who should go to jail?

Question

the purpose of jail in a free society should be to detain people who are a threat to others why is it that people go to jail over traffic tickets or fines i thought debtors prison was immoral but our government can throw you in prison for non payment so why can our government here in the US practice something people all over the world consider immoral

Answer 1

You bring up a great dichotomy in how people in the US think of jails. Some see them as a benefit to society-a way to protect citizens from the criminal element while, when possible, helping rehabilitate minor criminals so that they can become contributing members of society once they get out. These people believe in prisoner rights. OTHERS (as seen in some of these answers) see prison as punitive, straight out punishment for people who broke the rules (and weren't rich enough to weasel out of it), and thus anything that happens to someone in prison, "he asked for" by committing the crime. I find that too extreme--few of our laws would condemn someone to the physical harm many face in prison, and because of that threat of harm, more prisoners come out of their sentence hardened than rehabilitated.

I don't know that we'll ever reconcile those two sides.

As for going to jail for not paying fines? That's not quite the same thing as a "debtor's prison" (which, you're quite right, used to be a common punishment for people who could not pay their debts). The idea behind fines (and jail for non-payment) is that we all have a tenuous agreement with the society in which we live to obey its laws, most of which are for the common good (not running red lights or speeding--which is considered reckless driving--or littering). If we don't like laws, we must act to try to change them, but we still must obey them. Without punishment for disobedience, the laws wouldn't last long, so when you break them, society gives you the choice of jail time or paying a fine. If you then do not make good on the fine you agreed to pay, you get more jail time than you would have if you'd settled for that immediately.

For what it's worth.

Answer 2

There isn't any such thing as debtor's prison. If you go to jail over something minor, it's usually because you had the option to pay or serve time and you chose to pay but then did not. read the fine print. Also try using punctuation next time.

Answer 3

Jail was never created in our society as a means to detain people who were a threat to others - it was intended to be a punishments for something done wrong. Dont' rewrite history.

Answer 4

I suppose gaol use to be an English spelling. I do not forget learning historical past seeing an English poem announcing they could alternatively be in gaol than the the deficient residence. I suppose prison spelling has usurped gaol spelling I suppose the ao being that why circular does not support it simply appears like a misspelling of target. I am sticking with the American spelling prison I simply consider extra at ease with it.

Answer 5

Laws everywhere are different. I would rather go to jail than have a hand cut off over a debt. Don't know where you read the statements you are making.

Answer 6

The purpose of mental hospitals is to detain people who are a threat to others.

The purpose of a jail is to punish law breakers.

Answer 7

I'll tell you who.The vast majority of the democratic party.