‘Some Birds Aren’t Meant to be Caged’

Escaping household chaos, a car-bound Jonah talks prisons with Brown University’s David Skarbek. Bolivian jails ...

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Escaping household chaos, a car-bound Jonah talks prisons with Brown University’s David Skarbek. Bolivian jails and Soviet gulags are just two choices in this long game of Where’d-You-Rather: Incarceration Edition. Skarbek takes us through the highlights of his upcoming book and touches on the delicate subject of policing.


Show Notes:

–Skarbeck’s upcoming book: The Puzzle of Prison Order: Why Life Behind Bars Varies Around the World

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  1. Trent Aschliman

    Wouldn’t it be better to have those in prison separated for all lesser sentences? Those that don’t have a chance to get out can corrupt those that can. Rehabilitation may be more achievable.

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    Angie

    And I know I am late, but, I have just been so busy and so much to listen to and read...and since on the weekend no one does podcasts, I saved two of yours to listen to this week end

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    Angie

    I loved it, very interesting...do you always have that bit at the end after the music? Because normally I turn it off when the music comes on...lol...silly me

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    1. Jordan Henderson

      It's usually there, but not always.

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    Kevin Johnson

    Great stuff, Jonah. In bringing in experts on diverse themes, you give us a “two-fer”. We are exposed to new issues and ways of thinking...AND your brain always makes connections to many things we already cared about...sometimes even topical. And my own smaller brain also makes unforeseen connections. This approach adds great value to The Dispatch.

    I loved your polite “funny how so many law enforcement experts are so uncomfortable with how what Giuliani and co. said would work...worked.” On great crime reduction, led by NY, some other thoughts:
    — getting more career criminals than ever off the street, even if on lesser charges, helped start a trend; Remember hilarious leftist bewilderment that more criminals in jail coincided with lower crime. (Fox Butterfield, call the NYT!);
    —demographics played in at least two additional ways: fewer young males (birth rate changes kicked in, perhaps accelerated by easier abortion, per some academics, or just due to larger trends) ALWAYS reduces crime;
    — gentrification, which may be bad for other reasons, left fewer of those more likely to commit crimes in NYC and more of those less likely to commit crimes (I am NOT making a racial argument, but a statistical one):
    — virtuous circles are as real as vicious ones; reducing minor crimes and locking up career criminals attracts new non-criminals AND empowers preciously frightened non- criminals who together reenforce safety.

    If Chicago, today, began aggressive but lawful attempts to target career criminals, remove illegal guns, and do all the other things NY did, we would likely see homicides go down there. There is one way to find out...but then the left would still deny that a clear prescription leading to results was just an accident. Don’t give in on this one, please...believe your “lyin” eyes!

    But, as you said, this is NOT a reason to blindly continue even successful policies under changed circumstances. Let the debate on best practices based on data continue...but without giving in to inaccurate history.

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    Hwm1220

    Thanks for discussing alternative topics. We are worn out with Covid, etc.

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    Hwm1220

    Thanks for discussing alternative topics. We are worn out with Covid, etc.

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  7. Anonymous

    Jonah needs an intervention on saying “and all of these kinds of things” or “all of that kind of stuff”. It’s worse on his solo episodes but holy cow once you notice the tic it’s unrelenting.

    Jonah - if you read this - love all of your writing and podcasts.

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    Tracie

    Who knew prison tattoos were tools for order and accountability?

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    Merrijane

    This was fascinating. Jonah has really grown into the podcasting thing. I like this series better than Econ Talk by quite a bit.

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    CynthiaW

    Good discussion. Mr. Skarbek's books are not in my local libraries.

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