The Injustice System in America? Prisons getting bigger, schools getting smaller... Especially California...

Question

Blacks make up 10% of the population yet more than 50% of the prison population. For Hispanics it is about the same.

The United States incarcerates more people per 1000 than any other country in history, even more than South Africa at the height of Apartheid!!

I believe we have a biased police force, drug laws, and justice system and we still live in a very racist society - it may not be as blatant as 60 years ago, but we are swimming in subtle racism every day. (aka Sentencing guidelines for Crack vs. Powder Cocaine)

California incarcerates more people than any other state (and more than a lot of other countries!) with Texas running a close 2nd. Texas executes more than any other state, yet their prisons continue to grow!! California has excuted 4 people this year already (2 more are in the works)!!

What do you think would fix the justice system and the prison problem in California/USA?

Answer 1

A. change the drug laws to be more racially fair. (or better yet, dont make marijuana a punishable offense, and a lot of these prisoners wouldnt even be in jail)

B. fund more schools, parks, libraries in poorer neighborhoods so people have places to go rather than committing crimes.

C. have you ever noticed the amount of liquor stores, and billboard ads in poor neighborhoods via your richer neighborhoods? You dont see a coors ad next to grandma smiths 1.5 million house do you?

D. Change the 3 strikes law

I am not saying there isnt a need for prisons, or that people dont deserve to be locked up, but there are a LOT of people there that really dont need to be there and its because of the blatantly racist laws that exist on the books. California specifically needs to stop turning prisons into privately run cash cows.

Its a BIG problem, that will take a BIG resolution, and a lot of time..

Thanks for the question.

Answer 2

I dont know much about the prison system in California, but I do know it where I live.
Our system is about 70 percent white, and 20 percent black and 10 percent "other" (classifying hispanic with that)
The system is NOT a profit system. I have no idea where people get the idea it is. Because I want to know who is getting all the money then. I know I am not because I work for the system.
It cost about 45 thou a year to keep one semi healthy offender in there.....if that offender has any medical problems........that goes up to about 75-80 thou a year. If not more.
It cost almost 80 thou to keep one offender in death row a year.
Prison is suppose to be about "rehabilitation" for these individuals.
Yet, California also has the highest gang member population in their systems, which could explain WHY there are more facilities. The drug problem in prison is the same as it is on the street....its all about power, control and profit. Prison drugs are worth 5-6 times the street value.
If you have a problem with this, and it seems you do.........
work at a prison for about 2 years.......then come back and ask that same question.
Or just get on a jury for a drug offense......then come back after you gave YOUR verdict and answer that question.

As for the FYI that was addressed to me.....the 70's was still about Offender abuse.......IF YOU want to call that rehabilitation, so be it...but it was NOT about rehabilitation, it was about physical punishment...now some states are actually making the attempt to make it about rehabilitation.....
I suggest the person that addressed that to me look up the history of prisons, and what happened in them.
I am a Correctional Officer in a facility and I do know what I am talking about.
The biggest problem we have are the misconceptions about the prison system. We are offering rehabilitation services to the offenders in hope that THEY choose to change the life style that they had that brought them into the system. They have to make the changes in themselves, the judicial system has nothing to do with that. The judicial system just places them there, while we have to deal with them on a daily basis.

Answer 3

If this really bothers you then I suggest that you make yourself a part of the system, and change it from the inside. Get a degree in government, criminal justice or sociology, and get a job in the field, or elected office, work your way up and make some changes.

FYI Sapphire - prison hasn't been about rehabilitation since the 70's. It's an outdated concept. Everyone knows that never worked, because you cannot force people to change.

Answer 4

I think people should not commit crimes and they would not go to jail. As for as blacks, it is not a race issue, it is more a culture issue, one only has to look at the Rap culture and the idea that drugs and hookers are a proper way of life.

It is choices that each person makes.

So we have more people in prison, that is geat, that means our police are doing thier job. And a sign that people have no respect for laws, government or thierself.

Feel sorry for a law breaker, don't make me laugh

Answer 5

Its a picture of what happens when the liberal mindset rules the institutions.
Children are not educated and criminals are protected and coddled.

To fix the problem, start making prisons are really ugly and cruel place to go and make schools places where students actually learn how to reason and think objectively including reading, writing, mathematics, sciences and accurate history(now its PC'ed propaganda)

"An armed society is a polite society"

Answer 6

America is a nation that profit on the back of the less fortune

you see, for many people is not my people, and I hate them any way, so lock them up even if they victim of injustice.

everybody in government use the poor to advance their career.

every single person in your government got in that position on one principle touch and fighting crimes, the president, the vise president, the governors, mayors, the senators, the congress men, your consult elected, the district attorney, the brought president, the police shreilf ,

Prison now become one of America faster growing business, but every year they claim crime is down.

America have now 3,000.000 plus in jail, the word biggest jailer, and more than the population of a lot of small countries.

Answer 7

the prison system is far more profitable than the educational system.

you should check out a book called No More Prisons, by William "Upski" Wimsat

Answer 8

By a Island dump them off see if they can survive. Swim or die.

Answer 9

I wish they would lock them all up.