You know what game theory tells me? – people are MORE LIKELY to commit crimes in a world of cops and prisons.
If they had to handle REAL consequences? – like a voluntary posse with some rope? – I think they would be less likely to commit a crime.
Legal system is a moral shield.
More COPS equals MORE CRIME for the same reason more pads under the uniform means more concussions for NFL players …
It seems counter intuitive, but both are examples of perverse incentives.
Cops/prisons/courts: make crime less dangerous for criminals …
It’s just like “pads” and helmets in football …
The naive woolly headed types say: it’s for protection …
But in reality: it allows for bigger players, harder less elastic collisions – which translates into more brain injury …
We protect the superficial, and sacrifice the irreplaceable …
That’s cops …
That’s the NFL …
The reality: from a game theory perspective, there’s simply too much incentive for cops to break the law as well. So the net effect of “more cops” is more crime.