Don't you think prisons are just way too accommodating?

Question

I think inmates have it way to comfortable in prisons theses days. They are allowed TV, education, gymnasium, sex visits, cigarretes and even porn.
I don't want part of my hard earned money to go to the care of some criminal or rapist.

Answer 1

Yes. I admire the determination and implimentation of the Arizona Prison System:
http://www.cnn.com/US/9907/27/tough.sheriff/

Answer 2

No,Don't you think prisons are just way too accommodating !
To anyone who says differently, I'd like to know What prison have you been visiting? 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, ...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...
What Gymnasium 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.
California, and a number of other states banned tobacco products effective July 2005.
As for sex and porn... HA! Even a subscription to Playboy or a topless picture of one's wife is forbidden, and the primary purpose of family visits is not sex... it is to maintain family ties, which are proven to be a key factor in the success rate of an inmates rehabilitation. I feel very strongly that there should be provisions for family visits in every prison for any inmate who qualifies. Getting approved for family visits is not easy- there are some very strict guidelines that must be met by both the inmate and the family members wishing to visit, so it is not as if making them available in every facility is going to result in some huge change... except in the focus and attitude of the inmates.
Family visits are of great benefit to an inmates children, they offer a chance for some normal family interaction and that has been shown to promote the parent/child bond and to drastically ease the transition to normal day to day life after the parent is released.



As to other recreational activities,There are televisions in the day rooms where what to watch is decided by vote, and it's not cable, though many facilities do have an "in house" station for educational programs and movies (PG or G rated)...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?

By the way, my friend is what they call a model inmate, he has had no disiplinary problems inside.
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!
And as for the use of the hard earned money of the taxpayer- check out the articles here and you'll see that the money IS being used badly, but the inmates are not the ones reaping the benefit http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArmUGuFXxrGWZ9f1bwrPCLPsy6IX?qid=20060830072230AAokWcK

Answer 3

Definately! I remember when I started working full time in the late 80's that I heard it cost around $18K/year to house an inmate. I was making $12,500 as a bank teller. I took college classes on an AFB that was also a min security prison, so we had white collar inmates in our classes, that were going for free. I could not and still don't get the balance there! Same for our social security system. There is nothing like seeing our city and state workers getting paid to mow interstates when we have free labor that is locked up, but playing b'ball all day for example.

Answer 4

i hear you.. but on the other hand if they didn't have some recreational activities, the guards would be in more danger.. and yes i like Joe Arpiao's prison tent idea.. i always thought the gov. should buy some islands and just put the prisoners there and let them do 4 themselfs.. with no guards.. the prison system isn't working the way it is..

Answer 5

I think that it's a waste of money. As a person of Jewish ancestry I know of what real prisons can be like. No i am not saying that we should torture and kill them, but i do not believe they should be pampered. our tax money goes to prisons that gives criminals decent food, rooms and yes entertainment. when i was in elementary school my punishment was worse!!! we weren't allowed to enjoy ourselves. we were told to think about what we did. i think rapists and pedophiles deserve to be locked in a room together and forced to survive. not pampered.

Answer 6

Prisons need to focus more on preventing recidivism (repeat offenders). They need job training and drug rehab progrms as well as counselling. Sitting around watching TV all day won't do it.

Answer 7

I most certainly do. I believe once they are incarcerated, they have lost "rights" and "privileges". Prisoners have more than the good living poor and trying their darnest!!!

Answer 8

geez...it's the only way to get a free education in America....doesn't that just make us the biggest schmucks ever....heaven forbid they should actually HAVE to work to pay for their housing and food like the rest of us..that might make the PCers little hearts bleed.

Answer 9

Most in America, but some are a living hell, go figure.

Answer 10

my son is in one and from what he says it is as far as I am concerned it is too comfortable they even have cable.