I think most people know about the Sheriff down south (Texas I think), who keeps inmates in tents instead of cells, and denies all extras such as tv, libraries, rec rooms, etc, and makes them work.

i say we do a combination of his theory and what is done most places. For example, keep people in tents (in the climates this can be done safely), remove all rec rooms and activities, and make them work. HOWEVER, I also agree with requiring them to "go to school" while incarcerated for more than one year. yes we would have to pay for this, BUT it would only be for certain prisoners, and they would NOT have all the other amenities they have now. This way, they are still being punished, however they DO have the opportunity to better themselves at the same time so that they have better options once they get out of prison.

You borrowed that from what I said in the other thread! Again, though, I say this country needs to decide what it wants our prison system to be. It can be punitive (fail) or rehabilitative (fail) or a combination (above). But, if it's going to be rehabilitative or your idea above, people have got to want to actually spend money on prisons and prisoners. Or they have to get over treating criminals (especially habitual prisoners) more humanely than they treat themselves. I'm not saying we should have rampant abuse in the system (which is why it was changed to begin with) but I'm sorry, if you commit the crime, you don't deserve to be treated better than anyone else, simply because it's "politically correct."

lmao, Ihavent read your whole post yet hun, but had to comment on your first line. I wrote this thread before seeing your response in the other thread lol. I almost want to say we wrote it at the same time

Ok, I just finished reading your response, and I agree completely. We HAVE to stop giving cable and internet to our prisoners. Stop giving them steak once a week (so to speak).

What we need to do, is LIMIT their living to the basic essentials of life. By this I mean, shelter against inclimate weather (tent works perfectly in Texas normally), a balanced meal three times a day (doesn't have to be special or fancy); go with what's cheapest at the time, which means the in-mates tend to get the same meal three or four days in a row. So what? They have a proper meal and it's healthy, they have no room to complain. They don't like it, then don't repeat the offense once your out (or to begin with).
As far as exercise? Basic Training P.T. (physical training). It's done as a group and works the whole body; nothing glorious.
That all said, we have taken care of their basic needs of food, and shelter. now we take care of the rehabilitative part; teach them a trade or skill. We can even let them choose what to study, as long as it will be something they can do after getting out of prison. for example, I don't think a violent offender would be able to get a job as a teacher, no matter how rehabilitated he is. but they COULD get a job as a carpenter, or a computer technician.

Basically we take them back to child hood, and start over with them, teaching them proper behavior, and a skill in life they can pursue.

And to take it one step further, these things are given the FIRST time. If they screw up after that, well, so be it.

I would say, however, that internet access should be allowed but limited to those who are in an educational program. I'm also not opposed to privileges, provided they are earned. They can earn things such as tv/movie privileges, internet access, books, etc. Visits from family, attorneys, ministers, etc should be allowed, I think, though, again, based upon behavior. And it shouldn't be some arbitrary thing, which is how the rampant abuse started and why there was such a dramatic overhaul in the 20th century. And I'm not necessarily opposed to forced labor, provided they are given the same/similar working conditions as anyone else in the "real" world.

I have to wonder if all the goodies are more for the guards than for the prisoners. Do the goodies keep the population calmer easier to handle?

Boy you look at prisons in other countries and you see how americans caught in crime in those countries, can't wait to get out of them. Did that teach them a life time lesson I wonder...

I wonder if mandatory visits to prisons by young children would help to show them before they are adult where they don't ever want to find themselves?

new York has a pragram calle "scared straight" in which, troublesome children ARE taken on a tour of the local facilities, and get to see first hand what it really is like behind bars; and in some cases even speak to the people in jail at the time. It seems very effective.

I will say, my dad was a cop. He took me to work one day when I was about 5 (he was doing some paperwork) and locked me in the holding cell for all of about 30 seconds. I was hysterical and I have chosen to live my life in such a way that it NEVER happens again.