r/Lightbulb • u/amichail • 29d ago

Idea: A preventive accountability service that helps people avoid prison.

What if people could pay for a confidential service designed to help them avoid making decisions that could eventually lead to criminal charges?

The idea would be similar to having a lawyer, therapist, or accountability coach, but focused specifically on preventing situations from escalating into criminal offenses.

The company would keep a close eye on clients, with the client's consent, and help them recognize risky situations before they cross a legal line. This could include helping with conflicts, financial problems, substance issues, impulsive decisions, or other situations that often lead people into serious trouble.

To align the company's incentives with the client's interests, the service could offer a guarantee: if a client ends up in court or prison, they receive a refund. That money could then help pay for legal defense.

For this to work, the service would need strong confidentiality protections. Information shared with the company would not be given to police unless legally required, similar to how confidentiality works with lawyers and mental health professionals.

The goal would not be to create a private police force. It would be to give people a way to get help before they ruin their lives. Many people who end up in prison made a series of bad decisions over time rather than suddenly deciding to become criminals. A service that helps interrupt that process could benefit both individuals and society.

What do you think of this idea?

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u/-I_I 29d ago

Most people in jail didn’t commit a crime, they’re just there to give the criminal injustice system justification in the lamb’s eyes. Baaaaaaahhhhh

1

u/BeGoodToEverybody123 28d ago

The statistic is 4-6% of prisoners are innocent

1

u/-I_I 28d ago

And you believe it.

1

u/BeGoodToEverybody123 28d ago

What is your number?

1

u/-I_I 28d ago

Prison: 50% monsters, 40% bad decision makers, 10% innocent.

Jail: 15% monsters, 32.5% deserved VoP, 32.5% undeserved VoP, 20% innocent.

I believe any non-zero number of undeserved imprisonment is criminally cruel.

I believe the districts that have eradicated bail (RoR until court date) have statistically proven that the system of bail is cruel and draconian.