Prisons...what do you think?  

I think something like that would be a good idea. However, you have to think that all the tools that would be used for gardening or sewing can potentially be weapons. As such it's the duty of the prison not to allow such things to be reachable.

I don't know about other states, but Illinois used to have inmates that made the clothing worn there; this may have changed by now as I was in prison over 20 years ago. Many of the prisons wouldn't be able to farm enough to feed the inmates; also, you're talking a HUGE expenditure in time and money to try and guard inmates in a situation like that. No prison can be self-supporting; the maximum security prisons don't allow the inmates out of their cells for more than an hour a day; some maximum prisoners are NEVER allowed to leave their cells. Want my honest opinion on it? Go to this discussion; it'll tell you exactly what I think we should do.

http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1450307.aspx

Heres my thoughts on prisons. Dont judge this is just how I feel about it.

I think the inmates should have a 3x5 cell with a bucket to go potty in. NO bed, NO window, No anything. They should have to sleep and eat in there. They should not be allowed to have outside time. They should not be allowed to socilize with other inmates. They should be allowed NO privliges such as tv, weight lifting, furthering there education. They should just sit in that tiny cell and rot!!

As far as those who are given the death sentance why should they be allowed to live for years after the sentance? If they are given the death sentence then put them to death within 10-14 days of the sentencing!!

If jails were like this people would think alot harder about the crime they are going to commit. I dont care if the crime was stealling or murder they should all be treated the same and put in a tiny cell. Then all they could do is think about what they did. And most would not want to come back. That would be better rehabilitation that all the privliges they get now.

To most jail is a safe place. They dont have to pay bills, they get feed everyday, they have a warm place to sleep, they get tv and education for crying out loud. I dont think its fair when there are good people in this world who fell on hard times and are now homeless. Homeless comit crimes just to go to jail so they can get food and a warm place to sleep.

As far as overcrowding goes there wouldnt be if the jails were like this. Put to death those who have a death sentance, and make the jail a horrible place to be...thats what it should be....so people dont want to comit crimes and go to jail!!



~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper

I don't know what to think but I do have a suggestion on what can be done to curb overcrowding....Take the murderers and rapists out back and just kill them....the cost of a bullet can't be that much and that takes care of getting scum off the street....If someone kills someone, they take a person's life and therefore should not be allowed to get on with their life....if a person rapes, they are tramatizing someone and taking their ability to live normally...these people eventaully make it make into society and they should not have that right....Overcrowding in prisons should not be an issue......I could be wrong to many but that is my opinion....There is no rehabilitating a murderer....they dont deserve life for taking another...as for other smaller crimes....that's another topic....they dont deserve to die, but they dertainly dont deserve to be on the street making other people miserable with their crap!

the worst problems with our legal system is we make it very hard for people to get a fair shot after having done anything wrong. We give them no hope for a brighter future so often times a return to crime is all there is for these people.

For example once convicted of a minor misdemeanor no matter the reason or the crime, any conviction at all makes it impossible for you to be hired at 90% of all jobs in the US. Retail won't take you, and even fast food is getting tighter in a lot of places. Should it be hard for you after a conviction, sure, but there comes a time when enough is enough. I have a friend who is a former junkie she had a couple of minor conviction when she was 19. Now a dozen years later, after having cleaned up her life, getting not 1 but 2 masters and currently working on a PhD in addiction recovery has been told by the university she is attending that she can't even work as a volunteer crisis councilor anymore because they found out she has a criminal record. 27 other local institutions including the board of corrections have told her the same thing.

If someone with a phd and 12 years clean sober and trouble free can't get a job, what chance does some stupid kid who trespasses or shoplifts ever have? Even if they want to go straight no one will hire them so it is back to doing what ever you can for money even if it means going to jail. There has to be some chance for redemption or we will just make the situation worse, which is what we have been doing for decades. What I propose is for all nonviolent (and non predatory)crime that a 5 year moritorium be put on criminal records. If someone has hope, they are a lot more likely to be good as long as it takes.

I live in Ohio and I know many prisons around here are way over maximum capacity. I was talking to a man who works as a prison guard and he described to me some of what goes on behind locked doors. He said when a fight occurs the guards do not intervene unless it threatens their own safety. He also said that they are required to serve three meals a day but only one is required to be hot. Some of the things he described are probably not appropriate to discuus on here such as prisoners resorting to homosexual acts since they haven't seen women in years. I could go on and on about the horrors he described but these are some of them ones that really struck me.

This is one of the reasons why I am in favor of the death penalty for heinous crimes, so that prisons can be decongested. Expenses would go down and that would save tax money.

I also think it's a good idea for prisons to have their own farms tilled by the inmates themselves.

Hi Irishfrndly, I believe there are problems with the prison system everywhere, and you may have a point in what you suggest here. Certainly some kind of reform is needed. There are so many repeat offenders that one wonders if anything is being done to try to reform prisoners. Maybe more has to be done to help those who serve their time get back into society. I am thinking especially of first time offenders here. Thanks for starting this discussion. Blessings.

I think it would be a great idea, IF the tools required were made available only to trustees or volunteers (or paid personnel).

I'm tired of supporting criminals with my taxes who possibly enjoy life more than I do except for my daily four-pack of Natural Light.

Imagine the savings the states could realize if the folks in prison actually worked and were PRODUCTIVE!

Yeah, Irish ... good SWEATY work sounds good to me.