Maybe I am not seeing the full picture because I have only been studying the criminal justice system for just over 2 years now but I do not see how any of the sentencing goals can be truly reached when our prisons are run the way they are today. I especially take issue with the goal of retribution, punishment based on a criminal act.
In the beginning of a structured penal system, punishment by imprisonment meant a dark, dank cell shared by 2 inmates. A prisoner served his time by solitude, the justice system hoped this would make the offender think about what he/she did and realize the err of their ways and become a better person. My question is, at what point did government think this did not work or was it the realization of civil rights that labeled this method as inhumane?
Then there was the onslaught of the thought that we can make these criminals better by rehabilitation. It seems to me this train of thought took on a life of it’s own and become more and more intricate. It seems to me that no one was looking at the statistics that have consistently shown that offenders are still apt to re-offend. The government and the powers-that-be just kept throwing more and more money into developing new programs. And the specialists in these fields found more and more employment available, which not only offered good government wages but significant benefit packages as well.
That being said, I ask you why a typical prison, such as the Stanley Prison near my home, offers inmates these options that I found by looking at the Stanley Correctional Institution’s 2009 Annual report (SCI, 2009)
Full medical capability, dental, and optometry. (How many law-abiding taxpayers citizens get free healthcare including dental and optometry?)
SCI’s Education Department’s Tutor Program. Throughout the year, tutors worked with an average of 245 students per month. The assistance and mentorship resulted in 239 of these men achieving their academic goal. (is it fair for the government to pay for convicts education rather than a law abiding citizen who wants to further their education but can not afford it) I also know for a fact that upon graduation, these inmates are thrown a party that includes a menu fit for a king for themselves AND their family)
Full scratch bakery on third shift. Our bakery produces all of the bread, buns, dinner rolls, sweet rolls, muffins and desserts for SCI
LAUNDRY SERVICE inmate clothing, sheets, rags, towels, jackets and other miscellaneous items. Convicts do not have to do their own laundry. In essence, they have maid service.
Indoor Recreation includes but is not limited to: Basketball, handball, weight lifting machines, volleyball, and ping pong. Each gymnasium offers a weight lifting area, basketball court (1 full court or 2 halfcourts),which doubles as volleyball courts and/or handball courts, two fully equipped music rooms, a room designated for table tennis and foosball Depending on the season, indoor and outdoor leagues are formed. Tournaments are hosted during the “off season.” Softball, “Pumpkin Ball”, 3-on-3 Basketball, Volleyball and Horseshoes.
Open Basketball and a 35+ years Basketball league, Volleyball and Singles and Doubles handball. During the holidays, recreation staff provides special indoor and outdoor games and tournaments.
Units also facilitate tournaments for board and card games.
Prizes are awarded for any special activity and at the completion of all season ending tournaments. For most organized recreational activities, the winners’ picture is taken to be used on our gymnasium plaques.Each sporting plaque is engraved with the winning housing unit/wing and year. <- American tax dollars at work!
The list goes on and on, and I wonder WHEN do inmates have time to think about the err of their ways ?
And whoever said CRIMES DOESN’T PAY was way off the mark. The staff pay for 2009:
Permanent Salaries of 381 employees: $16,402,433
Fringe Benefits: $9,730,118
Their benefits are equal to more than half their pay!
Maybe I should take a course on Corrections and find out more about the U.S. Penal System. I just hope I can get another student loan to do so. The going interest rate is 6.7% and the courses should cost less than $3500.
About a year after the prison first opened, I was at a public place and on TV the local news was featuring the prison’s first graduation and talking about the healthcare programs at the new prison. After learning that the inmates receive dental and optical care, someone said “I wonder what crime I need to commit to get in there for about 6 months to get my teeth fixed, I sure can’t afford it on my wages.” What a sad state of affairs this country is in.
