Why We Must Fix Our Prisons

Parade | March 29, 2009 | Senator Jim Webb

[backtothestreets]

America's criminal justice system has deteriorated to the point that it is a national disgrace. Its irregularities and inequities cut against the notion that we are a society founded on fundamental fairness. Our failure to address this problem has caused the nation's prisons to burst their seams with massive overcrowding, even as our neighborhoods have become more dangerous. We are wasting billions of dollars and diminishing millions of lives.

[cradle of freedom]

I enjoyed learning about the experience of two insiders - a long time prison guard and a former prisoner. These are the people who could reform the prison system. They have daily experience within the prisons, not just sitting behind a desk like so many friend-of-politicians bureaucrats.

I have some confusion about our penal system. On one hand, I hear many saying that we have more people in prison than other nations. But then, I have seen cases of criminals who have very long arrest records and they are out on the street rather than being behind bars where they belong. It seems so haphazard.

Could it be that the more liberal judges let the younger offenders get off with little or no punishment which would account for many criminals having very long rap sheets with very little punishment. This could also have an effect of producing a lawless culture in certain communities. The younger criminals get very little punishment which makes them look like heroes to the kids. It could create a perverse incentive to become criminals. This might possible explain the contradiction of a society that has so many people behind bars and at the same time having a very high crime rate. This could be a case of justice delayed creating a culture of lawlessness which becomes the norm in some communities causing lawless behavior to spread.

[backtothestreets]

I too found the perspectives you mentioned very insightful.

Again like you, I am at times bewildered by our justice system including the penal system. An example of a criminal that was released, yet posed a grave threat to society was the parolee that murdered four Oakland, California police officers less than two weeks ago.

The whole system needs fixing as near as I can tell. If the efforts of Senator Webb can cut our prison population by releasing those that pose no threat to the lives and property of others, while freeing up money to crush the violent gang activity overwhelming our cities and states, I could fully support that effort.

[cradle of freedom]

Where do you find the liberal judges? In liberal areas of course. If it is a state where judges are appointed, a liberal governor will appointed liberal judges. If it is a state where judges are elected, the democrat voting population will vote in a democrat judges. Then they will b!tch and moan about the crime in the streets.

I think we have to speak to democrats in our families and social circles regarding the connection between voting democrat and all of the fallout of liberal judges. Republicans used to talk about crime more than they do now. I think we should bring up this issue and really let people know what is going on. I think that the public has become too complacent toward crime. But then, a lot of public opinion is shaped by what people hear in the media. Republicans should tie crime statistics to voting democrat. Liberal politicians appoint liberal judges. Liberal judges make liberal decisions such as trusting criminals over the word of the police. Liberal judges also impose their radical ideology on us such as the Iowa Supreme Court decision to force gay marriage.

Did you here what Harkin said about the gay marriage decision? He said that personally he did not agree but he would accept the judges ruling. That has a familiar ring doesn’t it? When in doubt Democrats talk out of both sides of their mouths.

I would like to know who appointed those crazed lib judges in Iowa.