The cost of keeping a person in prison? How about this? $330,000 per year. How much would you yahoos say?
153601
No, I think that is too high.  I have heard it from a chief of police that the cost is more like $20,000 a year.  I think you added on an extra 0, and even $33,000 is probably toward the high end.\n\nfrom another source, giving some idea of the actual costs:\n"Operating costs in New York are $24,173 per inmate, nearly $7,000 higher than the average of the other states."\n\nedit: this quote is pre-2000, but the numbers are still somewhat indicative of post-2000 costs.  check out the DOJ website below for more modern estimates.
713775
I agree it is a bit frustrating for prisoners to receive a free college education, but we really need these people to come out of prison with a better outlook on life.  If they make their curriculum requirements having a lot of ethics and humanities classes, it would help as well.  I also can say it frustrating for people in society to not be able to afford health care while it also is available free to prisoners.  I do think the government has a lot to do with medical policies to Americans.  Their are some families, that even on low incomes still are told they make too much for assistance.  It is ridiculous.  The big dogs in Washington just need to get with it.
821972
dont you wish now that you wouldnt have got into trouble? i think that its going to be terrible there for you. i dont know what you done or how old you are. that does make a difference. \nif i had to go to jail, i would write letters and sleep alot and i would keep to myself. that 6 months is going to seem like 6 years. make it a learning experience and dont ever commit any crime again. im sure there are people that love you, its going to be hard on them too. good luck to you
784615
Valid point, but look at it this way. The government is already spending way over budget on its prison facilities. And who has to pay for these facilities? You and I and everyone else reading this. It costs a lot of money to shelter and feed someone for 60+ years. \n\nNot that I completely agree with the death penalty, it has its faults. But where do you expect all of that money to come from?
244465
This is long, so bear with it...\n\nA few weeks ago, the US reached a bit of a milestone, with an execution in North Carolina 1,000 people have been executed in the US since the re-instatement of the death penalty.  Think about that number, 1,000 people.  It’s a lot, with more to come in the near future.   It is one of the most divisive issues in the US today.  This is not an issue where there is any middle ground, it’s either you are for it or against it. \n\nIn the state of Texas, we execute more people than any other state of the union but even in Texas, the death penalty is hotly debated.  Not all states in the US have the death penalty but those that do have the same issues with it as here in Texas.\n\nLet’s start with a few of them… Firstly, the original reason for the death penalty was it was suppose to be a deterrent for crime.  It’s still touted as such in the states that do have the death penalty.  But, if you look at the statistics in the states that do have it you will see that it is not a deterrent at all.  Crime rates have not drastically dropped since its implementation.  If it were the state of Texas would be the state in the union that has the lowest violent crime rate, it doesn’t.  The only deterrent effect it has is that the person that is put to death will never again break the law.  That doesn’t drop the crime rate or make us any safer.  The realism is most criminals think they will never get caught, that they are too smart.  When criminals are doing whatever they are doing that is going to send them to death row they are not even considering the death penalty while they are performing the crime.  So that throws out the argument of being a deterrent and lowering crime rates.   \n\nSecondly, it was also suppose to lower costs of prisons.  If you execute the criminals they aren’t going to cost as much to feed, house or be taken care of.  Like the crime rate argument, this one is false as well.  In all actuality it takes more money to execute someone then to house them for life.  That has to do with the legal system and the appeals process.  Most of those on death row have court appointed lawyers because they can’t afford to hire one.  So the tax payers of the state end up footing the bill for not only the prosecution and housing the prisoner they end up paying for his legal defense as well.  In Texas, it costs almost three times more to execute someone then it does to house them in the highest security level for life (stats come from www.deathpenaltyinfo.org).  So how is that fulfilling the promise of lower costs?\n\nThirdly, it is considered retribution.  Unlike life imprisonment, where someone can lead a fairly normal life and have some luxuries, the death penalty does not allow that.  For some that are pro-death penalty that is acceptable because it is a true punishment for a crime, not a chance to rehabilitate the criminal.  With varying degrees people do agree with this, citing the ‘eye for an eye’ quote as back up for it.  But others feel that the states don’t have to right to impose retribution on an individual, that as ‘man’ we don’t have that right to take another life.  A lot of the belief systems that argue both for and against this have to do with religious principles.  But should states have that ability and be able to enforce death when they bluntly always say the state is not there to give retribution?  Isn’t death the utmost in retribution rather than punishment?\n\nFourthly, there is recidivism.  That is that some criminals repeat, repeat and repeat crimes no matter how many time they are sent to jail.  This is true.  There is a certain class of criminals that do repeat their crimes over and over, each time getting worse.  There seems to be nothing that can be done with these people that will work to rehabilitate and reform them.  Repeat offenders do seem to dominate the criminal justice system and are a big chunk of those that are incarcerated.  From the peop
373235
Hell NO!  I have a very close member of my family in prison for a crime that he did not commit, I would not want him fighting over there, it is hard enough to stay alive in prison!
532447
$33,600/year. It's all in this article.
1140788
This does not surprise me.  It is very frustrating.  In this world today, it seems like the criminals and murderers get away with everything and the good people end up paying one way or the other.  I know this to be true, it has happened to me and mine by a government who boasts freedom, justice and the American Way.  To bad they can not live up to these ideals in these times.  It's all in who you are and who you know.
189427
A prisoner's cost of living is paid for by the state.
697888
The true figure is somewhere in the region of $50000 (from the USA Times newspaper). This figure is dependant on the prison type (a max-security prison is around $70000 per person), the state and the needs of the individual prisoner.\n  One prison warden claims that he runs the cheapest prison in the US, at a dollar a day per prisoner. The prison consists of a barbed wire and iron fence, with two small cabins as a hospital and reception/chapel. The prisoners themselves are placed in old army tents, and they go out during the day in chain gangs to clear woodland of rubbish or pick up litter.
962745
a prison cell?\ndont ask!!!
590510
I don't think convicted felons can EVER legally get a handgun. That is one of the prices they have to pay (a right they loose by doing the crime.) Sucks to be a criminal. It does stay with you for life.  We need to teach our children why crime doesn't pay.
1138293
HOW MUCH IS THE LIFE OF A CHILD WORTH TO YOU?  \n\nRead Love's 360 page, which includes a Newspaper Article, depicting the horrendous tragity the Smith Family has suffered.  \n\nTHEN PLEASE HELP;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;\n\nAgain, please, make a seperate email address and 360 page for Mr. Smith, and the story of the Family, and Darius.  People are still looking at Your personal information, and loosing sight of why they are there, to read about the life lost of a beautiful six year old boy.  The entire site and 360 page needs to be dedicated to Buddha.  Since the two of You do not have a Comupter, why not go to a Large Electronic Store, or if You have   a Wal-Mart, go there, and talk to Them about Your mission, and see if They might be willing to donate a Computer to Your cause.  That will help You greatly, You will need a printer as well.  Wal-Mart is usually very good about helping out.  Don't take no for an answer, negotiate.  Go personally and have a meeting face, to face, it is harder to say no that way.  Just hand them the Newspaper Article, and sit there while They read it.  Make sure You have an appointment first, don't just walk in.  Make sure that You have written down the two areas You are working towards.  Stronger Laws for the Serious Harm and or Death of a Person, due to the Negligence of a Drunk Driver, behind the wheel of a Motor Vehicle.  And the fact that You want the Person responsible, for this horrible Crime, to spend more time behind bars, than two Years.  You feel that the life of a Child, and the injured bodies, and crushed dreams of two more, deserve more than, as stated in the Newspaper Article, high privledge status, by the inmate.   Inmate#37191.  \n\nStay at it, and God Bless\n\nAnd for those who do not read this tragic story, that could happen to anyone, God forbid,  How much do You think the Life of a Child should be worth.  It is hard to get over soemthing while You are still in the midst of it.  Open Your Hearts.
176556
in some cases yes. there are some people who are not able to be released because they are a threat to society and will reoffend. do you think it's right that we have thousands upon thousands of people locked up for the rest of their lives who the tax payers pay astronomical figures to support ? I don't !!! they don't have a great quality of life in prison and the taxpayers money could be much better spent. would you work a job and support an inmate for the rest of his life if you didn't have to. I mean the government doesn't give us a choice we support them with our tax dollars but would you actually just send your money to support these guys if you didn't have to. I bet you have  much more worth while causes to support. I would much rather feed a hungry child than a child murderer.
85737
What state is that in? Please add details and I'll find it for you...meanwhile, visit the appropriate state forum at http://www.prisontalk.com and I bet someone there can answer your questions without your needing a list
1108109
Prisons are money making machines for the owners!  The states pay private prison managers a whole bunch of money.   Judges even own interests in restitution centers. What better way to keep 100% occupancy of their business. Isn't that a huge conflict of interest???\n\nIt is time for a huge revamp of our worthless prison system. \n\nThe basic premise of prison is to restrict freedom.  Currently they are nothing more than a holding tank.\n\nIf the inmate will be released at some point in their life it is better for society to get them headed towards managing freedom than a sudden release from a high security institution.  That is a recipe for failure. \n\nEmpowering an inmate through earning increased freedom woujld help reinforce the benefit of making postive choices. \n\nThere are many types of freedom restrictions:\n\nDeath row \nMaximum security - with no parole\n\nEventual Freedom:\n\nMaximum security - with parole\nSolitary confinement\nMinimum security\nJail\n(Convert abandoned military bases for low risk felons, youthful offenders, non violent crimes, rather than put them in with hardened criminals)\nWork release centers\nRestitution centers (how many judges invest in these and sentence people to them to keep them full?)\nForest camps\nRehab center\nHouse arrest\nTreatment centers\n\nMore freedom:\n\nAnkle bracelet monitoring\nParole from prison where they must meet with their parole officer\nProbation from jail where they must meet with their probation officer\n3rd Party Custodian\nRandom drug testing\nLose drivers license\nBreathalyzer installed on vehicle\n\nThe inmate enters prison at the highest level of freedom restriction the crime designates, determined by the type of crime.  \n\nBased on a set of personal needs and goals, the inmate can complete certain sets of requirements and move towards more freedom in graduated steps.  If they fight or break rules, they are sent back to the highest level of freedom restriction to start over. \n\nSome goals should be obtaining a GED, increasing SAT scores, entering college, higher education, work skills, community work within a prison (teaching someone to read, tutoring another inmate to get their GED), learning and applying anger management techniques, learning about domestic violence, revealing their early childhood trauma, learning to cry, feel human emotions.
1164887
This site seems to outline it very specifically.\n\nAlthough I didn't read too far, it might be referring to a certain case.  Take a look-see.\n\nThe second one looks better, I think.\n\n10-20 years imprisonment, death if they take a life.   If less than $100 is taken, then less than 10 years if noone was injured.