Does the quick turnover in jail (USA) create a society that is poisoned by criminal thinking?

Answer 1

Interesting question.
What if we took the perspective of Richard Dawkins and his idea of "memes", which are bits of knowledge/behavior that replicate themselves through one human observing another human and thereafter copying this behavior. The humans are just hosts for these behavioral sequences, which evolve in a way so that they can replicate from one human to another more readily. These memes exist merely to replicate themselves. All of this is similar to what a virus does to a cell.
From this point of view, jails could harbor antisocial populations of these viral behaviors. Quick turnover would offer the memes access to fresh hosts, just like by-the-hour daycares offer flu viruses access to fresh kids that are connected vast segments of a local population.

From this point of view, maybe criminal incarceration should be more about preventing behavioral contamination than punishment or justice.

Just an idea.

Answer 2

No, the turnover in jails is due to the incredibly high drug-use. Which is due to addiction. And if we were to put more money into treating addiction, and less into this ridiculous "war on drugs," we could clean out the prisons (saving millions of dollars a year) and have thousands of people taking an active role (working, making money, buying stuff that other people are paid to make) in a healthier community. It really IS that simple.

Answer 3

No, ignorance and legitimate excuses are what create a society that is poisoned by criminal thinking.