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Buck Grizzly replied to Ken Pratt's discussion State Prisons in the early 1880's

"White collar crimes are much more difficult to isolate statistically, and even if there were a consensus (which there is not), accurate statistics are difficult to gather because the crime goes unreported and unpunished so often. The largest…"

Apr 20, 2012

Buck Grizzly replied to Ken Pratt's discussion State Prisons in the early 1880's

"Here's some statistical information you might find interesting; The Organization of U.S. Crime Statistics, 1800-1933 Closely related to the structure of U.S. government, the collection of crime statistics in 19th-century America was a…"

Apr 20, 2012

C. F. 'Charley' Eckhardt replied to Ken Pratt's discussion State Prisons in the early 1880's

"The 2 most common offenses for which people went to city or county jails in the late 19th century were public intoxication--apparently you really had to be drunk--& 'solicitation,' which was women soliciting sex on the…"

Apr 20, 2012

Stan H replied to Ken Pratt's discussion State Prisons in the early 1880's

"We also must keep in mind issues like drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, etc. In the 1880's they would not send people to prison for using cocaine for example. Today it will get you locked up. I've read somewhere around 80% in…"

Apr 20, 2012

C. F. 'Charley' Eckhardt replied to Ken Pratt's discussion State Prisons in the early 1880's

"State prisons, up thru the 1930s, were not plleasant places to be. The recidivism rate was actually pretty low, but that may have been because if they went back to crime the law generally said 'Well, you had your chance' &…"

Apr 20, 2012

Buck Grizzly replied to Ken Pratt's discussion State Prisons in the early 1880's

"The prison system just like the school system is a product of the two party system. Government corporatism to be exact. 　　 There are some studies that show that in the late 1880's the crime rate dropped off dramatically, as the younger less…"

Apr 20, 2012

Ken Pratt replied to Ken Pratt's discussion State Prisons in the early 1880's

"Thanks for your reply Robert. I live in Oregon where we have a "Kinder, gentler prison system" where Oregon paid for a kidney transplant for a man on death row, believe it or not, because he'd die with out it.. At the present time…"

Apr 19, 2012

Robert E Lee Hyde replied to Ken Pratt's discussion State Prisons in the early 1880's

"Ken -- This is speculation, but bad food, hard beds, and no women must have played a big part in keeping those rascals from return visits to places like Yuma Territorial Prison. The reason I say this, is in today's world, which is in…"

Apr 19, 2012

Ken Pratt posted a discussion

State Prisons in the early 1880's

I am curious. The modern day prison systems are far more lenient and the convicts come out hardened and more bitter than when they went in. My question, is did the convicts back then come out into society more dangerious, or broken? I do imagine it was a mix of both, but does anyone know what the percentage was, high or low, of repeat offenders on average?See More

Apr 17, 2012

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Marshall Trimble replied to Ken Pratt's discussion The authority of the U.S. Marshal/deputy marshal

"US Marshals and their deputies were federal officers and could strip a local sheriff or town marshal of his badge only if that officer was breaking a federal law. US Marshals had the same power of authority as sheriffs in executing…"

Apr 17, 2012

Ken Pratt replied to Ken Pratt's discussion The authority of the U.S. Marshal/deputy marshal

"Well, Thank you both for your replies. I found a U.S. Marshal's historian on the Federal web site and emailed him the same question, along with a few other questions. When I hear back from him, I will come here and share what he says."

Apr 15, 2012

C. F. 'Charley' Eckhardt replied to Ken Pratt's discussion The authority of the U.S. Marshal/deputy marshal

"I don't know what the U. S. Marshals could do about official corruption or incompetence. They probably could step in, in a territory, but certainly not in a state. However, here in Texas the Texas Rangers have that authority…"

Apr 14, 2012

Stan H replied to Ken Pratt's discussion The authority of the U.S. Marshal/deputy marshal

"A good question, and I am sure someone will come along with some references. I know, watching old re-runs of Gunsmoke, that Matt Dillion spent a lot of time dealing with issues that were not in his jurisdiction. But, they are great…"

Apr 14, 2012

Ken Pratt joined Patricia Probert Gott's group