[D"artagnan]

hi i would like to hear your serious ideas on prision reform esp from leo's
1 here illegal send them back home cought here again gets hard labor
2 found gulity of rape, child predator, or murder gets hung in town square
3 drug crime gets hard labor chain gang style
4 domestic abuse gets beat daily by victims family till they are sastisfied
5 financial restitution times 10
6 share your thoughts and ideas
D"

 

[roy]

The U.S. has a bigger percentage of its folks in prison than any other country in the world. A big part of the problem is this stupid ass "war on drugs". Prisons should be for punishing folks not some silly social experiment. Lock 'em for 23 hours a day, no TV, no weight training. Give them a opportunity to work. The Texas prison system used to turn a profit. Prisoners grew their own food, they had meat and dairy. The prisoners made some nice furniture, they rehabed office and school equipment, made their own uniforms.

We have this thing called a constitution that basically dictates the form of our criminal justice system.

Why should we dictate to folks what they do with their own bodies? Take the profit out of drugs and the problem won't go away but it will be much smaller. Make all drug use for adults legal. Incidently, there is as much illegal use of legal drugs as illegal drugs. As many folks die each year using prescription drugs as using illegal drugs. No one has ever died from using marijuana.

 

[Nathan Jefferson]

I like the OPs ideas, all except for #3, for the reasons Roy points out.

Sell drugs to kids - illegal. "Pushing" drugs - illegal. Selling/buying by consensual adults - should be legal. Get rid of the illegality of it and you'd see lots of the gangs/crime and really hard drugs go away.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I agree will all but #3 I am allergic to THC and dont really want to be subjected to pot smoke but I think it is ridiculous to imprison people for having a little pot on them, Some states its a mandatory 20 year sentence. If an adult wants to waste his or her life taking drugs then it should be their choice, Its their life!

Violent crimes against women and children should be punished severely!!!


Doc

 

[roy]

Pot will ruin your life, just look a the last three presidents.

 

[Moonshinedave]

I would consider home confinement for non-violent crimes. A guy who got caught trying to sell a pound of pot, need not do time in prison. Give him/her a ankle bracelet home confinement allow him/her to hold a job, and give them time to go to the store, once a week. Make it clear if they screw up it's back to prison.

 

[Carp614]

Make posession of mj a petty misdemeaner. No jail time.

MJ trafficking should be punished like all illegal drug trafficking. Mandatory minimums.

Here's a thought...How about we eliminate time off for good behavior for some offenses? Here are the onese I would end early release for:
Any kind of sexual assault
Any violent crime with weapons

Death penalty for child molesters.

 

[bigdogbuc]

From a LEO's point of view, I have to say it's not what they do the time for, it's how they do the time, how much time they do, and consequences they face upon release.

The Crime. We can bicker all day long about what should or shouldn't be a crime. For example, Marijuana. Our state legalized possession of up to an ounce. Fed's say it's still illegal. Quite the conundrum. The law is what it is. We have no control over what law makers say will or will not be legal or illegal. So we are better off discussing;

How They Do the Time. Those incarcerated for felonies "give up" their constitutional rights. Yet they have more rights and recourse than we do. As prisoners they are entitled to shelter, clothing, food and necessary medical attention. Yet they have cable TV in their cells, all kinds of amenities, work out rooms, recreation rooms, free job training, free education, free legal, arts and crafts, conjugal visits if married, and receive not only medical, dental and vision care that exceeds most Americans, but counseling, support groups and the like.

What does the victim of their crime receive? Not much, if anything at all. The victim will often be lucky if they receive anything more than a Victim Impact Statement from the prosecutors office.

Some prisoners will be released on probation, or parole depending on where you live, and live with family members. Some will move into halfway houses at the expense of the taxpayer. Some will simply do their time so as not to be under community supervision.

This is not doing time. There is no deterrent in it. Prison is quite comfortable for many of them. It's like a country club that you're not allowed to leave until someone says you can. I personally feel that Sheriff Arpaio runs a model program in Maricopa County, AZ. I agree with his statement that if living in tents and eating MRE's in the middle of the Iraqi desert while being shot at is good enough for our troops, it's good enough for our prisoners. I have no issue that he uses these tents to house more and more prisoners, rather than "Book and Release" because there is no room. I have no issue with his "Vacancy Sign" posted high atop his watchtower. I have no issue that the the television they watch is limited to educational channels in a common area. I have no issue that they wear pink jumpsuits and underwear. I have no issue that porn has been banned. I have no issue that they work on "Chain Gangs" wearing striped jumpsuits. I encourage it. I have no issue that inmates are put on grave detail in Potters Field. I have no issue that he creates an uncomfortable, semi-miserable place for criminals. It's a deterrent and that is the point.

How Much Time They Do. My state introduced the Sentence Reform Act a couple of decades ago. This act ties the hand of judges and gave birth to sentencing guidelines. Which, I guess creates a sense of fairness and consistency. It was to prevent judges from handing down overly harsh sentences to defendants they didn't like, especially for minor crimes. It also did away with "Parole" and created "Probation". Our convicts are no longer on Parole. On Parole, you could be sent back to prison for the remainder of your sentence if you violated it. Probation (Community Supervision) however, doesn't allow this and the most time that someone can be sent back for is 180 days. And this rarely, and I mean rarely, ever happens.

I will give you a couple of examples of some crimes that we as a society, and forum, would say "That's pretty serious and they're going to be in jail for a long time". Ready?

Burglary. Someone breaks into your house or business. They burglarize it. Pretty serious right? Warrants 2-5 years first offense. Ready? 6 months in county jail. Yep. That's it. No kidding. You now will get more time for breaking into my car in the middle of the night, than you will for breaking into my house.

Vehicular Homicide. Douche bag I arrested twice many years ago, with a lengthy record, gets high on Meth and Marijuana. Goes for a drive. Kills a park ranger in a head on collision. Pretty serious right? He got roughly 4 years. Yep. That's it. But you say "He has a long criminal history." Correct. But your long criminal history has little affect on your sentencing. Remember - Sentencing Reform Act. It set guidelines and very nearly treats each crime, as a first offense, with exceptions like multiple violations of a Restraining or Protection Order or, yep, you guessed it, DUI. This guy would have done more time if it was his 5th DUI, than he's doing now for killing someone, WHILE driving under the influence.

I can not tell you how many people around here get arrested for violent crimes, only to discover that they have 25 or 30 PRIOR CONVICTIONS, not just arrests, but CONVICTIONS for misdemeanors AND felonies. One guy was 27 with 8 separate felony convictions and over a dozen misdemeanor convictions. This was in a 9 year period. You do the math. And yes, I asked "Why is he not currently in jail?"

I have a sheet over a page long, of what arrests the jail will, and will not accept. Why? Overcrowding. Most crimes they won't even open the doors to the Sally Port for us to drive in and book a prisoner. No kidding.

Why? Because someone filed a lawsuit against the county and stated that having to sleep on the floor, on a cushioned mat with a single blanket (in an environmentally controlled climate) was cruel and unusual punishment. And the judge agreed. The jail was ordered to provide a bed and appropriate accommodations for each prisoner, or release them. It is literally a revolving door.

Our state has this weird liberal mentality when it comes to this sort of stuff. A whole "It Takes a Village" thing. My county prosecutor's office is notorious for plea bargains and light sentences, reducing charges for those who NEED to be in jail while leaving the victim flapping in the wind, and hammering those who we would all agree, probably deserve a legitimate break. I can't tell you how many firearm related crimes I have seen, with only 2 people receiving a Firearms Enhancement Sentence. It's ridiculous.

So in a nutshell, I believe that crimes against the safety and welfare of the community should be dealt with severely. The time should fit the crime. Right now, it's ass backward. I believe the as a civilized society, despite wanting to hang a child molester from a tree by their willy while stapling their scrotum to their ankle, that prisoners should be given food, clothing, reasonable shelter and NECESSARY medical attention. And not much more. No beatings, no mistreatment or torture, a simple "You comply and we'll be alright". We provide prisoners of war the same "courtesy". These needs are basic human rights, and basic is what they should get. They should be put to work and if they receive any counseling whatsoever, it should be focused on the impact their crimes create on victims. No work out rooms (I don't need stronger criminals), no arts and crafts, no TV, nothing but a book or a copy of Home and Garden Magazine or Hobby Farming.

 

[Ripon]

We have vast open spaces in this country, and they would be great opportunities for a "new" kind of prison. In the prison I envision a small group of inmates would arrive on a bus and be deposited into a fenced in area of about 200x200. Each man would be assigned a tent, a blanket, toiletries, water filter (one of those 1ltr kind you keep on your belt) clothing etc. Immediately they'd be assigned a 100x100 area and to build their own fence between themselves and the neighbor. Sand bags and a shovel would be provided so they could build a fence. They would receive a cheap tablet, a solar panel, and on the tablet would be courses in self sufficiency. Each day the'd receive a staple of food, and if they progress according to plan they will be rewarded with various seeds they can plant for self sufficency and get off the rice / bean / green diet they are on. More success and they can add chickens to their staples for meat. Get really good and they can be let out of their 100x100 area to help raise cattle.

 

[KingM]

I'm a mixture of conservative and liberal on this one. On the one hand, I think it's very dangerous to have the for-profit prison industry. It leads to kick backs for judges and lobbying to incarcerate more people. Ditto what others have said about the so-called war on drugs. However, for people convicted of serious crimes, they should be locked away and never see the light of day again. The last thing we need is for murderers, rapists, child abusers, and the like to get out and start committing more crimes/reproducing. Similarly, if a woman gives birth to a drug-addicted baby, society should make sure she never gives birth again.

 

[roy]

Sexual offenders are never rehabilitated. Lock 'em up forever. Most other criminals are not a threat after they are 40 or so. Identify them early and lock them up 'til then. Put criminals that don't cooperated in a hole. Think Steve McQueen in Pappillion. Those that do make 'em work for their keep. The death penality is too expensive under our constitution system. Eliminate it life without parole It is also subject to irreversible error. Do you think this is the one thing the government gets right 100% of the time?

 

[Tundra Dweller]

60 foot tall stone (waterproof) fence.. Fill 30 feet deep with water.. Thats all thank you...

 

[71Chevrolet]

My opinion,(worth what you paid for it.) the court system is just as guilty as the offender. How many people have died for crimes they did not commit? Who knows, we truly never will. I do my best to be a law abiding citizen. That said, I have little faith in the "system." Too much he said she said bs. How is one individual supposed to take on the "state" of wherever! To the op's question, I honestly do not know how to reform the prison system. I stay as far away from the "system" as possible. Call it a rant or whatever, there is just too much corruption in the whole [email protected] thing to apply a fix all to it. Best regards, Mike

 

[Piratesailor]

Make them work. No Internet, no cable, no radio, no libraries and other perks. Put them to work on chain gangs, growing/raising their own food or bulding things that can be used or sold. If they don't participate then 23 hours a day in their cell and nothing more. Make them earn a living to pay back the victims and society.

Also, if you're convicted on death row, then no being there for 10 or 20 years. You get put down in no less than a year and with one bullet.

 

[BigCheeseStick]

This was in the news here recently.

Man from NC Gets 7 Years in Jail After 17th DWI Conviction

17 DUI's.... Should have been castrated at 3, and shot in the head at 4!

 

[retired guard]

Prisons I've worked in them most of my adult life. What's wrong with them? More things than we have patience enough to discuss at any one sitting. However I will hit some highlights. Prison at a profit? In the 19th century most prisons ran at a profit some state run some of the most infamous such as Georgia run by private contractors. When I first started in the AZ system it was fairly efficient Inmates didn't make their clothes and shoes but they modified and repaired them. They operated a cattle ranch, a hog farm a dairy they grew crops. They fed not only themselves but were significant contributors to the school lunch program. They built the desks and office furniture used in schools and state offices and yes they made license plates. Should we have a an industry that profits from people being convicted of a crime? Probably not. Should criminals offset the cost of their incarceration? Assuredly!
Healthcare. In the hospital where I work we have a prison inmate brought there by the state of NV. This inmate used to be one of my charges. He is under more than one death sentence, one from the state of NV and a couple from his lifestyle. He is HIV and Hep C positive,he receive dialysis regularly.and is currently in ICU with three guards. The taxpayers have and continue to pay huge sums to keep this guy alive. My feeling is while incarcerated you should be Do Not Resuscitate if you do not want to be a DNR stay out of prison.
Gender reassignment care. The courts have ruled that a person who was receiving hormone therapy before incarceration must continue to receive this therapy at taxpayer expense once they are incarcerated. If my wife were to contract breast cancer insurance might pay for her hormone therapy but as a taxpayer you will grow tits on a guy. I do not believe I need to elaborate further why I am against this.
The appeals system we have come to the point that it almost take the willing compliance of a person on Death Row to be executed. I haven't checked lately but the last I heard in NV we have one guy who has been a resident of Death Row for 27 years.(Longer than his victim was alive) We need an express line! You do the deed you get the "B!tch" (Inmates term)
DUI decades ago I was told of the drug "Anabuse" if you take this drug then drink alcohol you become violently ill in rare cases you die. If DUI offenders were placed on Anabuse they could remain in their community supporting themselves and their families instead of placing them in prison and on the dole.
As I said there is much more to be done but this gets us started.

 

[BigCheeseStick]

Just a thought. If these guys are sentenced to prison for more than 5 years, offer them an option. Go sit in a cell. OR, here's a uniform and a plane ride. At the end of the plane ride you'll be given a rifle, supplies, and set free in a country of your choice! Iraq, Afghanistan, or Syria. If you kill the bad guys and ONLY the bad guys, at the end of your sentence you can come home. If not, more inmates will be sent with the same options, and orders to kill you on sight.

 

[PaulS]

A prison should be a prison, not a resort. The prisoners need containment, a fair diet, and exercise. They have lost their rights in the commission of the crime(s). They should be kept in a place that they don't want to return to in order to cut down on the number of repeat offenders.
No tv.
No gym - they can get the exercise they need by working a farm that feeds them.
three conservative meals a day (weighed portions) - no snacks and no cigarettes.
No internet - no paying jobs.
If they break the rules they should be disciplined. The discipline should fit the crime.
All the water they can drink.
medical and dental care for things that happen during their stay only - no optional coverages.
no money - nothing to purchase.
re-education through intercom/loud speakers repeating good citizenship messages. (played 16 hours each day)

 

[MrFord]

Criminal laws need to be reviewed and the inane laws need to be purged. Punishment needs to be appropriate to the crime. Prison systems are no place fro a bleeding heart. Humane does NOT mean you are entitled to sit around in the a/c watching cable tv and discussing how deeply in love that female guard would fall if you just had 43 seconds with her. Bring back corporal punishment and administer it in public, it is no more demeaning than what you did to your victim. Capital Punishment for capital crimes, two appeals and must be completed in two years. No need to worry about over logged court system, public corporal punishment will reduce not only over crowding in the jails but also the entire legal system. Executions also public on the grounds of the court that issued the sentence.
Start with juveniles!! We have a State Max Security Juvi Facility here in our little home town but can the little hoodlum caught setting fire to Mr Brown's barn be housed there? Not without first seeing a court designated worker who then decides if a judge needs to be awakened or just turn the little demon to his mother. (Who bye-the-way calls regularly for LEO help because said nuisance is out of control, AGAIN!)
Kinda embarrassing that this is my first post, I really am a benevolent person but this powdering the behind of the criminal and ignoring the victim has gotten so far out of hand that it is probably irreparable and seeing my home come to this infuriates me. [/RANT]
I've enjoyed reading others ideas on this thread, looking forward to more.

Mr