[LeatherFace]

America is prison happy. I think it is pathetic how quick we are to incarcerate people, particularly non-violent drug offenders.

Correctional Population at All Time High

 

[Toshi]

I don't see why you're outraged about this. I'd be outraged myself if we were shipping felons off to Siberia to work at mines, or executing their families, but this statistic really doesn't bother me.

 

[Merwin5_10]

The outrageous part of all this is that a recent report I read (forgive me for not remembering where) stated taxpayers contribute more towards healthcare in prisons and jails that we do on government subsidised healthcare given to anyone else COMBINED.

The next major injury I get, I'll rob a bank and have my treatment given to me free! That and three squares a day...

If I can figure our how to keep Bubba off my "back" I'll be set.

 

[ohio]

Does anyone else read the economist? They had a great cover story in their 8/10 - 8/16 issue about this very issue. The proportion of the US population in prison has sky-rocketed recently, and we're doing an almost non-existent job of reforming our criminals. We basically take common criminals and TURN THEM INTO lifetime criminals...

Sweet.

 

[fourgivn1]

Originally posted by ohio
Does anyone else read the economist? They had a great cover story in their 8/10 - 8/16 issue about this very issue. The proportion of the US population in prison has sky-rocketed recently, and we're doing an almost non-existent job of reforming our criminals. We basically take common criminals and TURN THEM INTO lifetime criminals...

Agreed. One of the guys who goes to my church is a security guard in the county prison, and he essentially says the system is 'designed' to fail. I'm not sure if I would say it's designed to 'fail' but I would definitely say that the programs in place aren't working too well.

 

[Spud]

One in 32 Americans either behind bars, on parole or probation? I don't even know where to start with this. I'm feeling sh*tty this Monday. Thanks...

 

[Toshi]

Originally posted by Spud
One in 32 Americans either behind bars, on parole or probation? I don't even know where to start with this. I'm feeling sh*tty this Monday. Thanks...

What's even scarier is that 1 in 140ish American adults (going by their figures) works for Wal-Mart.

 

[spookysim]

Build more prisons
fill them
creates better criminals
who re-offend on release.

Write stricter laws for re-offenders,
petty criminals, minor drug offences,
in a bid to 'clean up the streets',
puts more people in prison.
Until they are full and guess what

you have to build more.


All of which wholly ignores the root, the causes of contemporary social disruption. The reasons normal people commit crime, the factors which lead normative behaviour to become criminal.
-Messy.

 

[shocktower]

You can thank Regan for some of this ,more crime meens more cops which meens more jails and so on and so on

 

[mikec918]

Originally posted by shocktower
You can thank Regan for some of this ,more crime meens more cops which meens more jails and so on and so on

three more ideas that follow your logic

#1 the interduction of a slow working deadly decease(SP) to the population, to increase the need for doctors and other medical professionals. Now it would have to be something that is fairly contagous but kills in long slow painful method so people will need to be treated and new hospitals built to house them. The funeral business will also enjoy record growth.

#2 increasing the number of teacher in schools by having the teachers teach less and less and not holding them accountable. Then calling for smaller and smaller class sizes. A good goal for this plan would be 5 students per teacher.

#3 And My Favorite. Giving Chemical Biological and Nuclear weapons to countries like Irag, Iran. Lebia(SP) and North Korea.
this would more then justife the need for higher Military spending. Plus if we throw in a few ICBM it will help the Missile Defense Program get increased funding. Pequrment and operational budgets of all three services could be increased by record numbers. Un employment would be reduced by the need for new high tech weapons,,lots of work for those people laid off in sillicon Valley.

 

[VTinCT]

Street level enforcement. The backbone of the mighty American judicial machine.

 

[laura]

i dont even want to get started on how ridiculous it is that so many people are incarcerated over and over again for minor drug offenses. its nauseating.

 

[Spud]

Originally posted by laura
i dont even want to get started on how ridiculous it is that so many people are incarcerated over and over again for minor drug offenses. its nauseating.

Unless you are the lilly white Daughter of the Governor of Florida. Now if she was living in the projects in Chicago, they could evict here family out of their state subsidized housing... While she's serving time But that's not the Govenor's mansion..

Or maybe say Tim Allen who sold $43,000 of coke to cops. Oh but that was powdered coke, not crack... 60 days for Mr. Allen I believe.

 

[Daniel(Canada)]

Minor drug offenders fill your prisons
You don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars
Against the new non-rich,
...
They're trying to build a prison,
...
All research and successful drug policy show
That treatment should be increased,
And law enforcement decreased,
While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences.


-System of a Down - Prison Song


I'm not sure what my take on this si, but your points sound a lot like this song.