So... My little brother is going to prison.

[ace_of_something]

I dont think he should be in jail. The jails are overcrowded becuase shit like this means jail. 3-5 dosent mean 3-5. He probably can get out with on or two years and parole.

Jails are rarely overcrowded, except in high crime areas like Miami and Memphis, due to their transitory nature. Prisons on the other hand... can be a different story. Even then in about 4/5 states the prisons aren't overcrowded often times running at about 85% capacity. This is a misconception perpetuated by the media because most major media outlets are based in New York City or California two places which ARE overcrowded. (Florida is another really bad one)

The problem with saying "just fine him" is that...well...quite frankly if you're stealing to feed a drug habit you won't have money to pay a fine with.

Alot of people also seem to be looking at prison as some sort of rehabit center. It's not just about treating criminals - it's also about keeping criminals away from other people. You can't steal from someones house inside a prison.

Naw they just steal candy out of each others cells and get into hilarious fist fights.

 

[skitzin]

Even still your brother will likely be going to a 'minimum' security facility which will be filled with similarly non-violent offenders... unless it's 'minimum-medium' in which case he might have to share his living quarters with child molesters depending on how they separate people at his facility.

Not sure about the US but over here (Australia) they don't let anybody mix with the child molesters except for other child molesters considering the high risk they are at. I would imagine they wouldn't put him in anything special unless there is a specific cause for concern about his physical well being (i.e. suicide watch or protection unit)? I would have thought it be a similar scene in the US Could be wrong though :/

 

[ace_of_something]

I dont think he should be in jail. The jails are overcrowded becuase shit like this means jail. 3-5 dosent mean 3-5. He probably can get out with on or two years and parole.

Jails are rarely overcrowded, except in high crime areas like Miami and Memphis, due to their transitory nature. Prisons on the other hand... can be a different story. Even then in about 4/5 states the prisons aren't overcrowded often times running at about 85% capacity. This is a misconception perpetuated by the media because most major media outlets are based in New York City or California two places which ARE overcrowded. (Florida is another really bad one)

Well he said "jail time" and "3-5 year prison sentence". So I'm really not sure where he's going to. Also, link?

I'm not going to link, cuz I recall the datum from a textbook, granted that was between 2-6 years ago depending on when I read it so it might be a bit dated. This is personal knowledge of mine from working in that industry and having a MS in Criminal Justice and Sociology. So no, I'm not arguing based on my ability to use google. It's real experience.
I was just being flippant Jail is where you go to await trial or if you've been given a short sentence (usually less than 2 years). Prison is where you go after you've been convicted and your sentence is more than 2 years.
Having cousins/brothers that work in different security prisons in different parts of this country I can tell you it's FAR from torture. It's fucking club med. They get exercise time. Free digital TV sometimes Cable. Free classes for learning a trade. Free health care (granted it's not GREAT but it is free) A team of security officers protecting you from each other. They can walk around the prison. In all but the highest security (which a burglar is NOT going to go to) you only spend like 7 mandatory hours a day in your cell. You know what they did recently here? They let about 40 prisoners go down to the river and help set up a sand bags for an impending flood. They actually got to go outside for a while (though yes, surrounded by armed guards). They all loved it.

When I worked in a jail most guys would say "I can't wait to get out of here and get up to the prison" because in the jail guards had to be stricter with everything, since so many people are coming in and out there's no room for letting people 'get to know they lay of the land'

Modern corrections has come a LONG way from Shawshank Redemption and Oz. Even prison rapes are down a lot in the last decade.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/programs/prisonrapeelimination.htm
Still a problem but it's much rarer than TV would have you believe.

 

[ace_of_something]

Even still your brother will likely be going to a 'minimum' security facility which will be filled with similarly non-violent offenders... unless it's 'minimum-medium' in which case he might have to share his living quarters with child molesters depending on how they separate people at his facility.

Not sure about the US but over here (Australia) they don't let anybody mix with the child molesters except for other child molesters considering the high risk they are at. I would imagine they wouldn't put him in anything special unless there is a specific cause for concern about his physical well being (i.e. suicide watch or protection unit)? I would have thought it be a similar scene in the US Could be wrong though :/

Depends on the facility. For example more than half of the inmates at a facility are Chimos in one of the prisons in Georgia my cousin works at. They don't bother separating them there is a very weird social structure that gets developed in a prison. Since it's mostly Chimos (that rhymes with shy-low) the non-chimo inmates tend to leave them alone or interact with them normally.

You could do volumes on the different social structures that develop in corrections.

 

[Woodsey]

"My little brother (19 years old) is facing a 3-5 prison sentence. I know he deserves some jail time, but I think a quarter of his lifetime is a bit much. "

Well if he was 60 it'd only a 12th of his lifetime... so? Not really relevant.

Anyway, the way drugs are handled over here and in the US seems retarded to me.

 

[ace_of_something]

Thats what you get for good behavior though. Prision, is still prison. And you still lack the freedom to go out and pick up a chicken for dinner or go to the movies. Granted, its not torure and maybe that was a bit harsh. But from what I've heard (by first hand accounts), its no picnic either.

Honestly it's the reverse. They let you have TV, Playtime, sign up for special duties, and all that good stuff right at the beginning. They take it away when you misbehave if you stay good for (like a month) you get it back again.
Unless it's a Max Security prison.
Those sound like the most boring places on earth.

 

[skitzin]

Depends on the facility. For example more than half of the inmates at a facility are Chimos in one of the prisons in Georgia my cousin works at. They don't bother separating them there is a very weird social structure that gets developed in a prison. Since it's mostly Chimos (that rhymes with shy-low) the non-chimo inmates tend to leave them alone or interact with them normally.

You could do volumes on the different social structures that develop in corrections.

Fair enough then was just wondering like I said I don't know about the US but Australia mixing them has never ended well. But to each their own I spose.

And yeah prisons have their own set of social systems and even come with specialised behaviours to match it.

 

[UmJammerSully]

My knowledge on the subject is very limited, so as usual I'll just post a relevant youtube vid instead of actually thinking about it myself. :I

 

[ahumblevirtue]

Tell him to behave and he'll be out in a year and a half.

-Prison Guard

 

[spartan231490]

I live half way across the country and recently got a call from him in jail. My little brother (19 years old) is facing a 3-5 prison sentence. I know he deserves some jail time, but I think a quarter of his lifetime is a bit much. Sure the kid is a fuck-up, but shouldn't someone so young get some sort of rehabilitation option? As far as American prisons go, I think this will only make him worse off than he was before.

Does anyone with experience with family members going to prison have a decent opinion? I know I'm probably wrong, thinking this way... But this is my little fucking brother. I can't stand the idea that he's going to prison for so long. It crushes me.

Edit : Since most people don't understand the case (Which is completely understandable.)

My little brother has had some issues with drugs. His specific crime was stealing from someone's home (in a non-violent way.)

Bad person? Of course. Unable to be changed? No way. I'm not going to say he's a good kid, because he isn't. But he isn't beyond being helped... I just wish people were more flexible, people like him don't need to spent a decade in prison. They need to be monitored for drug consumption. I'm fairly confident if he was able to kick his habits, he'd be able to be a respectable citizen.

I'm not an expert, but they will often lessen the sentence of drug-related crimes if you agree to go to a certified rehabilitation center(assuming you stay there for the full time you're supposed to). Hope this helps.

 

[Atheist.]

I live half way across the country and recently got a call from him in jail. My little brother (19 years old) is facing a 3-5 prison sentence. I know he deserves some jail time, but I think a quarter of his lifetime is a bit much. Sure the kid is a fuck-up, but shouldn't someone so young get some sort of rehabilitation option? As far as American prisons go, I think this will only make him worse off than he was before.

Does anyone with experience with family members going to prison have a decent opinion? I know I'm probably wrong, thinking this way... But this is my little fucking brother. I can't stand the idea that he's going to prison for so long. It crushes me.

Edit : Since most people don't understand the case (Which is completely understandable.)

My little brother has had some issues with drugs. His specific crime was stealing from someone's home (in a non-violent way.)

Bad person? Of course. Unable to be changed? No way. I'm not going to say he's a good kid, because he isn't. But he isn't beyond being helped... I just wish people were more flexible, people like him don't need to spent a decade in prison. They need to be monitored for drug consumption. I'm fairly confident if he was able to kick his habits, he'd be able to be a respectable citizen.

All due respect, but if you think he could be helped, what the hell were you and your family doing for the past x years where he was being and becoming the person that ended up in jail? I'm not saying it's your fault (not nearly my point, really), but I just mean, if you think he can be helped, why do you think some rehab or whatever is gonna help him more than you ever could and can still?

Anyway, 3-5 years is a bit harsh sure, but he should be able to get on parole with good behaviour. You might want to go over there and help him through it if you can.

As for your topic itself, I think prison itself is complete and ineffective bullshit, but that's really more of a philosophical and sociological point we can discuss than a pragmatic one involving your little bro. As far as your situation goes, as I've said above, go there if you can and try to help him through it and get his life back on track.

Well as I said, he lives half way across the country with our father. My Dad is a scumbag that steals from his family, so I can see how my brother got influenced by him. I offered my brother several times to move in with me (Mind you I'm only 21 and he's 19) but I would have paid his share of rent until he got a job.

 

[Atheist.]

Snip!

My biological father was in and out of jail for the first 12 years of my life. One of my earliest memories is the call he'd get to make every Sunday.

Yeah, I don't have much in the way of actual advice for you or anything, but feel free to send me a message if you ever need someone to vent to.

Thanks for the offer, nice to see some people are kind, unlike the poster above you.

 

[Atheist.]

I live half way across the country and recently got a call from him in jail. My little brother (19 years old) is facing a 3-5 prison sentence. I know he deserves some jail time, but I think a quarter of his lifetime is a bit much. Sure the kid is a fuck-up, but shouldn't someone so young get some sort of rehabilitation option? As far as American prisons go, I think this will only make him worse off than he was before.

Does anyone with experience with family members going to prison have a decent opinion? I know I'm probably wrong, thinking this way... But this is my little fucking brother. I can't stand the idea that he's going to prison for so long. It crushes me.

Edit : Since most people don't understand the case (Which is completely understandable.)

My little brother has had some issues with drugs. His specific crime was stealing from someone's home (in a non-violent way.)

Bad person? Of course. Unable to be changed? No way. I'm not going to say he's a good kid, because he isn't. But he isn't beyond being helped... I just wish people were more flexible, people like him don't need to spent a decade in prison. They need to be monitored for drug consumption. I'm fairly confident if he was able to kick his habits, he'd be able to be a respectable citizen.

Well... none of my family members went to prison ever (in living memory) I used to work in a jail and am a currently a detective that catches people like your brother. (crimes against property)

Burglary is a very serious offense. Even if it's non violent I've seen more than a few people become agoraphobic after a burglary. It's being violated on a very personal level. Chances are the only reason it wasn't 'violent' is because your brother was lucky enough that the people didn't come home. He had to go in likely having a plan for IF they did come home.

Second sentences for most crimes are determined by the state. 3-5 is standard for a SECOND burglary charge or one that has an extensive record before it. The first is usually 2-3. In addition nearly every state has some sort of 'for every day you're good you get out X days earlier' program.
As far as flexibility propaganda constantly comes out how 'mandatory minimum sentences' exist. While they do in some capacity. With the right lawyer or right conditions your brother could spend say a year in jail and then the remaining 5 on probation. Or he could take classes to get a GED, or learn a Trade skill while in Jail/Prison (this is why soooo many people that work in construction have criminal records) In addition Parole officers work very hard with ex-cons to re-integrate them back in to the outside world. Helping them find jobs and so forth. Most people I've seen fail their Parole/Probation do so because they don't take it seriously or blow off what their officer says.

... a quarter of his life? You know how old your brother is going to be when he dies? Is it 20 years old?

Before anyone ignorant brings it up thanks to President Bush (in the ONLY thing I like that he ever did) [a href=http://community.nicic.gov/blogs/prea/default.aspx]Prison Rape Elimination Act[/a] has helped the corrections community identify, isolate and punish predators on a level that has reduced the commonality of such things are now very rare. Even still your brother will likely be going to a 'minimum' security facility which will be filled with similarly non-violent offenders... unless it's 'minimum-medium' in which case he might have to share his living quarters with child molesters depending on how they separate people at his facility.

I have seen plenty of people go to the cooler for short sentences only to come out as productive (albeit blue collar) workers.

Well first off, when I said a quarter of his life, I was referring to him getting out on a 5 year sentence. It will have nearly been a quarter of his life experience up until that point in time.

While I agree burglary is obviously bad, I must make the point that I have been a victim of burglary myself. As a victim, I feel I deserve an opinion on the whole matter. It is a seriously shitty thing to have happen to you, and it is one of the reasons I don't invite many people into my home. But if I was given everything back, and compensated properly, I wouldn't send the offender to prison (Maybe a few months in jail.)

Also this happened in Florida, and I guess I failed to mention he was/is on probation for a minor drug possession. This will affect his sentencing for sure.

While our family isn't poor, we in no way have the money to provide him a private lawyer. I have more money put away than both of my parents combined at age 21, but I can't afford to literally give up my savings for a house to pay a lawyer to maybe get him a reduced sentence. I gamble, but not to that extent.

Lastly, I know my little brother quite well, and while I haven't seen him much in the last two years, he isn't a violent person. If someone showed up, he'd bail. He may be a crook, but he isn't going to kill anyone. Anyways, thanks for the response, just figured I'd clear some things up.

(Also escapist, sorry for the triple post. I was just going through my responses individually.)

 

[Vrach]

I live half way across the country and recently got a call from him in jail. My little brother (19 years old) is facing a 3-5 prison sentence. I know he deserves some jail time, but I think a quarter of his lifetime is a bit much. Sure the kid is a fuck-up, but shouldn't someone so young get some sort of rehabilitation option? As far as American prisons go, I think this will only make him worse off than he was before.

Does anyone with experience with family members going to prison have a decent opinion? I know I'm probably wrong, thinking this way... But this is my little fucking brother. I can't stand the idea that he's going to prison for so long. It crushes me.

Edit : Since most people don't understand the case (Which is completely understandable.)

My little brother has had some issues with drugs. His specific crime was stealing from someone's home (in a non-violent way.)

Bad person? Of course. Unable to be changed? No way. I'm not going to say he's a good kid, because he isn't. But he isn't beyond being helped... I just wish people were more flexible, people like him don't need to spent a decade in prison. They need to be monitored for drug consumption. I'm fairly confident if he was able to kick his habits, he'd be able to be a respectable citizen.

All due respect, but if you think he could be helped, what the hell were you and your family doing for the past x years where he was being and becoming the person that ended up in jail? I'm not saying it's your fault (not nearly my point, really), but I just mean, if you think he can be helped, why do you think some rehab or whatever is gonna help him more than you ever could and can still?

Anyway, 3-5 years is a bit harsh sure, but he should be able to get on parole with good behaviour. You might want to go over there and help him through it if you can.

As for your topic itself, I think prison itself is complete and ineffective bullshit, but that's really more of a philosophical and sociological point we can discuss than a pragmatic one involving your little bro. As far as your situation goes, as I've said above, go there if you can and try to help him through it and get his life back on track.

Well as I said, he lives half way across the country with our father. My Dad is a scumbag that steals from his family, so I can see how my brother got influenced by him. I offered my brother several times to move in with me (Mind you I'm only 21 and he's 19) but I would have paid his share of rent until he got a job.

Fair enough, that explains a lot, shame he didn't accept your offer to move in then, I kinda wonder why

I'd bring it up again if I were you, try to get him to stay with you. Getting him away from a bad influence, especially when it's someone as close as family, especially a father for a son, should be your top priority.

As far as prison goes, my advice is to keep in strong contact with him. Try to get him to start rehabilitating while he's in the prison itself. Go over, talk to him, try to see what he's interested in, maybe give him some books to read while he's in there to prepare for a job when he gets out. With good behaviour, he should be out of there well before his sentence is out, especially if he's showing promise at rehabilitation. But first and foremost, stay in contact with him and don't let him feel alone or abandoned in there.

 

[Gigano]

...
If the rest of the thread is of any indication, he's fucked. Rehabilitation is a nice thought, but in a country that thinks the death penalty is a good idea, it's just not going to happen.

The American justice system always seemed extremely harsh to European eyes, but I guess it's simply the result of them having a different social contract, one much more focus on going to the extremes of "win or lose" in life. Unimaginable opportunity and conversely little to stop falling to unimaginable depths.

What I really take issue with is the fact that their prosecution rate is so high. And that the threat of these immensely harsh sanctions is undoubtedly used to pressure innocents into plea bargains to obtain convictions; Having so much of the executive/judicial branch be elected by popular vote isn't exactly doing much for civil rights or the rule of law.