News, Inmate Visits Now Carry Added Cost in Arizona. (buy, construction)

[kdog]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Many of the ones I know in the pokey committed some minor felony then went on probation or parole and got busted for simple drug possession and were sent back. The original sentence was served long ago and now they are in trouble over their drug addiction.

So basically they've been a burden on their families for their whole lives.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by kdog

So basically they've been a burden on their families for their whole lives.

Sort of, but not really. These guys have several kids none of whom they support. Their women are loyal if that is the word, keep hoping they will straighten up next time and so want to invest the effort to keep in touch, provide family ties that maybe will bind. For that, they now must pay a tax on top of having to provide for themselves and their kids.

[kdog]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Their women are loyal if that is the word, keep hoping they will straighten up next time and so want to invest the effort to keep in touch, provide family ties that maybe will bind. For that, they now must pay a tax on top of having to provide for themselves and their kids.

I'd call that a stupidity tax then.

[rich67]

Originally Posted by kdog

I'd call that a stupidity tax then.

LOL! That's what it is.
There's a sucker born every minute, I guess. Look up "sociopath" in any psychology textbook or other periodical. This will explain why recidivism is so high for the typical criminal, and explains why they will never reform. If you feel sorry for these people, you obviously have had no contact with them or ever dealt with a criminal in your own family. They drag everyone down, they LIE to attain what they want, and they don't care who they screw over to get what they need.

[rich67]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Many of the ones I know in the pokey committed some minor felony

What is your opinion of a "MINOR" felony?

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by rich67

LOL! That's what it is.
There's a sucker born every minute, I guess. Look up "sociopath" in any psychology textbook or other periodical. This will explain why recidivism is so high for the typical criminal, and explains why they will never reform. If you feel sorry for these people, you obviously have had no contact with them or ever dealt with a criminal in your own family. They drag everyone down, they LIE to attain what they want, and they don't care who they screw over to get what they need.

No debate from me about the criminal element.

The fee, however, is being charged to the visitors.

Why not stick the inmates with this visitation fee instead of the visitors themselves?

Talk about being screwed over, and it is the families of the inmates in this case.

[Journey2]

I'm not keen on it, since it is targeted at the families rather than the inmates, but on a positive it is a once off fee and is not applied to minors.

I have no idea how it works in AZ, and if not in place, I'm surprised they didn't opt for parking fees first, there's a money creaming idea just waiting to be put into action.

[rich67]

java, the inmates have no money. The money in their commissary comes from family members, so if they were to be charged that cost, it would come from the same source.

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by rich67

java, the inmates have no money. The money in their commissary comes from family members, so if they were to be charged that cost, it would come from the same source.

The states are different on this?
In California, the vast majority of prisoners work, go to school or both, and get paid. They do laundry, they cook, they clean, they do mechanical stuff, etc. The payment is small, yes, but it's put in their account to buy things at the commissary. They can't receive Social Security while incarcerated, but they can receive pension checks and transfers from retirement accounts.

[rich67]

Vast majority? The MINORITY work. They are called trustees. Not every prisoner is a trustee, only those with a better record are authorized to work; the days of everyone forced to do labor are no more.
Also, let me ask you this, how many prisoners in DOC actually have a retirement/ 401k? Do you honestly think any people in prison held a job for any length of time where they were able to obtain a retirement? Maybe in some federal prisons, some white collar criminals had that ability, but in our state prison system? I seriously doubt it.
This is how it is in Florida, and it was the same in California about 17 years ago when I left....unless things have changed drastically, and every prisoner in state custody is now a "model" prisoner who is responsible enough to hold a job, work around sharp tools and knives in a kitchen, and is qualified to work construction to do prison upkeep.