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An interesting article up on CNN's website debating whether we should remove the "exclusion clause" in the 13th amendment which prohibits slavery and indentured servitude in the United States "except as a punishment for a crime". While many will argue convicts should not enjoy the same Constitutional rights as other citizens, others feel legalized slavery in the U.S. should be ended for all.
Prisoners in the U.S. generally receive a pittance (from 25 cents to $3/hour, usually on the lower end), even when creating products for private companies who resell them for profit. With one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, we're effectively creating an entire underclass of indentured servants in our country who are being exploited by corporations and are not allowed to earn a wage (even if only minimum) which could then be recycled back into the American economy. Worse still, I believe this creates a negative view towards work for those who are incarcerated, who may otherwise have incentive to work and earn a living wage once they are released back into the free world.
A viewpoint in complete and total opposition here; the "Generation of Snowflakes" has no concept of either the value of one's time nor the diminishing amount of personal freedom as adult responsibilities grow. Accordingly, even petty criminal acts should be discouraged and deterred by the prospect of loss of personal freedom -- not for that long a time, but as soon as possible after culpability is proven -- and at an earlier age because youngsters are still more impressionable than hardened cases previously protected by an overly-"soft" juvenile justice bureaucracy.
Attention, kiddies and dummies; the real world does keep score and takes names.
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 11-27-2019 at 09:59 PM..
There is no longer even a pretense of "reform" in our broken, counter-productive prison system. In most cases, overcrowded prisons are places of punishment and fear ...largely run by gangs. Then, when a prisoner has served their time, they are put-out on the streets with no more skills (except criminal techniques) than they had when they went in ... and not enough money for more than a few days in a motel. This shameful treatment is uncivilized and only leads to a ridiculously high recidivism rate, while prison costs continues to sky-rocket!
One major reason for a lack of reform of prisons and prisoners is a general "out of sight, out of mind" and "they got what they deserve" mindset. Another is the use of prisons/jails as a 'dumping ground' for the mentally and emotionally ill in society. Another is a corrupt "privatization system" that benefits financially from maximum incarceration. It's easy to say, "If you don't like prison, stay out" - but, the problem is not that simple or simplistically solved by slogans.
One solution is legitimate skills-training and work opportunities that ultimately provided released prisoners with some type of work and enough money to get started. Another is for society to treat genuine mental/emotional illness like a disease, rather than a crime. Of course, all of that will cost taxpayers! However, society ultimately pays far more for crime, incarceration and a failed prison system, than it would pay for genuine rehabilitation system and more humane conditions.
What unnerves me is the all the innocent people sitting around in our prisons, who didn't get a fair trial, and who plea bargained.
What percentage of the people in prison do you think are innocent....? Just curious.....I could see .01% or something like that, but most people are there for a reason. Sure some people plea bargain but they still did something.
What percentage of the people in prison do you think are innocent....? Just curious.....I could see .01% or something like that, but most people are there for a reason. Sure some people plea bargain but they still did something.
That’s not true, many convictions rely on eye witness testimony which has been proven to be faulty and unreliable. Estimates by various groups range from 1% to 6%. Here’s 8 people executed and later found to be innocent:
In addition, large numbers languish in jail for months to even a year or more who have not been convicted but cannot make bail. In fact there are only eight states where convicted prisoners are the majority of those in jail. Yes, more people are in jail who haven’t been convicted than those who have actually been found guilty. If you spend 8 months in Rikers Island then found not guilty, your life is already ruined, you already lost your job, maybe custody of your kids, your credit and your home.
That’s not true, many convictions rely on eye witness testimony which has been proven to be faulty and unreliable. Estimates by various groups range from 1% to 6%. Here’s 8 people executed and later found to be innocent:
In addition, large numbers languish in jail for months to even a year or more who have not been convicted but cannot make bail. In fact there are only eight states where convicted prisoners are the majority of those in jail. Yes, more people are in jail who haven’t been convicted than those who have actually been found guilty. If you spend 8 months in Rikers Island then found not guilty, your life is already ruined, you already lost your job, maybe custody of your kids, your credit and your home.
I know our system is not perfect and we make mistakes....but I find it really hard to believe that there are very many people in this country that are 100% innocent and are languishing in jail......
What percentage of the people in prison do you think are innocent....? Just curious.....I could see .01% or something like that, but most people are there for a reason. Sure some people plea bargain but they still did something.
We’ll there is plenty on it to research if you want to. Just look at the case of the three guys exonerated after 36 years. And the Central Oark Five. That’s just 2 they found out about there are many more that never get uncovered. Before DNA they seldom were discovered. I posted a link on another thread that details eight people we put to death who were later found to be innocent.
However, society ultimately pays far more for crime, incarceration and a failed prison system, than it would pay for genuine rehabilitation system and more humane conditions.
Norway learned this many years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuLQ4gqB5XE
Unlike many southern U.S.prisons, our state simply "locks and feeds".
Inmates sit around ALL day, every day; doing nothing.
So when they are released, as 90% are; they have zero work ethic.
And therefore cannot hold a job, a fact adding to the already high recidivism rate.
We’ll there is plenty on it to research if you want to. Just look at the case of the three guys exonerated after 36 years. And the Central Oark Five. That’s just 2 they found out about there are many more that never get uncovered. Before DNA they seldom were discovered. I posted a link on another thread that details eight people we put to death who were later found to be innocent.
I wonder what the rapsheets of the Central Park Five look like. No one will go there.
Definitely, time to make these lazy cons GET A JOB! J.O.B! JOB. But honestly, they would rather die than do hard labor.
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