[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by Tetto

Free sex changes? Oh wait, it probably already is. Maybe the operation to go back to what they were will be free too!

Well it did happen in that other liberal state that begins with a "C" and not this or last year...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/07/u...t-surgery.html

[DigitalMilford]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

A prison sentence is first and foremost a punishment. As it should be, btw. It sends a message that crimes are not to be tolerated, to all citizens.

Now if the families pay 100% of the cost of this "service", I am ok with that. If a few ex cons can be rehabilitated, that would be a nice extra. Studies show 68% commit equal crimes to what had them in jail within 2 years.

Link to that study, please. You’re making facts again Bob. Shame on you. In CT the number is half that within three years. Surprise! Second time in a week I’m calling you out for making up numbers...,

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recidivism#Connecticut

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by DigitalMilford

Link to that study, please. You’re making facts again Bob. Shame on you. In CT the number is half that within three years. Surprise! Second time in a week I’m calling you out for making up numbers...,

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recidivism#Connecticut

Shame on you as I have the link. It is 68% recommit in 3 years, in a analysis done by the Bureau of justice Statistics.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/once-a-...ys-a-criminal/

Ct's latest data available by googling is 2011 data. I attached the link to the full report, as wiki cut it very short

In Ct,56% rearrested, 47% back to prison inside 2 years! Must have missed home. That is NOT half the national rate, but rather about 70% the national rate (47%/68%). Both show ex cons commit more crime, and I'd love to see a recommit in 5 year rate, as well as a return to jail in 5 year rate.

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/OPM/CJ...rtFINALpdf.pdf

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by DigitalMilford

Link to that study, please. You’re making facts again Bob. Shame on you. In CT the number is half that within three years. Surprise! Second time in a week I’m calling you out for making up numbers...,

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recidivism#Connecticut

Recidivism rate sources have been provided in the juvenile crime thread - I suggest you check it out.

It’s also important to note that a significant number of crimes go unreported, which means recidivism rates are even *higher* than statistics show.

No, Bob is not making numbers up.

[JayCT]

Please stop the bickering and return to the OP. JayCT, Moderator

[wma152]

Originally Posted by Tetto

Free sex changes? Oh wait, it probably already is. Maybe the operation to go back to what they were will be free too!

Then some people will say, studies have shown sex change will help reduce repeat offenders. LOL.

[JGBigGreen]

I’m as conservative and pro-police/law and order as can be. The fact is that many high quality, peer reviewed studies have shown that prisoners having contact with their families can reduce recidivism rates as well as help children of convicts have better life outcomes. To me it makes more fiscal sense to pay a few more cents in taxes on phone calls for convicts than to keep re-incarcerating someone who might have gone straight upon release if they had maintained contact with their families.

[/b]

Originally Posted by wma152

Then some people will say, studies have shown sex change will help reduce repeat offenders. LOL.

[wma152]

Originally Posted by JGBigGreen

I’m as conservative and pro-police/law and order as can be. The fact is that many high quality, peer reviewed studies have shown that prisoners having contact with their families can reduce recidivism rates as well as help children of convicts have better life outcomes. To me it makes more fiscal sense to pay a few more cents in taxes on phone calls for convicts than to keep re-incarcerating someone who might have gone straight upon release if they had maintained contact with their families.

[/b]

How can a study positively conclude if giving free calls can result in less repeat offenders?

There are prisoners who keep contact with their families only to be repeat offenders.
There are prisoners who don't keep contact with their families and never commit a crime again.

If anything I' think it's the opposite, if you are not allowed calls in prison to your family, you know how bad it feels and lonely, then you would never want to be in that situation again, so you are less likely to recommit a crime.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by JGBigGreen

I’m as conservative and pro-police/law and order as can be. The fact is that many high quality, peer reviewed studies have shown that prisoners having contact with their families can reduce recidivism rates as well as help children of convicts have better life outcomes. To me it makes more fiscal sense to pay a few more cents in taxes on phone calls for convicts than to keep re-incarcerating someone who might have gone straight upon release if they had maintained contact with their families.

[/b]

I'd be ok with it with an additional constraint. If the phones could be programmed to require an access code known only to prison staff every time a call was made, and if prisoners had to provide a list of relatives and phone numbers, who were investigated first to insure they were in fact relatives, and in every phone call's case, the prison staff dialed the number, I would be ok with that. In addition, I'd want phones programmed to end the call in ten minutes.

The above steps would insure the imprisoned drug dealer is not setting up more business from jail, the imprisoned batterer is not calling the person he beat up, the imprisoned gang leader is not arranging more gang business, etc. Inmates should not be trusted in terms of making the call themselves. Period.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by wma152

How can a study positively conclude if giving free calls can result in less repeat offenders?

There are prisoners who keep contact with their families only to be repeat offenders.
There are prisoners who don't keep contact with their families and never commit a crime again.

If anything I' think it's the opposite, if you are not allowed calls in prison to your family, you know how bad it feels and lonely, then you would never want to be in that situation again, so you are less likely to recommit a crime.

I don’t know about any studies that I can cite (granted haven’t looked), but I’d say communication with family, helping build family values, would be a good thing. I can’t imagine a study showing this to reduce recidivism would be necessary.

Edit to add: here’s a good read to that point:

https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news...communication/