"Madoff" Bill Would Charge Rich Criminals For Jail

Reuters:

For anyone who believes crime doesn't pay, tell that to the New York state legislator who introduced a "Madoff" bill on Monday. Rich New Yorkers convicted of crimes would be forced -- if his bill becomes law -- to pay the state and federal governments for how much it costs to keep them in jail.

Read the whole story: Reuters

Comments

[dansup]

maddof should be set loose on the streets of NYC with a big "YES, I'M BERNIE" t-shirt on and be relegated to collecting bottles and cans, the entire time looking over his shoulder in fear of one of his victims handing out real justice

[lmvd3]

AWESOME idea. Hear that, Ahnolt?
Let's get this to the US Congress, and we'll be on to something.

[nah415]

Great idea!

[Michaela1976]

Does that include Congress ? They continue to get their "pensions" in jail .

[jerichoj8]

"rich criminals" it's a bit redundant these days isn't it?

[JaneQCitizen]

Inmates already get charged room and board. Commissary prices, in particular, are quite pricey. Toothpaste costs 3 times more than it does on the outside. In fact, most ex-cons come out owing huge sums. Not a good way to start over, that's for sure.

[jeffp26]

While it sounds illogical, this kind of treatment of rich folks might actually serve as a deterrent.

These people hate spending their own money, which is why they are so tax averse they buy the bs the GOP sells.

[KarateKid]

They just NOW think of this? Sheesh.......

[Robby Hill]

This is one case where I'm against making the rich pay. That's punishing the rich for being rich just like the poor are currently punished for being poor. Nobody deserves to have their fortune confiscated because just because they were found guilty of a crime. Fines and Restitution for victims are one thing, but this goes beyond punishment and ... Read Moremaking the victim whole. This sort of law has too much potential for abuse. Men could have their wealth unjustly confiscated because of minor crimes. Two wrongs do not make a right. Prison is the model for Socialism. All receive the same room and board and health care for free. Save our Socialist subcultures: prison and the military.

[jennytaylia]

I disagree. It's about punishing the rich who get rich by defrauding others. Nothing wrong with getting rich honestly (if, indeed, that is possible).

[itolduso]

Ideas like this are what comes from 'privatizing' government services...It is no longer about the public good, but rather, making a profit. We continue to pay the same tax dollars(or more) for 'public' services, while corporations kick back to our government leaders for the opportunity to squeeze more money from the services... whether they involve safety, health, transportation, security, or defense.... our leaders abdicate both responsibility & accountability and call it "streamlining"....and when things go wrong, we, the taxpayers, are left holding the bag.

[Robby Hill]

Exactly! On the surface it sounds Socialist, but it's not. It's all about profits for the prison industrial complex. They have done such a great job redistributing wealth from the lower class to the upper class, the majority of people in the lower class are now insolvent and judgment proof. So now the wealthy are turning on each other.

[JaneQCitizen]

Prisons are already big business. See my post above yours.

Prisoners do NOT in fact get free room and board. They're gouged for the basic necessities like soap and toothpaste. Families aren't allowed to send care packages, so prisoners must buy at the overpriced canteen/commissary.

[HeevenSteven]

I don't see how this applies to Madoff, as it's not really his money that he's rich with.

[RustyPatina]

Exactly. It's a good idea, except in cases like Madoff's. He shouldn't be rich - everything he has should be distributed to the folks he swindled.

[itolduso]

Don't our tax dollars already fund prisons? Has 'double dipping' become so common that our leaders want it to apply everywhere? Certain cities charging accident victims for the costs of emergency responders, billing lost hikers for search teams... how long before swimmers are charged for lifeguards......victims of crimes for police investigations...will the fire department bill us for our burning house?

[glesslib]

This is a lousy idea. Anyone who has ever read Dickens on debtors prison would see the reason why. The Madoffs of this world would be buying themselves upgraded everything. Being in prison would eventually merely restrict their mobility. Someone like Madoff might as well be living in his Park Avenue apartment with an ankle bracelet.

[Andman0121]

I think its an absolutely brilliant idea! You make a good point with these criminals buying exclusive jails or whatever but I think to remedy this we just make them pay for a regular, day to day jail cell from their own pockets. No exclusive ANYTHING.

[FreetoBme]

Surely you don't believe that Madoff or any other influential person is sent to a normal jail.
Although the idea of him actually serving in a jail cell is nice to think about, it is not (sigh), the reality.
He will get very special treatment whether we like it or not.
I hope he has to pay for it.

[northstar11]

what a silly idea-------just RICO them and confiscate all their ill-gotten gains

[slash77]

Your point actually makes better sense....his wife should not have been allowed to keep 3 million dollars either...... hard to believe that there is not a 'hidden vault' somewhere that she cannot tap into....her fate should be equal to the fate of those that lost everything. I don't believe she is innocent.

[lmvd3]

You're talking years and massive tax-payer investment to only possibly recoup the money through RICO. There is no sure deal that a RICO suit would recoup anything. This IS a sure deal, if it is passed into law. Quick and painful to the greedy bastards that get caught. I like it.

[olddognewtrick]

Sounds like a great idea...give a criminals money to the government instead of back to all of those rich victims...

[atlanta1962]

Gotta pay for these goverment programs somehow