“Crime and Punishment #1” by Zvi

This seemed like a good next topic to spin off from monthlies and make into its own occasional series. There's certainly a lot to discuss regarding crime.

What I don’t include here, the same way I excluded it from the monthly, are the various crimes and other related activities that may or may not be taking place by the Trump administration or its allies. As I’ve said elsewhere, all of that is important, but I’ve made a decision not to cover it. This is about Ordinary Decent Crime.

Table of Contents

1. Perception Versus Reality.
2. The Case Violent Crime is Up Actually.
3. Threats of Punishment.
4. Property Crime Enforcement is Broken.
5. The Problem of Disorder.
6. Extreme Speeding as Disorder.
7. The Fall of Extralegal and Illegible Enforcement.
8. In America You Can Usually Just Keep Their Money.
9. Police.
10. Probation.
[...]

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Outline:

(00:38) Perception Versus Reality

(04:21) The Case Violent Crime is Up Actually

(05:31) Threats of Punishment

(06:23) Property Crime Enforcement is Broken

(11:33) The Problem of Disorder

(13:59) Extreme Speeding as Disorder

(15:17) The Fall of Extralegal and Illegible Enforcement

(16:42) In America You Can Usually Just Keep Their Money

(18:53) Police

(25:56) Probation

(28:46) Genetic Databases

(30:56) Marijuana

(36:20) The Economics of Fentanyl

(37:26) Enforcement and the Lack Thereof

(41:20) Jails

(45:20) Criminals

(45:55) Causes of Crime

(46:33) Causes of Violence

(47:52) Homelessness

(48:44) Yay Trivial Inconveniences

(49:25) San Francisco

(54:24) Closing Down San Francisco

(55:47) A San Francisco Dispute

(59:31) Cleaning Up San Francisco

(01:03:20) Portland

(01:03:30) Those Who Do Not Help Themselves

(01:05:30) Solving for the Equilibrium (1)

(01:10:30) Solving for the Equilibrium (2)

(01:10:57) Lead

(01:12:36) Law & Order

(01:13:16) Look Out

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First published:
April 21st, 2025

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/9TPEjLH7giv7PuHdc/crime-and-punishment-1

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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