Why does the U.S. spend so much on the jail system?

[DeathArtist]

this caome up when i wsa talking with some relatives about this 'supposed' new law in Las Vegas that police claim they can search your property without a warrant (though i believe this is blasphemy, since it is unconstitutional), but anyway, somehow it got off track and we ended up discussing why the U.S. spends so many taxpayer dollars on jails and inmates? Why not just have them all do some menial work or something instead of just sitting around all day? The money saved could go to things such as, reducing the massive debt that we have, or improving the education system, or getting rid of illegal immigrants (or forcing them through the citizenship process), or just helping out the honest, hard working people that need help and aren't trying to degrade society?

EDIT: you're right, this is useful, but i'm still not going to fix the spelling because then the other comment wouldn't make sense

 

[DeathArtist]

sorry, if the spelling is bad, i typed it up quick and was somewhat careless.

 

[JoshasorousRex]

There is the savior called the edit button. I find it useful every now and then.

Well inmates have family, friends too you know. If they were treated inhumanely than people would be mad

 

[Gooble]

Because the authorities still believe that prisoners have rights, and that they should be rehabilitated. As well as the huge population of prisoners in the US. And the amount of business prisons generate.

 

[Gigawolf1]

If you made them work, then they wouldn't commit crimes for free food and shelter, now would they?

You have to think before you improve the system.

They would still commit crimes of passion, though.

 

[Amnestic]

about this 'supposed' new law in Las Vegas that police claim they can search your property without a warrant (though i believe this is blasphemy, since it is unconstitutional),

If it is unconstitutional, it stands to reason that SCOTUS would not approve of such a thing and wield their mighty "Hold up bruv!" stick at Nevada. Internet lawlyers indeed.

improving the education system,

I can say with full confidence that I wouldn't want convicted inmates 'improving' any education system, be it my own University system or for my future-children.

or getting rid of illegal immigrants

Maybe you should make the process to apply for legitimate citizenship a little less convoluted and ridiculous before you start kicking people out every which way. I remember reading one person who was told they might have to wait up to 20 years before their application would be approved (or denied, as the case may have been)

just helping out the honest, hard working people that need help and aren't trying to degrade society?

Because a number of 'honest, hard working people' don't wish to work alongside convicted felons who are still servng their sentence.

sorry, if the spelling is bad, i typed it up quick and was somewhat careless.

Please use the Edit button in future.

 

[JoshasorousRex]

Because the authorities still believe that prisoners have rights, and that they should be rehabilitated. As well as the huge population of prisoners in the US. And the amount of business prisons generate.

Wait, what? Prisoners generate buisness? But how, don't they just eat, sleep and umm... stand around I guess? I don't know what they do for entertainment in prisons.

 

[Jedoro]

Because everyone who's politically correct thinks that criminals are regular people, too, so they shouldn't be forced to work, and being in prison is bad enough.

I'd prefer to get rid of all the ones who are in there for murder, rape, child molestation, torturing people to please sadistic pleasures, extreme racism, and participants in organized crime. Forget punishing them, let's just keep them from ever doing it again, save some cash, and move on.

 

[manaman]

sorry, if the spelling is bad, i typed it up quick and was somewhat careless.

Edit your fist post to fix things. Download Firefox if you cannot spell, leave the spell check on. It can work wonders.

Why does the US spend so much on jails? Cause we have people who do not want to see the constitution violated, and as such cannot stand for poor and improper treatment of prisoners. After all these are still people. I think they should relax a little and the prisoners should be forced to work menial jobs like the rest of us, and the money earned should be split part of it to pay for their stay and part of it to pay back the victims of their crimes. That way a hard worker could shorten his stay in prison while keeping him skills up to apply them to jobs he may be able to get outside of prison. Also more skilled jobs could be offered, and the inmates could learn the skills needed, furthering their education in the process. The ones that refuse to work could just sit in their cells 20 hours a day with nothing but library books to read, and let out for an hour or two to eat and exercise.

Then again I don't run things so we have a bunch of prisoners all getting TV cable and free medical care, all while retaining the right to sue.

The really funny thing is the same groups that would cry if we treated prisoners more like we did a hundred years ago have no problems with "interpreting" the constitution as far as gun control is concerned.

Maybe you should make the process to apply for legitimate citizenship a little less convoluted and ridiculous before you start kicking people out every which way. I remember reading one person who was told they might have to wait up to 20 years before their application would be approved (or denied, as the case may have been)

I whole heartedly agree with this statement. There are not hordes of illegal aliens trying to enter the country to smuggle drugs and weapons. There are a lot of people trying to get a taste of the American dream (as tarnished as it seems to be lately) who want nothing more then to work, live, and send back a little money so eventually their family's can live happily as well. These people should be welcome with open arms. Makings them work as illegals just encourages people to take advantage of them, and sometimes forces them to commit crimes.

 

[DeathArtist]

Amnestic, you should read the post fully before going off quoting. you may have skipped the line that answers all of your problems with my opinion

 

[dukethepcdr]

Yeah the U.S. does treat convicts like country club members. They get a lot of things they don't really need for "free" (free to them, really expensive to those who pay the taxes it takes to keep them behind bars). I get ticked off when some inmates whine to the TV cameras that they aren't getting this or that. These people should thank God they are living in the 2000's (or whatever you want to call this decade) and not back in the 1800's or earlier. If they think they have it bad, they should see what life was like for prison inmates back when you were lucky to get bread and water every day. I've been to old jails that have been turned into museums and the modern prisons I've been to (as a visitor) look like three star hotels by comparison. A lot of these people who complain about their rights being violated in prison wouldn't even be alive a few decades ago when more criminals were executed for their crimes rather than being held in prison for years and years.

Maybe if some of the "free" education these inmates get included the history of prisons both in the U.S. and in other countries, they would be a little more greatful for how good they have it in the US now.

 

[Gooble]

Because the authorities still believe that prisoners have rights, and that they should be rehabilitated. As well as the huge population of prisoners in the US. And the amount of business prisons generate.

Wait, what? Prisoners generate buisness? But how, don't they just eat, sleep and umm... stand around I guess? I don't know what they do for entertainment in prisons.

Think about all the aspects of what goes in to setting up a prison; construction (builders, welders, electricians, gas supply, water supply, architects, engineers, lawyers, sure there's a hell of a lot more, and all their suppliers, and everything that goes into those); food (chefs, transportation, their suppliers, ovens, pots, pans, the food itself, plates etc.); and I'm too tired to go into further details, but I assume you'll get the basic gist from that.

 

[dalek sec]

Because everyone who's politically correct thinks that criminals are regular people, too, so they shouldn't be forced to work, and being in prison is bad enough.

I'd prefer to get rid of all the ones who are in there for murder, rape, child molestation, torturing people to please sadistic pleasures, extreme racism, and participants in organized crime. Forget punishing them, let's just keep them from ever doing it again, save some cash, and move on.

I like how you think, just get rid of all the real hard cases that no one could cure so we can focus our efforts on the one's that actually do have a chance at turning their lives around.

 

[Jedoro]

Because everyone who's politically correct thinks that criminals are regular people, too, so they shouldn't be forced to work, and being in prison is bad enough.

I'd prefer to get rid of all the ones who are in there for murder, rape, child molestation, torturing people to please sadistic pleasures, extreme racism, and participants in organized crime. Forget punishing them, let's just keep them from ever doing it again, save some cash, and move on.

I like how you think, just get rid of all the real hard cases that no one could cure so we can focus our efforts on the one's that actually do have a chance at turning their lives around.

I like how I think, too.

But yeah, I mean druggies, thieves, and the other petty criminals haven't really ruined anyone else's life too much through direct action, and they can be rehabilitated from that, or at least learn not to do it again.

 

[dalek sec]

I like how I think, too.

But yeah, I mean druggies, thieves, and the other petty criminals haven't really ruined anyone else's life too much through direct action, and they can be rehabilitated from that, or at least learn not to do it again.

Exactly, people like that could have a good chance at learning from their mistakes and fixing their lives.

 

[walkingdead127]

becasuse we have so many Non-violent offenders in prison. Like some states have life sentences for possessing 1 gram of weed on the second conviction. WTF? 60% of people in prison are there for crimes like this. There has to be a better way than spend my tax money on some teen who happened to be pulled over with a blunt. I don't want to pay for his entire life behind bars.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

I should ask why The states waste so many tax dollars on the lethal injection? Isn't that thing a breach of human rights anyway? What was that chemical in the final injection that is meant to make you feel the worst pain imaginable?

But OT: I couldn't see any real reason why the chain gang was cut from prisons. Yes in a sense it's commercial slavery, but considering the crimes, I don't see why they can't be productive as well as rehabilitated. It would be a benefit.

becasuse we have so many Non-violent offenders in prison. Like some states have life sentences for possessing 1 gram of weed on the second conviction. WTF? 60% of people in prison are there for crimes like this. There has to be a better way than spend my tax money on some teen who happened to be pulled over with a blunt. I don't want to pay for his entire life behind bars.

At most contraband should be a fine and compulsory rehabilitation. At most.

 

[LongAndShort]

Because if you didn't spend so much looking after inmates you'd have the fucking civil rights lobby in your fucking face (instead of do something useful)

 

[Barciad]

Becuase they have a high crime rate and are not prepared to use other methods of lowering it. My suggestion would be to create a more equal, civil society. But then I'd get labelled a Socialist - or worse.