I've been reading a blog written a few years ago while this guy was in prison. I'll warn you, it can be pretty explicit at times. There are a lot of f-bombs and people talking about sexual gratification as it relates to prison life. Just so if you don't want to read those sorts of things, you either don't read the blog, or know that parts should be skipped over.
It has brought my attention to different problems with prisons, though, and I guess made me question the whole prison system anyway. Like I'm not a fan of drugs or anything, but I think there is a big difference between doing drugs and committing murder. But when people who do drugs are sent to the same prisons as people who murder...then they are becoming part of a community of murderers, or they risk being murdered by those people...or being extremely lonely. And it's like...a system where people are forced to associate with those type of people changes them, and it seems to me that going to prison could change them into hardened criminals. They don't learn the virtues that are important in the outside world. They learn to be tough, to hide their emotions, and to avoid being beaten up, being raped, or being killed. It seems to me that the system is not working. People doing drugs should not be sent to prison to be punished, but to be rehabilitated, maybe even forced detox or something like that, where they are in control of the state. It seems in much more interest of the state to rehabilitate prisoners so that they don't return and so they can contribute to society, rather than creating criminals out of drug-users, so then we can pay to keep them in prison for the rest of their lives? That just doesn't seem to be a system that makes sense to me.
Anyway, for anyone else interested in trying to help prisoners...I don't have anything that specifically helps with those issues, but there is a prison book program, which helps prisoners get books so they can get educated, so they can hopefully contribute to society when they get back out -- http://www.prisonbookprogram.org/.
And then there is also a site devoted to helping stop prison rape -- http://www.spr.org/, which it seems like also is a very good idea.
So...help the prisoners out!
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4 comments:
I'm going to sound like a jerk but this post has really got me thinking and writing about it will help me sort out what I think. So, here goes nothing: It's just not feasible. Of course, I wish that we could change the world and make it perfect for everyone. I wish that we could rehabilitate, or change, everyone but it's not feasible and I'm not convinced that it's even possible. Christ can change people if they want to be changed and he can do it in from any circumstance. But when people end up in prison, it's usually because they didn't want to be a part of our society. People have to choose what group they want to be a part of but we cannot possibly have a prison for every type of prisoner. So they have to make a more black and white choice: live with us, enjoy our freedoms, and follow our rules or live in the society that is created by people who have little or no self-control. I guess I'm not very merciful and I guess I'll have to think and rethink my position on this all day but right now, my knee jerk reaction is to say we really can't make a finer gradation than that. So if people don't want to be in jail with criminals then they should choose to obey the laws and participate positively in our society.
Yes, I admit there are a variety of types of criminals. But I do not, in fact, feel like drug users are criminals. There are so many people in prison for marijuana use, and it is just ridiculous. I mean, I know tons of people my age who recreationally use marijuana, and while I don't think it's a great idea, and probably not the best for them...but I don't think people going to prison just for doing marijuana should be turned into hardened criminals by being in prison. That, to me, seems ridiculous. If people are stealing, fine. If they are raping people, fine. If they are hurting other people in any way, fine. But this destruction of so many people's lives because they are hurting themselves? It seems like it should be them getting help, not being punished.
OK, so you think we should put drug users in a lower-security prison? Can we do that? Is there another prison? I'm with you on that, though. I agree that it's ridiculous to put marijuana smokers with murderers.
I have quite a few problems with the prison system, the biggest being that they don't prepare inmates for life again - they release them without having the skills to fit back in with society (something they really DO want). Many of them don't have the resources to succeed - they can't find jobs, housing, good friends and influences, etc. It's a huge, overwhelming problem, but on an individual basis I think all we can do is be mindful of our interactions with people who have been convicted of crimes. As with any group of people, it's vital not to rely on stereotypes, but to instead get to know the person (within reason and using good judgment, of course). My older brother is a convicted felon, and I'm constantly torn between wanting to reject him and punish him for his bad decisions and loving him unconditionally and offering support when it's appropriate. Definitely an interesting subject Jennie!
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