I've never known anyone who went to jail who complained about how NICE it was...
First of all, there are way too many non-violent first offenders (i.e. drug offences) who should be in treatment and a supervised probation. Treatment is cheaper and it's proven to be more effective. Most states with severe budget crunches are beginning to figure this out and are taking a second look at their sentencing laws.
Too many people are being locked up because the POLITICIANS have imposed mandatory minimum sentencing laws that take away a judge's discretion. Believe it or not, most judges have a hell of a better idea of what's needed than some asshole used car dealer in the legislature.
Third, and this should be of more concern, is the "prison-industrial complex". Prison labor, and prisons themselves are being used for profit by companies who are lobbying for tougher sentencing laws so they can beef up their slave labor force. Prison labor competes with and robs honest Americans of jobs and holds people in prison for the very purpose of corporate gain. As an American, I think that only the government should be permitted to hold people in captivity, as fucked up as it is, the govt is at least theoretically accountable to the people.
I have no sympathy for violent criminals, none. But I can't support a system that trains non-violent offenders to become violent offenders for life, while they're being exploited in a slave labor force that deprives other Americans of their jobs.
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First of all, there are way too many non-violent first offenders (i.e. drug offences) who should be in treatment and a supervised probation. Treatment is cheaper and it's proven to be more effective. Most states with severe budget crunches are beginning to figure this out and are taking a second look at their sentencing laws.
Too many people are being locked up because the POLITICIANS have imposed mandatory minimum sentencing laws that take away a judge's discretion. Believe it or not, most judges have a hell of a better idea of what's needed than some asshole used car dealer in the legislature.
Third, and this should be of more concern, is the "prison-industrial complex". Prison labor, and prisons themselves are being used for profit by companies who are lobbying for tougher sentencing laws so they can beef up their slave labor force. Prison labor competes with and robs honest Americans of jobs and holds people in prison for the very purpose of corporate gain. As an American, I think that only the government should be permitted to hold people in captivity, as fucked up as it is, the govt is at least theoretically accountable to the people.
I have no sympathy for violent criminals, none. But I can't support a system that trains non-violent offenders to become violent offenders for life, while they're being exploited in a slave labor force that deprives other Americans of their jobs.
Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !
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