Why do people in prison have so many luxuries?

Question

I know freedom is the most precious luxury but if inmates are removed from society to be taught a lesson then why do they have cable, c.d players and the latest music? I knew a guy who said there was even a salad bar in the prison he was in. Why not just put salad on their plates? Inmates don't wear stripes (like on old tv shows). They wear Levi's and converse gymshoes. From the outside looking in, there doesn't seem to be alot of punishment going on. I'm sure jail life is tough but why do the imates get so many perks. Why not just make it boring and monotnous so people won't want to ever return. Or maybe prison is just big business.

Answer 1

I love this question!!!

Just this past weekend my husband and I RESCUED a friend of mine and her two children from her abusive husband. I have only known this woman for a few months and have never been to her house. She, like most EVERY tax paying American citizen eeking out a living at or below the poverty line do not have:

cable
on again/off again water
enough to eat
access to a gym
proper clothing
proper medical care
proper dental care
air conditioning (if lucky they do)
their own bed (must share with 1 or more siblings)
the choice to go to college

Needless to say, I could go on with this list for hours. While I do believe prison is a place I never wish to be, and I am sure that some aspects are not pleasant, the prisoners are coddled.

Prisoners should not live any better or any worse than the above mentioned American citizens.

The constitution bars cruel and unusual punishment. It does not say anything about mandatory luxuries.

It is no wonder we spend so many of our tax dollars for prisons...they live better than most hard working American citizens.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I am not sure why they do that. Maybe its too prevent a huge riot? I mean, if all the inmates at once jumped all the cops, I don't think they would have much of a chance. Although, I have never been there so I wouldn't know for sure. But I am sure it keeps them from killing each other. We don't need more death if we can prevent it. Besides, I am sure some of those people may not even be guilty or they are there for life. Oh, and all this stuff you are talking about...costs them a lot more in there than it does out here. My sister has been to prison, and she had to save all her money to buy a 4inch black and white TV for $150, and a pack of Ramen noodles for over a dollar. So they aren't just getting cool stuff cheap. They seriously pay for it. I wouldn't worry about it so much...I would much rather have some of those people stay there forever.

Answer 4

Here in AZ, Sheriff Joe makes them wear pink underwear and bright jumpsuits and sleep in tents which can be pretty hot here.
But yes basically I agree with you.
I really don't like the idea of our money going to buy stuff for people who have done horrible things.
At some prisons in NY they all have cable tv and congugal visits from their wives etc. I don't even have cable because I consider that a luxury I can do without and would rather put my money to better use.
Working at an residential treatment center for juveniles I can tell you those kids are catered to and the staff will often give them things they want just so the kids are not a problem. Like they give them second helpings at every meal so they don't have to hear them complain or they give in to their requests so that the kids don't attack them. A lot of that kind of thing goes on, where a lot is ignored because the staff just doesn't want to Bother or be bothered.

Answer 5

I'd like to know what prison your friend was in.
Or, in fact, which ones have all these luxuries I'm always hearing about. I'd like to arrange for a cherished friend to be transferred there! The top notch medical/dental care I'm always hearing about would be nice!He had a small cavity in one tooth and the answer was to pull the tooth, he needs to see a doctor to renew a prescription for a chronic condition (no, it's not a drug with any recreational potential, it's Prilosec) but can't see the doc because he is not bleeding, and when he does get that script renewed, he'll be paying for it or rather either his mom or I will be doing so. The situation has gotten so bad with prison health care that a federal judge recently ordered the whole department into recievership.
He shares a 6 x 12 cell with one other man, and counts himself lucky that there are not 3 in that cell due to the amazingly overcrowded state of the facility, he gets to leave that cell about 4 hours a day, including shower, chow, dayroom and yard time... and THAT is when the facility is not on lockdown due to drastic understaffing, courtesy of a hiring freeze imposed by the Governor...on lockdown, it really is in the cell, 24/7, food passed through the door, etc the only thing that keeps going is the mail (and by the way, I send him paper,envelopes and postage, unless it is a letter to one's attorney of record AND there is no money on one's books, the prison does not pay for letters)....the educational programs, IF an inmate qualifies AND if there is a slot available in the class.....and surely you see the need to try to educate these people to improve the chances of their becoming productive citizens upon release?
The showers are hot and reasonably clean, but inmates buy their own soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
The food is a joke, and is barely legal in quantity and quality... most inmates get VERY creative with the top ramen that is available at the commisary...if a few facilities have wised up to the fact that a decent balanced diet pays off in a healthier population, that's an excellent thing!
The state issues 2 sets of clothing and a pair of shoes to each inmate, anything over those two sets, or anything that is "high end branded" was purchased either by the inmate or someone looking out for him from out in the real world.
What Gym/weight room are you talking about? My friend does an aerobic routine in his cell each morning and spends about half his time in the yard running his usual 3 to 5 miles, but there's no equipment available...I'm not complaining about that, but I'd like to know where you get your information.

As to other recreational activities, if there are video games, it has not been mentioned to me... Television in the day room where what to watch is decided by vote, and it's not cable/satellite, though most facilities do have an "in house" channel for educational programs and PG movies...any TVs or radios in the cells were not provided by the state, either the inmate or someone like me purchased them and like quarterly packages and phone calls (collect and incredibly costly) they are a privilige that is EARNED... Surely you can see the value of rewarding good behavior?

I could go on and on, but I really want to know what prison all these stereotypes of fun and games are based on, because it sure as hell is not in California!

Answer 6

What prison, where? Are you claiming that prisons generally are country clubs? That there is no overcrowding, no rape and no gangs and no suicides, no epidemic of HIV and AIDS? No lack of education? No inevitable recidivism? No corruption? No drugs? No rampant theft, extortion, random violence?

Prisons are filled with the insane -- put there because the asylums were closed long ago on the theory that there would be accommodation for them in the community. Only there isn't, because people like you refuse to pay for care for the insane. And, of course, don't want "such people" in your communities.

Why do you post rubbish based on hearsy, on isolated, anecdotal information without citation or corroboration?

There is plenty of stuff on the Internet that gives the lie to what you say for the vast majority of prisons, especially state-run prisons and county jails -- overcrowded almost every one.

Answer 7

I quite agree with you and often look at the 'life' sentence's that are handed out, to me life should be life and not 15 years. However you must look at what prisons are supposed to do and that is to rehabilitate, therefore I guess that Cons must be treated humanely otherwise they would come out with an even more warped perspective than when they went in. On the matter of life, if you imprisoned people with no possibility of parole it would be incredibly hard to control them as they would have no incentive to behave as they would believe that they were going to die in inside anyway.

Cheers

Steve

Answer 8

I know several prison guards and if it's big business they're not the ones seeing it - but I agree, why aren't they out cleaning the highways and byways like they used to - a little hard work for the exchange of what it cost to feed, clothe, house, and medically provide for them, shouldn't be much to ask. Let's face it - the rest of us get up and do it everday - we just call it a job, not prison.

Answer 9

Ah, properly, somebody could, little question. the element approximately Europe, and Norway particularly, is the social equality mixed with the time-honored of residing. maximum Norwegians could evaluate the variety of cellular fairly tolerable, at the same time as interior the U. S., an substantial component of the inhabitants lives worse than in a Norwegian penal complex. it fairly is via fact in u . s . a ., besides the shown fact that the U. S. is *technically* the richest usa, only approximately all of that money is owned by ability of a few rich people. those people stay in mansions and villas at the same time as the conventional people in many circumstances stay in fairly crappy circumstances. via fact there is greater earnings equality in Norway, maximum persons there are richer than maximum persons interior the U. S.. to study, interior the U. S. the time-honored diploma of poverty is not any be counted in case you may take care of to pay for foodstuff daily. In Norway, you're undesirable in case you do no longer very own; minimum a million television, a dishwasher, and minimum a million motor vehicle. i think of that many individuals could nonetheless dodge it, however. you notice, you may no longer meet kin or pals, you may no longer opt for while to arise interior the morning and while to consume, and being a convict marks you for existence. Having been in reformatory massively decreases your probabilities of having a job returned.

Answer 10

It is supposed to be boring. In that way, the inmates have time to think about what they have done wrong and reflect upon themselves. I'm not sure where you get to see inmates wearing levi's and stuff, but that doesn't happen where i'm at.