Notes on Crime and Technology

These entries are either from The Week Magazine, Harper's, or In These Times.

CRIME

Prison Inmates

Per 1,000 persons:

In China: 1.2
In Russia: 4.8
In Louisiana:  13.4

Why is this?

Is it because America is much freer than other countries and therefore it is easier for its inhabitants to try to take advantage of their neighbors?

Louisiana is a Southern state;  therefore, is this a racial bias statistic? I believe that Afro-Americans make up the bulk of the prison population, especially in the South.

Is this because America is basically a Calvinistic country, where punishment for every real or perceived crime must be reacted to?

Is this because of our out-dated marijuana laws; where small amounts of pot have consistently gotten long jail sentences by otherwise law-abiding citizens?

The Netherlands has stopped jailing nonviolent offenders and have halved their prison population in 10 years.  Some alternate "punishment" in the Netherlands:  Fines, Electronic Bracelets, Community Work.  I'm sure some jurisdictions in the U.S. are applying these methods.  It would be interesting to see if it is having the intended results.

Stupid Criminal

A suspected drug smuggler in Britain swallowed a bunch of drug packets before his arrest and has refused to move his bowels for almost a month.  Police can be patient in this case.

This reminds me of an old joke headline:

THIEVES STOLE ALL OF THE TOILETS IN THE POLICE STATION.  FRUSTRATED, POLICE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NOTHING TO GO ON.

I just purchased a new DVD player and am watching the first season of Fargo, a great satire of criminal and police activity, although supposed to be a true story.  Gruesome to watch just before bedtime.

TECHNOLOGY

DNA

A new company supposedly will pay you with its own cryptocurrency for your DNA.  They will then sell this information to researchers and drug companies.  Is this somehow related to the 23andme company that gets your DNA and also asks you to do a health survey?

Mind Reader

MIT does it again.  They have developed a wearable device that interprets non-verbal prompts, which they say is like "reading your mind."   The so-called Alter-Ego attaches to your head and its electrodes detect internal muscular signals in your jaw and face.

I'm sure that this will be the new thing for the 2020's.  This and Alexa will make you feel as though you are Thomas Jefferson, controlling lots of slaves while reclining in your hammock.

Space Reader

And, I'm sure you have already suspected would happen if you own an Alexa-type item:  German scientists have figured out a way to receive a 3-D picture of the room Alexa is in, based on WiFi signals taken in by the equipment!  Sehr klug, nicht wahr?

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