Prison Reform

[Texan]

I don't know much about prison in Australia or other countries, but how would you reform prison if you were in control? I'll explain how it works in America and my suggestions of reform and you can respond with how prison works in your neck of the woods and tell how you would change it.

In America,

Prisons are a huge burden on the taxpayer. Prisoners are coddled with amenities like cable TV, gyms and exercise equipment, free education, and healthcare better than most Americans. Many times, prisoners get legal training and fill our courts with frivolous lawsuits over their treatment. Overcrowding prompts the early release of many nonviolent prisoners. Gangs thrive in prison and most people are forced to join a gang according to race to protect yourself from other inmates. Contraband of all kinds somehow gets into prisons. Prisoners learn from other prisoners how to be "better" criminals. Some people are reformed, but not many.

A fellow I work with has adult kids that go in and out of prison. His son went to prison and came out with swastika tattoos all over his body and is now useless. He felt that he had no choice but to join the gangs to avoid being killed or abused. His daughters aren't doing any better. I'm not going to go into the shortcoming in my friend's parenting skills or his choice of a mate, but that is where I hear a lot of information and personal insight.

Prisons in America if Texan ran the prisons:

Prisons would lose all unneeded comforts. They would have no internet, college education, gymnasiums, weight lifting equipment or air conditioning except while sleeping. Prisons would be as self sufficient as possible. We can't afford to give convicts a more comfortable life than our soldiers. Prisoners would garden, raise livestock, make soap, and build furniture for government buildings. Work would be 8 hours/day for 6 days/week. Only weeks worked would count toward your sentence. Lifers would have no incentive to work, but they had better not laugh at all of the working prisoners in the yard if they know what's good for them.

Prisoners could take GED classes to earn their high school diploma and learn math and literacy skills. Educated prisoners can teach other prisoners as their "job".

Prison would not be fun and that's the point. Prisoners would learn to work and have basic skills to get a job outside of prison.

[brian ross]

Prisons? I would reform them and the judicial sentencing system so that reform/education/treatment would the key stones of any prison sentence. Prisoners that are found to un/poorly educated would be required to pass tests. Prisoners found to be aditcted to substance abuse would be required to be treated for those addictions. Reform would be that prisoners are taught a trade.

Prisoners would be provided with access to aemities on the basis of their behaviour and their passing of certain scores/landmarks.

It is not guaranteed to be 100% successful but at the very least we would have a better educated criminal class.

[Black Orchid]

Drugs are almost freely available to prisoners so it would be pointless even thinking they could be reformed of a drug habit whilst in prison.

I agree they should be forced to learn a trade of some sort though.

[brian ross]

Drugs are almost freely available to prisoners so it would be pointless even thinking they could be reformed of a drug habit whilst in prison.

I agree they should be forced to learn a trade of some sort though.

You better be careful, Black Orchid or juliar will be calling you a "leftie" or something!

[billy the kid]

Whilst thoughts about prison reform are admirable, it wont happen whilst the looney left continue to protect
everyones "rights"....waste of time even discussing it.....

[brian ross]

Whilst thoughts about prison reform are admirable, it wont happen whilst the looney left continue to protect
everyones "rights"....waste of time even discussing it.....

Well, once you commit a sentenceable offence and you are apprehended, you rights are reduced considerably. I suspect you couldn't even name what rights a prisoner in Australia has.

[Black Orchid]

Murderers, paedophiles and those who commit treason have forfeited their rights by their own hand. Particularly repeat offenders in the first two categories. They don't deserve TVs, gyms, computers or drugs etc in prison.

[brian ross]

Murderers, paedophiles and those who commit treason have forfeited their rights by their own hand. Particularly repeat offenders in the first two categories. They don't deserve TVs, gyms, computers or drugs etc in prison.

You won't get very far in an Australian court of law with that attitude, Black Orchid.

Nowadays, all criminals - all criminals - like all private citizens are entitle to a minimum set of rights - such as a right to be treated with humanity, dignity and respect while in detention. They have a right not to be tortured.

If they are serving more than three years in detention they don't have a right to vote, although withdrawal of that right is recent and still the subject of dispute.

[Black Orchid]

Who said anything about torture for God's sake? Let me remind you ... NO-ONE!

This is where you always fall down, Brian. I imagine in weeks/months to come you will come back saying "Hmmm Black Orchid advocates torturing prisoners tsk tsk" *shakes head*

Define 'dignity' and 'respect'. Neither one in my mind means they should be provided with TV, internet or a gym. Such things are luxuries!

[Texan]

Reform is an admirable goal, but we can't change what's in their hearts. We can only hope to change their behavior. I'm not for abuse, but hard work would be good for them. I work hard every day and I'm pretty happy. After release, they can receive the rewards for their labor and appreciate it. Prison would suck and encourage people to not want to return. Prisoners being released would know how to work and have some basic skills to get an honest entry level job. The tax payers would catch a break because of the near self sufficiency of prisons.