re: The American prison system

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$$$$$

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Further proof, the root of all evil.

"The prison system. Inherently unjust, and inhumane, is the ultimate expression of injustice and inhumanity in our society at large. Those of use on the outside do not like to think of wardens and guards as our surrogates, yet they are. And they are intimately locked in a deadly embrace with their human captives, behind prison walls.

By extension, so are we.

A terrible double meaning is thus imparted to the original question of human ethics:

Am I my brother's keeper?"

-Jessica Mitford (via Exodus)

if prisons are so bad, then why do so many people insist on going back?

Good grief.


Look, the crime rate is down b/c we are locking repeat offenders up for longer terms. Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, I am 100% for this.

All this whining about rehabilitating rapists and violent offenders? I don't GAS and neither do most people that actually have a job and pay taxes.

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The US has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world with no sign of tapering off.


end the War on Drugs and it would taper off very sharply

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,but that takes common sense and nobody has time for that

Ive dealt with a lot of prisoners in Angola. the ones ive asked about their conviction all told me they were in there for drugs. A quick fact check on their record and although they had multiple drug offenses, the conviction that got them their long sentence was armed robbery / rape / homicide / etc. Bring this up and they will tell you " yea but I wouldn't have done all that if I wasn't on that shite"

Many will argue the legalization of drugs will reduce other crimes but the fact remains that a person decided to use an intoxicating substance and it impaired their judgment. Nobody's fault but their own.

Louisiana prisons such as Hunt, DCI, and Angola are nothing compared to the work release centers across the state. The last escape from the one near me was a guy that had been convicted of violent crimes. The people that run work release do not care about public safety, they only want inmates to make them more money.

Angola has a lot of programs for rehabilitation. An inmate with a 10-15 year sentence can learn a trade and do his last two years in a work release program applying that trade. Often times upon their release they are hired as full time employees with the company. Some may say this is a great thing until you look at how businesses are taking advantage of using inmate labor at a cheaper rate and turning down applicants with a clean criminal history that they would have to pay more.

I could go on and on about the prison system but the true fault lies where justice is dealt in the courts. its anything but "just"

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end the War on Drugs and it would taper off very sharply

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Also stop the life sentences, if a person murders someone and it's cut and dry, fry their arse.

American prisons provide steady jobs for white people and warehousing for black people. If you don't think that was the plan all along you are living in a dream world

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All this whining about rehabilitating rapists and violent offenders? I don't GAS and neither do most people that actually have a job and pay taxes.

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The vast majority in the prison system don't fall under the "rapists and violent offenders" tag. Most are fairly short timers and our society would be much better off if we did more to prepare them to be a productive part of society once they are out. Or we can keep doing what we are doing and hope for better results.

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The rest of you don't honestly believe the State is locking people up for a dime sack of weed.

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Its way more beneficial to the state if a misdemeanor or even felony possession is plea bargained out. The prosecution gets a conviction in their stats, the suspect gets a lighter sentence, and everybody makes money. Court and arresting agency collect fines, probation officer collect fees, etc. Ive seen countless people brought into court for probation violations only to let go and given a return date to come back to court in 3 month. They cant pay if they are in jail.