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Comment by jsemrau | Hacker News Reader

Having society (a group of unrelated jurors) to pay for the crimes of an individual (however minor you perceive them to be) is not justice. That's why you got kicked out.

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But they were already paying for the crimes of an individual, in the form of time wasted, and parking fees. Their suggestion was about minimising it.

If you go further down this line of argumentation you will end up at what will be cheaper capital punishment or prison for life.

Is that not reasonable? The cost on society is a measure of justice.

Ironically, one of the leading arguments against capital punishment is how expensive it is. Including all the legal costs of appeals and reappeals, it's approximately 1 to 3 million dollars per convict (in the US).

$1 million isn't expensive compared to 20-30 years in prison in the US.

People executed in the first half of 2025 spent an average of 24 years on death row. In practice, it's a life sentence plus execution. I believe the $1-3M figure is on top of this.

Replacing life in prison with exile would be a good move. It's just as safe, costs taxpayers a lot less and they get a second chance in another country.

Doesn't stop them from leading a gang over the phone, but that's better than recruiting new members in prison who are probably more violent than someone off the street.

1. Exile to which country?

2. Who gets them their immigrant visa?

3. Where do they live while waiting for it?

4. You do realize most countries require immigrant visa applicants not to be convicted felons in their home country?

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