Is there anyone else that thinks its wrong to privatize prisons, don't we want inmates rehabilitated?

Question

The way I've been hearing it is that prisons are getting worse and worse. I don't know the statistics, but I know a lot that go to prison return in one way or another. And I don't want to go into the race and gender issue of this, but that in itself is not cool.

Answer 1

prisons should never have been turned into big business. I think that approach is part of the problem in the us,, we are supposed to be the home of the free, not the home of the incareted..........I think that we have created a monster with that one. big buisiness likes to expand..... do you think there will be less people in jail ? or do you think that there will be lobbys for tougher laws stiffer sentences and more time?
sigh.

Answer 2

In general, by the time someone is sent to prison.. they are beyond rehabilitation anyway.

Also... the more comfortable prison is... the less useful it is as a punishment for crimes. And if its not looked at as punishment... its not a deterrent.

We recently had a man walk into a bank, hand the teller a hold up note... take the cash and SIT DOWN to wait to be arrested... because he couldn't afford health care he needed and he knew that going to prison he'd get it free.

The system is very broke.

Answer 3

Hi!

We will always have a prison problem and overcrowding if prisons are about punishment without rehabilitation. Privatization tends to muddy the water. We need an agreed approach that involves the victims of rime, local communities,
prisoners and their families; the Probation Service, Police and Prison Service; local authorities, accommodation providers, schools and faith groups all working together in a planned way to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour so that over time fewer people are going to prison and prisons themselves can focus on dealing with harder to reach criminals.

I help run a pilot scheme in the North of England that works along these lines. We have not only reduced crime, anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime, but have seen significant numbers of people who were going astray becoming fulfilled citizens through education, employment, improved accommodation options that are made as available to them as anyone else in the community.

It was not easy, as different member partners had different views as to approach. However, more prisons are signing up to join our day release program and magistrates, police officers and others are signing up for the training modules I run. It has helped turn our community from one ruled by the fear of crime to one where one time victims can confidently and safely challenge negative behaviour on sight.

Good Wishes.

Answer 4

I think the prisons should be a self supportive environment.
The people that are prisoners should be doing their own gardening and raising their own animals and food. Cleaning their own bathrooms, cooking their own meals. Make them work for themselves. Maybe it would teach them how to get along in society.
Then if they don't do their work, let the other inmates take care of them one way or another.
I think it is time for the citizens of the US to quit babying the prisoners and paying taxes so they are better off than the rest of us that have to work for a living.
If they all kill each other in prison maybe the world would be better off.

Answer 5

I believe in letting the capitalistic system work. Privatization is more likely to mean better efficiency and higher standards. I'm not saying that the inmates won't still have high recidivism rates...it kind of goes with the territory, but I would say that IF there is a chance at rehabilitation, a privatized system would be more likely to do it better.

Answer 6

I noticed how everyone says "why should we try to rehablitate prisoners when they just return in six months anyways??"... Doesn't that answer your own question?? If they're returning in six months they obviously aren't being rehabilitated. This is a big problem and absolutely something needs to be done about it. What that something is I don't know.

Answer 7

It is getting worse, and that's why it needs to be privatized. The government is much better at oversight than they are at running things. An agency can do the day to day maintenance and the government can oversee them. There is no damn reason why someone should be in imminent danger of contracting staph or TB while in prison. It's only a matter of time before that gets brought to the rest of us.
.

Answer 8

seems when any government takes over the paperwork and business end of a project they spend money like water, cause THE money isn't theirs to worry about.
Government is always very inefficient compared to most well run private enterprises.
If a business isn't being run well, let it die (don't let them claim bankruptcy) and let another person or group take over who can prove they are reputable and know how to make money and do the job well !

BTW I think prisoners should pee in a bucket
and get slop for food, then they will think twice before becoming career criminals !

Answer 9

I'm not deluding myself. The vast majority of inmates will never be rehabilitated. I'm willing to give them one try through the system but the next time around throw away the key. I personally don't really care about rehabilitation after that one try. I just care about protecting the rest of society against them.

Answer 10

Some cant be rehabilitated. The primary reason to go to prison is to keep them OUT of society, and to pay their debt TO society.

But what does privatization have to do with anything?