Do you think Prisons work?

Answer 1

Not the way they are operated now. If they had work gangs 5 days a week, one day a week for laundry etc and one day a week off (if earned). If they had to grow their own food and pay their own way by working at prison jobs instead of tax payers footing the bill, If they only had tv on saturday (if they earned it) If they did not have weight lifting equipment, color tv, etc than yes, it would work to deter crime. But if you take someone living on the street, or in a bad home, and the only punishment they will receive for a crime is 3 hot meals a day, free medical, a bed to sleep in, color tv etc, than heck no it doesn't work.

Answer 2

for some people in them yes. however more likely the system works at the jail level. that is as a deterrent. if the person has been to jail a few times and still keeps on with the criminal acts then prison is not going to change them .
the courts and the justice system need to have a variety of ways to treat a person . some need to be in a place where hard labour takes place . some in a training setting and others in a lock up for the rest of there life.
there are many other possible ways of dealing with crime.
gang members should be dealt with differently then a kid who breaks the law for the first time.
whipping staunches and so on should be used. they worked way back when and they can work now.

Answer 3

I think for a small amout of offenders they do but the vast majority goes onto commit further crime so overall the answer has to be no.

However, to an extent i don't care if they work or not because all i'm bothered about is these guys being locked away from me, you, our children, etc.

The part that lets the system down is we don't have enough prison places so we can't give out huge sentances with no early parol.
If a house burglar stood to get 10 years with no chance of an early release then i think he'd be less likely to break into your house.

Answer 4

On a short term basis, yes. Prison keeps a criminal away from the public population so that for the time being, he can do no harm.

On a long term basis, it's questionable. Sooner or later most convicts have to be released back into society, and it seems that in many cases all prison does in the long run is turn an amateur criminal into a professional criminal.

Answer 5

It depends on what you consider to be "working".
Prisons are very good at keeping criminals away from the general population for a specified period of time. However, they are also excellent schools on how to be a better criminal. And, inmates are subjected to brutalization by other inmates and guards.
What's needed? More control within prisons so that they are safer for inmates and guards. Better training for dealing with life constructively and without drugs. Better follow-up upon release.
Will any of these things happen? Probably not. Each is expensive and combined they are prohibitive. In Arizona, at least, a polititian would get nailed to the figurative cross for suggesting that inmates receive better treatment. No money to do it right (rehabilitate), but plenty of money to do it over (recidivism).

Answer 6

Do they work? Yes they do...because the point of a prison is to keep scumbags of the streets, and since there are many locked up, they are not on the streets.

Answer 7

Do you really want my essay on this, or shall I just say no and leave it alone?

From the cop to the lawyers to the judge to the prison to the guards and all the way back - the whole system is broken.

Answer 8

Prison never has worked, criminals go in... learn to be better criminals and chances are when they get out they just want back in. they are effective in ruining lives. especially for those who learned thier lesson long before sentencing ever took place.

Answer 9

No... but prisoners should

Answer 10

They work when used. Remember, the purpose is to keep criminals of the streets.