative spiral as we're beginning to see in cases like this where the purpose of justice system is being subverted
Crime rates are generally very low. Homicides and shootings have increased, but relatively equally across the country, in large and small communities. (source: recent FBI crime report) Where is the evidence that particular policies are causing an increase in crime?