Prisons

[Hazzle]

This topic sort of came up on the serial killers thing so I thought I'd post here rather than there...so it's on topic

Prison isn't about retribution, not purely anyway. Prison and criminal sanctions generally serve the purposes of rehabilitation, securing the safety of the public by keeping dangerous elements under control, punishment and retribution and deterrent effect.

Their punishment comes in the form of being deprived of their freedom...the retribution comes by simply knowing the offender is behind bars...the control aspect is served by simply having prisons with security. Deterrent effect and rehabilitation are harder to see in the modern system, which is why I feel it needs an overhaul.

But the idea of saying "We shouldn't pay for prisoners" is silly. Why shouldn't we? Prisons serve a public function...an ENTIRELY public one. Who is benefitted by rehabilitated criminals? Society...who benefits from controlling dangerous elements? Society...who gains from retribution? The public, especially the victims...who gains from deterring other criminals and reoffending? Society. Thus it's only right we pay for it.

As for cannibalism in prisons which is where this sprung up from...why? To save money? As I said, it's only right we pay for it

What're your views on prisons, prison life and prison reform?

[Mags]

I say (in the US anyway) go for federal crimes. Martha Stewart got a sweet deal...5 months in a federal prison commonly known as "Club Fed." For me, it'll be a federal prison or...I could lead a crime free life.

As for my actual thoughts on prisons, I do think they serve a large purpose. I can't see the logic in not having them. I mean...prison acts mostly as a deterrant I think, for those who don't necessarily have moral difficulties with regard to crime. I wouldn't want to go to jail, so maybe I won't do hard drugs on a college campu, or take a car out for a joyride.

I dunno, I feel like prisonis the main reason a lot of people don't commit crimes, aside from the fact that generally crime would confict with one's morals as well.

[Hazzle]

As always...perceptive reply from Mags...welcome back lass.

[DragonRat]

Apart from the whole 'Scared Straight' issue, prisons are meant to serve as deterrents. If people do crimes, they get caught and are sent to prisons. When they endanger the freedom and lives of another, they in turn have that freedom taken away from them. If a nation doesn't have prisons, I don't think it means that they have a very liberal standpoint on justice, simply that they lack sufficient funding to execute that justice.

[deviljet88]

We should pay for it. Its like... paying security some money for isolating dangerous crims. And anyway, jails are supposed to deter some criminals from commiting crimes again which in the long run is good for the community. Nothing's for free in this world.

[Spire]

I'd use prisoners to clear abandoned mine fields.

[Richard]

Alcatraz is just about the only interesting prison to house criminals. The whole story behind it is just amazing. Michael Bay's a dick, but his best film ever was The Rock. Nothing to do with the topic I know...

[breathein]

I've grown up around prisions, my dad is a Corrections Officer for the state of california, so I have a strong opinion about prisions. I think (as it's been previously stated) that they serve as detering potencially harmful people. Being a prision gaurd was really rough for my dad, and the prisoners can be nice, cruel, or however their personalities are. An everyday thing that would happen to my dad is when he escorts a child molestor to the showers, the other imates would through urine, cigarette butts, and other things on the child molester. My dad learned to stay a good distance away from the child molestors. I don't know if this has to do anything with the topic, but I feel that we should definately pay for prisons. like deviljet88 said, it's like paying for security. Sorry I got off topic there lol.

[Keira lover]

Prisons are NOT for rehabilitation, unless you listen to NPR. Prisons are for punishment. Hell, people in prison are treated better that the homeless. We need to punish prisoners so they won't be back, we should make them pay for their stay or starve. We should torture them, we should beat them. We should punish them.

[Leonie]

What is wrong with you?

You cannot possibly justify torturing people in prison - they are already doing time, paying the price for the crime they committed.

Some people commit crimes from the desperation of not being able to feed their families. You want to make them starve to death because they are poor?

That's awful.

Now. In the Netherlands, some prisoners actually get government money since they can't work. I think that should stop, since they have no expenses. Coming out of jail with a bank account full of cash is not a punishment.

[frodo1511]

Meh, keep them healthy enough to prevent the median between roads from becoming a rain forest.

[hasselbrad]

Originally Posted by Leonie

What is wrong with you?

You cannot possibly justify torturing people in prison - they are already doing time, paying the price for the crime they committed.

Some people commit crimes from the desperation of not being able to feed their families. You want to make them starve to death because they are poor?

That's awful.

Now. In the Netherlands, some prisoners actually get government money since they can't work. I think that should stop, since they have no expenses. Coming out of jail with a bank account full of cash is not a punishment.

Elle's right...some people commit crimes to feed their families.
Sadly, the majority of the criminals in our penal systems are there due to selfish greed and a moral code that says it's perfectly alright to steal/rape/murder to get what you want.
Torture...no.
Work...by all means, yes.
I see nothing wrong with chaining a bunch of criminals together and allowing them to get a little fresh air while cutting some grass.
That, however, is deemed "torture" by those who value these peoples' feelings rather than common sense.

[Keira lover]

Originally Posted by Leonie

What is wrong with you?

You cannot possibly justify torturing people in prison - they are already doing time, paying the price for the crime they committed.

Some people commit crimes from the desperation of not being able to feed their families. You want to make them starve to death because they are poor?

That's awful.

Now. In the Netherlands, some prisoners actually get government money since they can't work. I think that should stop, since they have no expenses. Coming out of jail with a bank account full of cash is not a punishment.

Ok, i went a little overboard, but i have studied crime most of my life, and have seen every example of degredation, neglect, and evil imaginable. I have no sympathy for criminals, and I don't believe we should give them what they didn;t give to their vics: mercy. We should not kid ourselves. We can not truly rehabilitate criminals. We should forget about rehab, and punish them.

[Ranman]

Originally Posted by Keira lover

Ok, i went a little overboard, but i have studied crime most of my life, and have seen every example of degredation, neglect, and evil imaginable. I have no sympathy for criminals, and I don't believe we should give them what they didn;t give to their vics: mercy. We should not kid ourselves. We can not truly rehabilitate criminals. We should forget about rehab, and punish them.

You are 15 years old, how much crime could you have possibly seen. I worked in a 911 system responding to crimes of the grossest nature on an ambulance. You live in a backwoods upstate town, what is all this experience you claim to have you idiot.

[Jacoby]

Originally Posted by Ranman

You are 15 years old, how much crime could you have possibly seen. I worked in a 911 system responding to crimes of the grossest nature on an ambulance. You live in a backwoods upstate town, what is all this experience you claim to have you idiot.

He's played Grand Theft Auto III all the way through.

[Porcelain_Doll]

Originally Posted by Ranman

You are 15 years old, how much crime could you have possibly seen. I worked in a 911 system responding to crimes of the grossest nature on an ambulance. You live in a backwoods upstate town, what is all this experience you claim to have you idiot.

And Randy scores, ladies and gentlemen. *me bows*

[Leonie]

Originally Posted by Keira lover

Ok, i went a little overboard, but i have studied crime most of my life, and have seen every example of degredation, neglect, and evil imaginable. I have no sympathy for criminals, and I don't believe we should give them what they didn;t give to their vics: mercy. We should not kid ourselves. We can not truly rehabilitate criminals. We should forget about rehab, and punish them.

Hi. My dad is a detective. I've heard it all before. Don't think I don't know what I'm talking about when all too often, I hear every little gruesome detail of the latest murder my dad is investigating, while eating dinner. How's that for studying crime all my life?

[hasselbrad]

Originally Posted by Leonie

Hi. My dad is a detective. I've heard it all before. Don't think I don't know what I'm talking about when all too often, I hear every little gruesome detail of the latest murder my dad is investigating, while eating dinner. How's that for studying crime all my life?

Can I come over to dinner?

[Leonie]

Hreh. My dad doesn't like people from the internets, but if you survive the initial interrogation, you're more than welcome

[Ranman]

I'll bet he doesn't like fat people either so no brad