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

[Dekkaz]

Coming from Australia. American jail laws are ridiculously long, 3-5 for a theft is plain stupid but in the long run I think it may pay off. If the drug issues are resolved then it may be for the better in later years.

In the short run, bite your bottom lip and do all you can to help him get a minimum sentence.

 

[Ritalynn]

not like he was doing anything anyway, jail would probably keep him from trying to borrow more money from your family.

 

[EHKOS]

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?

That's why prisons are called correctional facilities.

And we've had no repeat offenders other than the black sheep every once in a while right? The system we are using does not work. Is there a system that would? I don't know, I just know for sure this one isn't.

 

[Zyntoxic]

It is a bit of a problem that they put young people in prisons since they gat more bad influence there than anywhere else and come out worse for it.
But what should we do about it, society needs a system that makes people feel that the world is fair even though it isnt.
Besides, people who do commit crimes usually need help to get back to the right track again.

There is actually a high chance that he is very helpable, but only if he understands the terrible effects the drugs have on his life and those around him.
this is gonna sound harsh, I know because I have an adicted father and my grandfather is a sober alcoholic, but the best (and accoarding to most the only) way for him to understand is if you make him understand. As long as he has family who accepts his adiction he can't truly understand the magnitude of his problem.
Every time he choses drugs he choses them over you and you should make that crystal clear, so Every time he does that choice it gets harder when you distance your selves from him.

But every time he attempts to be better you should fully support him, help him if he is about to stumble. But every time he falls back into his bad habits you can't stay for him, he will have to take that journey all over again.

And now that he is in jail he is taking a turn for the better, since he is more likely to be off the drugs while in there (if he doesn't manage to get a hold on some drugs in jail, but that is much harder than on the streets) so now is the time for you and your family to support him.
love him and trust him, and make him understand that you are more important to him than any high in the world ever could be.
There usually are some good psychiatrists available in these facilities and you should really encourage him to talk to one, and by that I mean REALLY talk, not go on about the weather until the session is over, that wont do anyone any good. there is probably nothing wrong with him per se, he is just a kid in some deep sh*t he needs help sorting out.
help him understand what he has done is wrong and why he is in jail, and help him understand why such knowledge and understanding is important for him to make his life better.

If you think about your little brother, the memories from your childhood, I think you will realize he is not a bad person, not to the core anyway, he is just a confused kid and in trouble.
He, like most humans, love and is loved by other as well, he is human and humans are faulty, humans are irresponsible, but in essence humans aren't evil, so neither is your brother.
We all have our lesser moments, and this is vital to understand to be able to help him.

Instead of think of how terrible it is that he is in jail, see this as an opportunity to truly help him to get back to the right track. he probably can't do this entierly on his own that's why he needs you help, and this will probably not just help him but you and your entire family will be stronger for it in the end.

It is a quite the project, I know, and it is gonna be really hard, but I sincerely wish you, your family and your brother the best of luck.

 

[Gustavo S. Buschle]

I think that putting people in jail never helps anything, sure, as long they are in there they won't do anything, but as soon as they get out they will be back on crime. I think that for most drug related crimes prison shouldn't be an option.

 

[FamoFunk]

Honestly. Your Brother should do the whole setence, granted it must be hard for you because it's your Brother and you'll want it reduced, alas, the syatem doesn't work like that just because he's your Brother.

I do agree he needs hekp though to become "better" can't you or your family help him get help?

 

[Snowy Rainbow]

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?

That's why prisons are called correctional facilities.

And we've had no repeat offenders other than the black sheep every once in a while right? The system we are using does not work. Is there a system that would? I don't know, I just know for sure this one isn't.

Feel free to point out where I said the system worked. I wanna edit that part, but can't find it.

 

[InfiniteSingularity]

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.

HEAR HEAR

Prison's fucked up. I don't see any reason why a drug user should be locked up, and forced to endure years of prison rape and violent beatings. It's fucked. There are so many "crimes" punishable by prison sentences which really shouldn't be. And this isn't just about your case, this is one in many similar cases which I take a similar stand on. Prison's shit, and most people who are in there don't deserve to be in there

Also I'm quite sick of the anti-drugs thingy. If people make the choice to partake in drugs, shouldn't they just have to bear the natural consequences? Adding legal jurisdiction only makes things worse. Law enforcements and the courts should not be the ones handling drug users; it should be in the hands of psychologists and medical professionals.

 

[Treaos Serrare]

3-5 is pretty a short stay in prison, now with that said THE prison he goes to will make all the difference in the world, some aren't as bad as others. for the crimes you say he was convicted on i doubt the will put him in a "pound me in the ass" type prison, you should count him lucky he isn't going to a Mexican prison whoa boy that's a rough place to be

 

[rs101]

To be quite honest, a junkie going through my place would have the police as the last of their problems; "But it wasn't violent.." Is not an excuse. Any theft from a person, individual's belongings, car, motorcycle.... Not in the same class as shoplifting.

I have had enough experience on the victim's side. It's not a one way street.

To be quite honest, I hope he enjoys his stay.

 

[MikeOfThunder]

I don't have any advise but I am curious about two things:

1. Can he join the army instead? I hear that in America, with certain crimes you can join the army instead.... I'm not too sure on this.

2. Are you planning on visiting him alot in prison? It will probably help him to know his family hasn't given up on him

 

[NightlyNews]

It's not like this is first time he's committing a crime. I hope the time in jail helps him.

I'm not even arguing that he probably deserves the sentence. But, sadly when kids that young go to jail, I almost never hear them coming out of it rehabilitated. They just think being criminals is the social norm.

That being said I can't think of any better system that would be prohibitively expensive. Jails just the best we can do for some people. Unfortunately it's kinda shit :/

 

[InfiniteSingularity]

To be quite honest, a junkie going through my place would have the police as the last of their problems; "But it wasn't violent.." Is not an excuse. Any theft from a person, individual's belongings, car, motorcycle.... Not in the same class as shoplifting.

Hope he enjoys his stay.

I think fines are punishment enough. Jailtime, especially that long for someone that young, is too harsh imo

 

[kuolonen]

Funy part is, in Finland you'd get 3-5 years for murdering someone while drunk, legal system is broken as a f*ck here.

OT: Think he deserved prison, but 3-5 ot five years might be bit overmuch for theft. But that might be the finn in me talking.
Also, to all the people wanking on about OP:s (possible) picture with drink in hand, have you never had drink yourself? Its of a strecth to assume from that, that OP:s a heavy drinker. And holding drinking equal to doing (hard)drugs, wtf guys?

 

[InfiniteSingularity]

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.

HEAR HEAR

Prison's fucked up. I don't see any reason why a drug user should be locked up, and forced to endure years of prison rape and violent beatings. It's fucked. There are so many "crimes" punishable by prison sentences which really shouldn't be. And this isn't just about your case, this is one in many similar cases which I take a similar stand on. Prison's shit, and most people who are in there don't deserve to be in there

Also I'm quite sick of the anti-drugs thingy. If people make the choice to partake in drugs, shouldn't they just have to bear the natural consequences? Adding legal jurisdiction only makes things worse. Law enforcements and the courts should not be the ones handling drug users; it should be in the hands of psychologists and medical professionals.

I don't know you, so don't take offense to my point. But, many people who adhere to your philosopy seem to be anti-prison in general. And I am very much pro prison. In fact, I would go a step further and say we should reintroduce the death penalty for much more petty crimes so that we can clear up our system.

having said that, I also wonder what would happen if, instead of locking a person away for ten years, we put him/her in a rehabilitation center for 3. It would probably cost the same (maybe less) and have more positive effects.

Still, prison isn't always bad. Almost all prisons have options available within them for people to rebuild their lives (therapy, education, spiritual support, fitness training, etc.), but the real problem is that the people within the system don't take advantage of such opportunities.

None taken

I'm very anti-prison, with some exceptions. Murder? Jail. Rape? Jail. Name more and I would tell you. But harsh penalties for petty crimes are ridiculous - I believe the punishment should suit the crime. Murder, rape, and other assault crimes should be met with jail time, for that reason. Theft should be met with mandatory return of property plus moderate fines, and drug use/abuse should be met with rehab programs. Drug dealing should be punished with confiscation of all substances plus very heavy fines etc.

This is my stance, and I think that for the most part, jail is a ridiculous punishment. 3 years of my life gone for stealing? Yeah, theft is wrong, but 3 years is a bit much.

I understand that prisons can be well structured with good opportunities, but I still don't support it. I also don't support the death penalty in most cases. And I agree with your idea of rehab rather than prison, it would almost be infinitely better. Prison does more harm than good

 

[intheweeds]

One can hope that this will be good for him. I would assume its the same as Canada where 3-5 years means depending on behavior? He'll have a much harder time finding drugs in prison (i know they are there, but its not like its easy to get). Hopefully he will be clean by the time the three years is up and if he straightens up, he can plead to the parole board. If he hasn't straightened up after 3 years, it is possible he really did need more time after all.

This might be the best thing for him. I was a pretty serious addict in my younger days. Turning around is very hard, I had to change my life completely, stop seeing people i otherwise really liked and considered friends. I never had to go to prison, but the shocking change in lifestyle could be very helpful believe it or not. His druggie friends won't be around to help him stay addicted.

 

[Dr Jones]

Sure the kid is a fuck-up.

Good to see you love him so.