Yes, it would decrease the odds, provided that after walking out of jail the probability of a criminal to commit a crime (that includes his intent to reoffend but also possible changes in the environment that happened during his time in jail that reduce his possibilities to do so) is less than before walking in, because they wouldn't get the chance to reoffend immediately.
I don't assume that someone coming out of a sentence is less likely to commit a crime. Isn't it often the opposite, because the US is so bad at rehabilitation?
Then you should argue for "shoot at sight" or "lifetime sentences/electric chair for everything", shouldn't you?
But no, the probability does decreases since not every ex-jailed becomes a repeated offender; also, some people die during the sentence... the probability does go down, for many small reasons compounded together.
> Then you should argue for "shoot at sight" or "lifetime sentences/electric chair for everything", shouldn't you?
Not unless I'm a robot programmed to prevent recidivism at all costs. Why are you even asking this?
> But no, the probability does decreases since not every ex-jailed becomes a repeated offender
...and not everyone released before their trial becomes a repeat offender.
> some people die during the sentence
Is that a significant effect? I don't think most sentences are long enough for that to make a big difference, and I don't think preventing a single crime per lifetime, at most, is enough reason to keep people locked up for the lengthy pre-trial process.
I assume that the original comment was about how someone can get could pretty much red-handed for battery and assault/home violence but then instead of getting put into pre-trial/provisional detention (yes, you can get locked up even before being judged guilty, outrageous), they are just allowed to go because eh, why bother.
