We have to get real here. The US has the highest rate of incarcerated citizens than *any* country in the world. We’re even higher than China and Russia. For a ‘free’ nation, that’s insane.
It’s not realistic to put a human being in a system where they’re treated like animals for a decade or two, then release them back into civilization, and expect them to become model citizens. If a prisoner’s expected to rejoin society at some point, we must prepare them for being civilized.
Mandatory minimums make as much sense as schools’ “zero tolerance” policies.
“The US has the highest rate of incarcerated citizens than *any* country in the world”
That’s because US has a lot of amenities in prison other countries don’t have. I was station in Sardinia in the mid 80’s and there was a prison in the town of Tempio. If your family didn’t bring you a blanket you froze! That’s extreme and don’t recommend it here but they need to be a lot strict so criminals DON’T want to go to prison.
Agreed - it’s just a matter of time before my big mouth will get me convicted of a hate crime & I will be in the Big House or FEMA camp.
There’s the old 80/20 rule at play here - 20% give or take of the prison population should never be released due to their violent crimes and the 100% likelihood of repeating those crimes once back out on the streets. The other 80% need to be punished, but the punishment should fit the crime — for some, incarceration is the better option. The criminally mentally ill need treatment, but once they are out, no guarantees of them keeping up their treatment, so then what? There is a significant number of illegal aliens in our prisons, too, so I think we should send a bill to Mexico or wherever for that.
Repentance & Salvation through Jesus Christ really is the only answer for a turnaround - Chuck Colson knew that - may he RIP.
If anything, the opposite is true. This "free" nation is free enough that people have a lot of latitude in their behavior ... and the simple truth is that a lot of people have no intention of recognizing even the most basic behavioral norms of a civilized society.
Spot on. Prison in America is a complete failure. That active gangs and Muslim terror groups function there with impunity tells you the inmates are running things. Something’s totally broken.