Breaking the law Quote by Glenn Loury
“You can put a person in jail for 5 years, for 10 years, or 20 years, for the same crime. We're deciding on 10 years to 20 years, when 5 years would be enough. Okay. The deterrent value, the additional amount of leverage that you get over a criminal to keep them from breaking the law in the first place, associated with making the sentences longer, is de minimous; it's essentially nothing.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing criminal sentencing policy, unknown platform
Longer prison sentences do not significantly increase deterrence; shorter sentences may be sufficient for many crimes.
In simple terms: Longer jail time doesn’t really stop crime more.
Key Takeaway
Consider evidence‑based sentencing reforms.
Themes
justice
policy
deterrence
criminal law
reform
Mood
critical
analytical
concerned
Type
policy
sociological
legal
When to use this quote
- legislative hearings
- criminal justice reform
- court sentencing
- public policy debates
- academic research
Key Concepts
sentencing theory
cost‑benefit analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we align public perception with research findings?
- What alternatives to incarceration could be more effective?
A Different Perspective
Political pressures and public opinion often favor harsher penalties despite evidence.
