"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
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"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
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"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
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Well, many states finding figured out that downplaying car theft to
"joyriding" had averse effect

Evidence please?

Well, in the early 90's, Colorado boosted their law on auto theft for that
reason. And I understand Arizona did likewise in the mid 90's. I suspect
there's more than just the two I'm familiar with.

But what evidence (if any) was there that the previous laws were less
effective than more severe ones? The mere fact that a legislature decided to
boost the penalties doesn't mean there was any good reason to think that the
previous statutes were less effective. The legislators could just have been
pandering to ideologues whose policy preferences are not based on sound
evidence.

--Gary