What is the point of prisoners staying incarcerated for more than 10-20 years?

Question

All it does it breed violence and hopelessness in prisons. Those who do change their lives for the better are condemned forever without hope. What a violation of Jesus's teachings. I believe those who are hopeless and heinous should just be executed. Those who are mad should be institutionalized until their condition improves. No one should stay in prison for life without parole, it's a heat-of-the-moment judgment that ignores the fact that people can change for the better. OJ hasn't killed anyone in 12 years, and he was arguably guilty.

Here's another point, why are governments allowed to invade other countries and kill other people, but gang bangers here sentenced to 20 years or more for their own wars? It's a tad hypocritical, isn't it? No wonder prison is a nightmare.

Artman, like the US government doesn't kill innocent people in their wars?

LMFAO!

Answer 1

Great point. Great questions. I think the only thing it does is take away the opportunity for someone to commit a crime for a very long time. Give some peace of mind to victims, etc.
The way to solve the crime problem is to address it before it starts. Prevention.
Emancipating individuals from hopelessness and empowering them to achieve things. Give people reasons to stay out of trouble and work toward success and they are far more likely to avoid crime.
It's common sense.
But nobody wants to worry about what life will be like in 20 years, they just want to try to fix everything today and that's foolish and never address the root of the problems.

Answer 2

So how do you decide who can be "cured" and who can't?

Recently I read about a sex offender that his FIRST day on parole stole a car, did an armed robbery at a shop, and kidnapped and raped a 17 years old girl; all in less that 12 hours after being set free on parole. So it seems rehabilitation didn't do any good for him or that poor girl.

Besides if people knew that for robbing a bank they would only do 3 months of therapy and pills, we would have losers robbing banks every hour, 24/7.

Maybe we can't cure some criminal but at least we can scare some sense into those thinking about trying to do something stupid; and 20 years is enough to make think anyone with a little of common sense.

The problem with crime is that most of the time is done by "idiots and morons", and that kind of people are hard to teach not do more crime because their subhuman minds can't grasp the concept.

As for the gang-wars, I don't mind if a bush of losers decide to kill each other, the problem is that most of the time they kill innocent people that have nothing to do with their illegal enterprises. And of course we can't allow that.

Answer 3

.......... the point is, they broke the law and that was the sentence the violation carried. Killing someone is wrong, (obviously *duh*) but the penatly for killing someone is a lengthy sentence in prison, sometimes without the possibilty of parole. If you don't want to spend the rest of your life in jail .... don't kill people. It's that simple.

I don't feel bad for them. And don't go throwing God's law into this, as that's where our legal system comes from. According to Deuteronomy & Leviticus... if someone took another persons life - the punishment was an immediate death sentence, (i.e, an "eye for an eye" law) not 20 years to life in a prison. So that's crap, don't give me that. And supposing a criminal does get "saved" while in prison, well that's great, they've eternity to look forward to, but the law is the law, and if they read the word, it clearly states there is consequence for wrongful action, as well as "don't murder" "don't steal" and all that other business.
If it's true repentence, than sure enough Jesus forgives them, BUT there is still a consequence for the action that led to imprisionment. God is gracious, yes, but he will not violate his own law, or his own word, which clearly states, to obey the authorites above you (and the laws over you) and if you don't there's consequence that follows. But most times these prisioners claim "salvation" not because they are really sorry, or they really believe in Christ, but because they think it will win them favour at an appeals board and lessen their sentence. Don't be so gulliable.

Answer 4

Prison is an institution where as you are punished for a crime you have committed. Most of what would be called lifers are people that have been given more then likely a dozen chances to change and do better. People in for life are generally ones who have been in and out of the prison system and they don't want to change into something more socially acceptable.

Invoking Jesus into this is not only wrong, but not an apple and oranges comparison.
Jesus promoted forgiving the sinner but not the sin. When the sinner fails to repent when should we forgive his sin?
The people that Jesus seemed to forgive that we knew of had greater importance in the world and in turn repented of their sins and changed into real Worthy men and women.
Most of what is in prison for life have told us they have repented and they are now a man/woman of God, yet they still do actions that would prove they only speak the words and not do the deeds.

ALSO, Jesus spoke many times of obeying your Government and it's laws. Also to obey the 10 commandments. (I am sure one of those 10 probably got the person in there and doing life. So what would Jesus do? Probably tell the man/woman that if they ask for forgiveness he will forgive if he meant it.. If not, what could he do? it is not possible for Sin to enter into Heaven

Answer 5

So you are saying Charles Manson should be let loose? You cannot compare our war to a bunch of thugs who did nothing but terrorize the general population. You need to reevaluate your values.

Answer 6

"Those who are mad should be institutionalized until their condition improves."
you really mean, until they can make people believe their condition has improved right??

Answer 7

It keeps them from committing further crimes - at least until they're released.

If you can't do the time - don't do the crime.

Answer 8

Let's see how you feel when someone rapes and murders yourself or someone you love.