The burdens of prison have become enormous for both states and the federal government. They want to punish and deter crime, but in the end have succumbed to regulations that take intelligence and thoughtful thinking out of what punishment is decreed. One look at the age of the men in the prison at McCreary convinced me of this. Selling a minor amount of drugs, or being caught with it, receives the same punishment as a violent crime.
And once you’re sent to prison, the rate of return is high because most of these men see no future. Authorities can preach about opportunities but in my conversations with Jerry and others, it’s just that—words. I spoke to a woman whose friend was in for crimes involving drugs and she said the first time he went to prison, instead of being helped, he became even more hooked because the guards would bring in drugs. When you’re surrounded by people with the same problem, you’re already a full lap behind.
We should have this in mind as we become more immunized by the daily dose of crime reported by the media. As we punish, are we just creating a bigger problem. An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth just creates ----well, you know the rest. We need to think of more creative solutions. What did sending Jerry LeQuire to prison for 60 years actually do except increase the federal deficit? Not much, I think, especially when you consider that he was offered a slap on the wrist if he would testify against the Colombians. The sentence smacks more of revenge than justice.
As I have vicariously experienced the prison system, I have concluded that it---for lack of a better word, sucks.
More later..
And once you’re sent to prison, the rate of return is high because most of these men see no future. Authorities can preach about opportunities but in my conversations with Jerry and others, it’s just that—words. I spoke to a woman whose friend was in for crimes involving drugs and she said the first time he went to prison, instead of being helped, he became even more hooked because the guards would bring in drugs. When you’re surrounded by people with the same problem, you’re already a full lap behind.
We should have this in mind as we become more immunized by the daily dose of crime reported by the media. As we punish, are we just creating a bigger problem. An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth just creates ----well, you know the rest. We need to think of more creative solutions. What did sending Jerry LeQuire to prison for 60 years actually do except increase the federal deficit? Not much, I think, especially when you consider that he was offered a slap on the wrist if he would testify against the Colombians. The sentence smacks more of revenge than justice.
As I have vicariously experienced the prison system, I have concluded that it---for lack of a better word, sucks.
More later..
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