My favorite comment about lawyers comes from Shakespeare, when Henry VI says, "The first thing we do, is kill all the lawyers." Listen, I am here to tell you, we are not all that bad. And, realize we can quickly become your very best friend and trust me, from experience I know this is true: the most called person when you are in a pickle or just locked up and bored.
I must confess that I personally have yet to earn a very significant piece of paper, actually the most important one of all (my license), yeah, I know....But, I served my time, and survived law school, i.e. "boot camp", and I serve clients every day, assisting the lawyers I work for and helping those accused.Okay, enough of that. The title of this Blog is "Prison Overcrowding".
What can the future hold for management of the incarcerated? Now, every person I have ever confronted sitting on the other side of the bars from me, tells me that they "didn't do it". Okay, Okay, I don't care! I am not the judge or the jury! My concern is what to do with the ever growing population in the prison system.
I am very depressed about this significant problem that doesn't get the attention it needs.I will disclose this fact to you.....I was a Clinton supporter, and I think, supporter or not, we can all agree that he did ALOT while he was in office. I respect his intellect and appreciate many things he accomplished in office. And, although, for the time being, disbarred, he is still an extremely busy man....Let's face it, the man makes more money at one speaking engagement these days than I will every earn in my entire life. But, please tell me this, isn't he the one who came up with the "three strikes, you're out" policy? MANDATORY SENTENCING-My response? "Yikes!!!!!!"In theory, mandatory sentencing is great, for those of us who are not supporters of violent crime. I bet that you have unfortunately either have been a victim of crime, ....or, you know somebody who has.
What ever happened to public hangings? I think that a couple of those would shake things up. Don't you think that people might stop and think before they leave the house to go kill somebody? I really don't know anymore, truth be told. I think that too many people snap these days. I am just not too sure who or what to blame it on, either. Hormones injected into cows? Environmental pollution? Television? The fact that minimum wage will buy you a trip to the welfare office because you can't eat, and you are subsequently told you make "too much money"? How much can you sell crack for these days on the street? You tell me. I would honestly love to know.What will it take to put the fear of punishment into a person so that they will stop and think? It is an issue that I am tormented with every day of my life. Hey, it is what I do.
Some people sell cars, I think about crime. For those of you who relate better on economic terms, let's not forget that the state penal institutions are funded by your money. Anyway, apparently there has been a jail riot...in Los Angeles today!! ---46 people injured, and one dead. The Superbowl was today. Did you realize that there was yet another jail riot?
A Criminology professor of mine once explained a a theory about prisons overcrowding in the U.S. If you build more prisons, they will just fill up as fast as they are constructed. There are millions of people incarcerated and the number continues to escalate----out of control.So, let's think about the non-violent offenders for a minute or two. Let's think about those individuals who made a mistake or two, but really...their crime(s) can be compared to things you and I may do each day, but they got caught. Or simply accused. Some people sitting in prison were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and out of those millions incarcerated, there have to be some people who honestly "didn't do it". (Those are usually the people who don't make that claim....but, maybe that is why they are behind bars?)
Anyway, I don't know what to do to solve this overcrowding problem, but I don't see anything good happening anytime in the near future. There are too many people who do not want change, and in my opinion the prison system needs a complete overhaul. Let's figure out how non-violent offenders can pay their debt to society and get back to living! We all make mistakes. Hey, maybe we could get Oprah on this problem?
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Overcrowding tells me that coddling you prisoners does NOT keep you from prison. Yes CODDLING! The picture of overcrowding posted on some blogs, looks more like the local rescue mission, except YOU get clean sheets and clean clothing! You have a TV set, books to read, a toilet, clean showers, weight lifting equipment, good food etc. That’s more then I have. So WHERE IS THE PUNISHMENT?
Alternatives to coddling: sleep on the ground (like I have to); no TV, radio, books, cigarettes, or wholesome food (I don't have those things, so why should YOU?); HARD WORK for everyone, every day, for at least 8 hours, even if it means breaking up rocks, or digging one hole to fill up another… just like every NORMAL person has to do on the outside (except you don’t deserve a paycheck). And you should be scrubbing the ceilings/walls/floors, bathrooms/showers, and washing your own clothes/dishes/towels/sheets too.
As a prisoner you have NO rights. You gave them up when you chose to do the crime. If prisons DID what they were set up to do, you would do everything possible to keep from having to go back! The prisons would NEVER be overcrowded. Instead, people clamor just to get IN, so they can have a warm bed, fresh hot food, clean clothes, a toilet/showers, and a TV!
As an alternative to MY alternative: you may like the idea Grace has for a prison town.
See www.gracetowne.blogspot.com
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