Prisons. Part 1.

As I've written before, this blog is to practice my writing skills.  I've had an idea that has been running around in the back of my head for awhile.  I thought that writing parts of it down would help me figure out what I'm thinking of.

Let me set a few standard "rules".  If you do something illegal you may be sent to jail.  The purpose of imprisonment is twofold, a deterrent and rehabilitation.  Because of the Bill of Rights when in prison one can expect to not be abused or tortured.  Whilst "vacationing" on Uncle Sam's dime one can expect medical care, entertainment (library and tv), food, clothing, and shelter (the so called three hots and a cot).

As a deterrent it seems to work for some people.  The people that it doesn't work on are the people that think prison is better than the world they grew up in.  Is it a deterrent when people learn how to be a better criminal?  Yes, the death penalty is a deterrent to some but with the years involved with appeals is it truly a deterrent when the chance of death is very slim?

As for the rehabilitation part; where's the rehab?  People in jail don't learn new skills, at least not skills that make it easy to leave the criminal life.  Actually, the only skill I can think of that can be learned in jail and transferred to the real world is tattoo artist.

In theory, when a person gets out of prison their debt to society is over.  Is it?  Put ex-con on your application and try to get a job.  Try to rent an apartment.  When I was a landlord I would tell the applicants that we would do a background check, I told them that crimes against children, sex crimes, and attacking your landlord are the only things that would prevent them from getting the place.  After learning some different laws we expanded that to include drug dealing.  Some people say that people don't have to be forced to work with someone that murdered their co-worker or a stranger.  Fair enough.  Unfortunately, with that attitude an ex-con can only go back to crime to live.  Also, consider the psychology of the pit bull; people think they are bad dogs so they are treated like crap, treating a dog like crap will bring out the worst in the dog.  Apply that same logic to a sentient being.

Again, I'm just putting down some notes and ideas for expansion later.  I believe that something must be done in our society but I'm still trying to figure out what.