Why are the conditions in American Prisons equal to those in 3rd world countries??

Question

I know this because I watched several special on TV. Many of them live like animals and the inmates separate themselves by race and form gangs to survive. The conditions are inhumane and animal-like. They are far below the standards of other western nations.

Answer 1

I'm sure you can find 3rd world prisons worse than ours. No one wants to address your other statement. 'They are far below the standards of other western nations.' We used to get to compare ourselves to Western European countries and come out looking pretty good. Now we're reduced to saying at least we're not as bad as those backward dictatorships. And that's not even touching the issue of White House sanctioned torture of foreign nationals in secret prisons.

Answer 2

I hardly think having a library, 3 squares a day, a bed to sleep on with a blanket and pillow, a television to watch, and computer priviledges, and shower facilities to bathe, and air conditioning being 3rd world country. Third world countries do not have those things in their prisons for a good reason. I think all prisons should be run like the Maricopa Country tent prison in the desert in Arizona.

So what if they separate themselves in gangs in prison, that is how they live on the streets. I am glad they are locked up to not commit crimes on the general public. They choose to live like animals. This is caused from making the wrong choices in life from the time they were in grade school. It is only going to get worse as the prison population is growing faster than the prisons can be built.

Answer 3

What third-world countries have you been to where everyone is guaranteed three meals a day, cable television, showers, access to an education (it's required by law that inmates in federal prison may finish high school and even obtain a bachelor's degree in prison), heat and air conditioning, laundering of their clothes and bedding, and exercise time with weightlifting equipment.

What makes you think that prison conditions are so bad? What have convicted criminals done to deserve better? Why should I, as a taxpayer, want to spend more money to make criminals more comfortable? Keep in mind that prisons are for CRIMINALS, not for regular law-abiding people. I think your priorities may be a little off.

TV is not your friend and it is not the gateway to truth and justice. Keep in mind that the shows you saw had an agenda. Did they show any prisons where the inmates were treated better? Probably not, because the shows were made to highlight the iniquity of prison life in America and play on our guilt and pity, like we had something to do with the decisions that landed those people in prison. Turn off your television and go look for yourself. Stop believing what you see on television, there is no such thing as truth in journalism. Everyone has an agenda and tells the story that most directly supports it. Welcome to the real world, it takes a little more here than "I saw it on TV" to gain credibility.

Answer 4

Whoa Whoa Whoa Horsey! First of all, I saw that TV special, and the reason that they are separated by race (by the prison) is because there have been race riots in the past. The segregation has cut rioting and violence significantly. Secondly, go to a Mexican prison, and tell me that you can't tell the difference between that and an American one.

Answer 5

That wasn't the case for my cousin who was in a Texas prison. He was able to take college correspondence courses while in prison... he chose to stay out of fights (which meant avoiding others as much as possible) and otherwise kept his nose clean and completed his time there. Now, about 3 years since prison, he is clean from drugs (thanks to prison time) and a couple of college courses away from being a full-fledged engineer.

Glad to hear that third world countries also have it this good.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, they aren't. I didn't realize inmates in 3rd world countries can get college degrees and advanced degrees for free while we law abiding citizens have to pay for ours. That's just for starters. Oh.....so you're an authority because you've watched a lot of TV specials. Don't believe everything you see on TV.

Answer 7

Because people who say that don't know what they are talking about. I got to visit a Costa Rican jail and it was hellish compared to US jails.

The US prison has a major problem with overcrowding and gang activity, but that is fairly common across the world. Real third world prisons (i.e. Colombian, Peruvian, Nicaraguan) are essentially a fenced off area where the prisoners and gangs are allowed to do as they please as long as they don't get out....

Answer 8

I think the problem is that our prisons here in the US are too soft on criminals. Why do they have the right to any creature comforts? It is not a resort. It is a prison filled with criminals.....I think we should take lessons from third world countries. Maybe when those CRIMINALS get out they won't be so eager to come back.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

I wouldn't go that far. Some people purposefully live a life of crime just so they can get INTO prison, where you get a roof over your head, three hots and a cot without spending a dime of your own money (which you probably don't have anyways).