- Jan 1, 2005
- 772
- 47
I'm beginning to doubt the ability of the prison system to rehabilitate convicts and reforming the prison system might not be enough, at least not as a long-term, end goal. I have mixed feelings on the subject because the prospect of going to such a scary place may help to deter crime a lot better than the prospect of being put on house arrest, made to perform community service and to see a psychologist would.
What do you think? Is the eventual abolition of prison a practical idea?
I am leaning towards 'yes' but I'd like to hear more about the subject. Rehabilitating criminals (and thus, helping to deter more crime) is more important than punishing people, I think. Does prison do this? Society takes hardened criminals (and people like sex workers and drug addicts who haven't harmed anyone) and locks them up in a building with other hardened, brutalized criminals and expects them to learn compassion in this kind of an environment. Surviving prison requires single-mindedness, aggression and an insensitivity to the feelings and self-interests of others, traits that got them locked up to begin with. Would it be a stretch to equate the prison system to 21st century slavery?
What do you think? Is the eventual abolition of prison a practical idea?
I am leaning towards 'yes' but I'd like to hear more about the subject. Rehabilitating criminals (and thus, helping to deter more crime) is more important than punishing people, I think. Does prison do this? Society takes hardened criminals (and people like sex workers and drug addicts who haven't harmed anyone) and locks them up in a building with other hardened, brutalized criminals and expects them to learn compassion in this kind of an environment. Surviving prison requires single-mindedness, aggression and an insensitivity to the feelings and self-interests of others, traits that got them locked up to begin with. Would it be a stretch to equate the prison system to 21st century slavery?