do you think that prison is a good solution for crime?
101003
Absolutely! Everyone in this world has one life to live, and if for someone reason you see a reason to break the law and cause problems then you'll end up sitting in tiny prison cell waisting away part or even all of your life, what a way to live. You can miss out on all the great things in the world while in jail, once a this hits a prisoner don't you think they couldn't think of a worse punishment; other than death or sometype of injury. As for murdoc's thoughts.. An eye for an eye makes the world blind.
270209
No, because it doesn't deal with the underlying problem.  Solitary confinement doesn't resolve issues, it propagates them-people are social beings, excluding someone from human contact is a form of torture.
615702
NO, it does not. It's absurdly expensive as the sentences are so long. There's barely any rehabilitation going on, and for the most part too many ppl are admitted for very long sentences who have not done serious crimes. Once you go through hell that most jails are you won't come out the same! And usually you won't come out a better person either! On top of that recidivism rates are extremely high when compared to other countries, i.e. in Europe. Some state prisons have recidivism rates as high as 20-30%. So no, too many do not become productive members of society again. I think there's a problem how the system works in itself, it might be successful at punishing, but not rehabilitation, in either case it should focus in prevention, and not be just a reactionary system. Some states, I think Florida and California will be soon among them if not yet, are spending more, or at least the same for education as prison systems. Now, doesn't anyone think there's something wrong with that? Right now US is jailing more than 2 million individuals... That's equivalent to a small country! There's clearly problems with the system, as well as the the way that society sees it and how they regard crime itself. Putting someone in jail as long as possible is not going to change anything! It's what he does in that jail that matters, not how long he stays there. So, if you think it's a good idea to fill the jails up with criminals, - fill them up, then build more max security prisons at 10 grand a cell, and fill those up as well, just don't come to me when it's time to pay taxes. And pray that once those criminals get out they don't come to you for anything, cause they'll be pissed. It's something to think about when you see the next politician boasting how he'll be tough on crime just cause it's an easy way to get votes, and felons can't vote, so he got nothing to loose, it's the society that does.
977904
No it's probably time for a rational review of drug laws. But don't count on our politicians to propose changes. They can't be seen as "soft on crime". Better to build more jails and get reelected than to solve our society's problems.
138703
I agree with you that there should be more creative forms of punishment.  We mix non-violent and violent prisoners together and we have horrible overcrowding of prisons. However, I was once on a jury during the trial of a man who defrauded dozens of elderly people out of their life savings.  Many lost their homes.  While he didn't physically assault them, his crime against them was extremely harmful and cruel, and we need to protect society against such people.
332560
No, prisons are for those who *willingly* choose to blame someone else for their own problems and who love to avoid personal accountability. \n\nI'm not a wealthy man, but I always try to make good decisions anyway. It's frustrating to watch people who don't deserve their successes have it instead of those of us who have worked hard trying to achieve some sort of security, but I know I'm doomed to jail if I start breaking laws to take shortcuts to success. I realize that success to me isn't the same as it is for someone else, so I need to stay focused on those things that allow me happiness and just continue trying to achieve them. If I fail, then I will stay focused on trying to find some level of happiness and success in what I'm doing at the time. \n\n"Whatever you are, do it well." (I think that's from Abe Lincoln, though I may be wrong, and it's probably phrased somewhat differently.)
914533
If we are going forward as a country with the notion that punishment should be heaped on punishment, and crime should be heaped on crime, then yes.  \n\nMy true belief is that we should just stick to the original crime and enforce the laws that are already on the books.  Yes it is horrible if a homosexual man is assaulted because he is homosexual, but when you boil it down, is it any more terrible than the little old lady that is assaulted because someone wants to take her purse?\n\nMy belief is our courts only need to enforce the laws on the books, but our politicians believe that more laws (justifying the politicians job) equal better life.  It is so not true, I doubt one victim has been saved because a criminal thought, "man, if I kick this guys a**, I'll get a year in jail, but if this guy is (insert race/gender/sexuality/religion) I'll get another year so I won't do it. \n\nThat just doesn't happen.
20829
The Prison system shifted from being for reform to being punitive long ago, thus there has been a decrease in programs (vocation, education) in many prison systems.  \n\nPersonally, I think they should have more programs available.  Especially for non-violent drug/property crimes.
1019609
I think this is a good idea, might even do something to lower crime rates....added bonus
564104
this is a good point you are making. the law and the courts are to soft.the victim never comes first. l think life should mean life. and they should serve all there sentance none of this being let out earley. there is plenty of room to make more jails and there is also plenty of people looking for a job.
313785
As a former correctional officer of 7 yrs, I can tell you that each prison is different. Prisons vary from state to state. Then you have private corporations such as GEO Groups and CCA (for example) that also run prison systems.\n\nIs it as bad as you have heard? Well, that also depends on what you have heard. Prison is not a play date in the park, nor was it meant to be. Prisons should not be an enjoyable place. Prisons should be a deterrent not to commit crimes, and teach new skills to the one(s) incarcerated.
101400
Small scale criminals, yes, I think that would be a worthwhile idea.  However, I would wonder how many of them would fulfill their committment.\nThe idea of the military being professional is true, and there are certain requirements that must be met.  I see no reason why these individuals couldn't get the education, etc that they need to serve while serving prison time.
838802
Yes for the death penalty.!!!\nMurder,Rape,Kidnapping.!!!\nHang them all, that way criminals can learn to respect the rights of others.!!!
489349
I agree wholeheartedly, and think it is a shame.\n\nTo make matters worse, prisoners come out worse than they went in--due to being labeled--and due to being made to live among worse criminals.
888621
No, this is not how it is. The problem of our justice system is quite the opposite. The majority of today's prison population consists of the offenders who have been convicted of drug charges. If only about 20 years ago, if you go to a maximum security prison, you will mostly see murderers or robbers there. Today, however, most people there are drug dealers and drug users. For the drug users, I believe is where the system fails: they need to be treated, not sent into a maximum security prison.
154322
i doubt it. but if i gotta fo to prison, id wanna go there.\nif politics is no longer lucrative, the crooks wont want the positions.
826821
It depends on your point of view. \n\nIf you believe the ends justify the means, then yes -  it would be an ideal solution. There's some correlation to some laws today. Terrorism laws in general. Most Americans accept or tolerate their emails/phone calls being recorded in the hopes of catching the .001% who might do harm.\n\nThere's a bigger philosophical issue, though. Is it truly a society free of crime or merely free of expression? The above scenario removes free-will from the equasion. People are forcibly prevented from thinking/doing what is deemed illegal. Without the ability to make mistakes, you elimate the ability to learn from your mistakes. If you can't even consider doing something, you can't weigh the consequences.\n\nAdd to that a lot of our laws and moral absolutes have exceptions. Would you steal bread to feed your starving family? Your example does not address the grey area of law. By criminalizing thought, you make everybody a criminal even if they haven't actually harmed another.\n\nHope that adds something,\nOdd