Seperate Prison Systems?

[frigidmagi]

Today nonviolent offenders end up in the same prisons as violent offenders. I'm thinking that perhaps it would be better to keep them in seperate prisons in all phases of the process. I base this off the idea that in-mate on in-mate violence should be kept to a minium and prisoners do have some rigths.

Also exposing non-violent offenders can be turned into violent offenders through expose to violence. This would be something worth avoiding.

[B4UTRUST]

I agree with you to a point, and my point is really not even that great in all honesty. But one could see the non-violent and violent mixed gen pop of the prison system as in itself part of the reform process. I don't know about you but if I went to prison and had to worry about my ass being pounded by Bubba a confirmed serial rapist and mass murderer while I'm in there for computer fraud I'd sure as hell want to make sure I never ended up there again. Would straighten me out I'm pretty sure.

But really that's my only point. And I agree with you otherwise. Why not further subdivide the prison though? Stick all the murderers together, the sexual offenders and rapists, etc. That way they're free to rape, murder or assault each other to their hearts content.

[frigidmagi]

I rather they didn't do anything to each other in prisons, but I'm not sure there's anyway to create that kinda system that Americans will acceptable.

[Josh]

Where to start...

Yeah, I agree that prison populations should be segregated for violent/nonviolent offenses, definitely.

Given my druthers, I'd do a full overhaul of the prison system, though, borrowing elements from the way prisons in Texas used to run.

First, fuck all the 'rights to TV' and shit. TV, books, etc., are privileges to be earned. Have the work system in place, with license plates, gardening, leathercrafting etc. Texas prisons used to be largely self-funding on this basis. The choice is work, or sit in your cell with nothing to do beyond the mandatory exercise/food/bathing periods.

However, rather than recouping all profit from the system into funding the prisons, divert a portion of the labor into a savings account that will provide the prisoner with some cash when they get out.

What would also be mandatory is education, for those who don't have it. Tie it into the release system, and barring extreme cases of learning disability, simply do not release until the prisoner has taken and passed the GED. A lot of the regular work that can be done (the leatherworking, etc.) can be counted toward trade school credits as well.

The ideal system combines the elements of rehabilitation with punishment. It's unpleasant enough that one doesn't want to stay in it, but it also equips the prisoners with the tools to survive legitimately once they return to society.

[Comrade Tortoise]

I would have to agree. If your concern with non-violent criminals is to rehabilitate them, rather than punish them(which I argue we should do with violent criminals) then it makes little sense to put them in a prison population where they will be turned into violent individuals out of necessity.

[Josh]

Oh, I think all prison should have the element of punishment, Ben. This is a transgression against society, and society says 'hey, don't do that' and backs it up with some unpleasant living conditions as a means of reinforcing the lesson.

But it is ultimately most beneficial for society to combine this with programs that legitimately work to reduce recidivism.