Prison Opinions. Cash Cow or Re-habilitation

[angelhome]

I am seeking opinions, not battles. I am in prison ministry, thinking about going back to school for criminal justice so
that I can work for change. While I do think prison is a necessary thing, and I certainly understand a lot more than most
- in many instances I see abuse. I write to many inmates and I have found that most men were abandoned by their
fathers and become really angry. Please share your opinion with me in a professional manner. That is what adults do.

[sdecaro558]

I would say that prisons are definitely necessary.  I'm not arguing for no prison system here.  However, at this point I would say there is absolutely nothing rehabilitating about prisons.  First of all, people put in the prison system to my knowledge receive no counseling or therapy for their issues.  Instead they're left to brood in cells or work for little/no pay.  They are subject to danger from other inmates, and prison gangs are a problem as well.  When they get out, if they have no family or support system, then they tend to be in trouble.  Prisoners generally have no money when getting out of prison, and often have trouble getting jobs because of their record.  Rather than rehabilitation, reentry into the prison system is the most likely scenario.

[angelhome]

Thank you for your reply... I feel that way too. that is where I desire to see the change. some kind of program that will give inmates positive reading material. That not only makes them think about what they did, but take responsibility for it and grow. I communicate with about 1000 inmates as a pen pal. It is a real job, but I have watched many change their attitude and life. I am a Jewish believer and my material is all center around Bible Study with good clean jokes. I have been doing the articles for about 15 years an have many that I am wanting to do a book with, something of the order of "Chicken Soup"... back to the subject: I do think we need prisons and we can't blame the prisons for keeping the the inmates there, but the courts are much to blame too. & please do not think I am serving inmates, for I have put a couple of fellows in for child molestation. I just feel there has got to be a balance there somewhere. & I do hope I get more replies from others.  Let's talk. Thanks again for your reply.

[irishlady1970]

People make choices that affect their lives and the lives of others every day. Criminals are no different. They choose to go out and commit crimes for whatever reasons (excuses) they have. There are many people out there abandoned by a parent as a child living productive lives and never commit crimes. Inmates don't take responsibility for their actions, they just make excuses for what they have done and in my opinion is a cop-out. I worked as a corrections officer for 8 years in the prison system and have seen inmates shun counseling and help that was handed to them on a silver platter. Inmates are also notorious for being the biggest manipulators of people with kind hearts. I have seen this all too often in the prison system. Rehabilitation starts with an inmate and they will not be rehabilitated until they decide they want to change their lives.

[SCarter984]

Thank you for your reply... I feel that way too. that is where I desire to see the change. some kind of program that will give inmates positive reading material. That not only makes them think about what they did, but take responsibility for it and grow. I communicate with about 1000 inmates as a pen pal. It is a real job, but I have watched many change their attitude and life. I am a Jewish believer and my material is all center around Bible Study with good clean jokes. I have been doing the articles for about 15 years an have many that I am wanting to do a book with, something of the order of "Chicken Soup"... back to the subject: I do think we need prisons and we can't blame the prisons for keeping the the inmates there, but the courts are much to blame too. & please do not think I am serving inmates, for I have put a couple of fellows in for child molestation. I just feel there has got to be a balance there somewhere. & I do hope I get more replies from others.  Let's talk. Thanks again for your reply.

I have a question for you.  Are we leaning more towards prisons or concentration camps?    Altering inmates DNA and experimental injections, starvation and carrying people out on stretchers who once came in healthy.  I find it hard to believe that the United States crying about budget problems, find it necessary to ignore the facts.  Most are kept six times longer in Michigan than anywhere else in the nation.  To me it is flat out abuse of the prisoners in many ways.  Especially with the many mentally impaired people who should be in mental institutions rather than prisons.  There is a saying that once you are in prison it's for life, because you get caught up in the system and its a revolving door.  No one really cares about what put you there in the first place, and there should be a change in the system for rehabilitation.  Also, mixing lifers with non-violent inmates is ludicrous and should be outlawed.  I think this is done on purpose.  As far as the guards, some of them are more corrupt than the inmates.

[angelhome]

People make choices that affect their lives and the lives of others every day. Criminals are no different. They choose to go out and commit crimes for whatever reasons (excuses) they have. There are many people out there abandoned by a parent as a child living productive lives and never commit crimes. Inmates don't take responsibility for their actions, they just make excuses for what they have done and in my opinion is a cop-out. I worked as a corrections officer for 8 years in the prison system and have seen inmates shun counseling and help that was handed to them on a silver platter. Inmates are also notorious for being the biggest manipulators of people with kind hearts. I have seen this all too often in the prison system. Rehabilitation starts with an inmate and they will not be rehabilitated until they decide they want to change their lives.

I absolutely agree with you Irish lady! I often open letters from inmates fold them back up and send them back, telling them not to write me again. and I agree to that many are con artist. I know many correctional officers and even chaplins, and inmates that are bad straight thru - and I agree about many who have been raised without a dad. I have 4 grown boys, all good boys who would not do any thing bad and have never gone to jail for anything. are not wanted, have great jobs & work everyday. my point being here, if I had to set in a cell everyday 23 hrs a day, my mind would go wild and I am not sure what I would be. I never ask an inmate what he has done, but rather where he is going and if he desires to make a change. if not, if they are playing games I have done this for 15 years and can usually read between the lines and I can normally tell, but I refuse to deal with game players. I don't have a clue why GOD has put me where I am to do this but HE has and I have seen some change and come out to have good lives. we have all done things we are ashamed of and some illegal that we could have caught time for, and fortunately we didn't. Some things I did when I was younger, I am grateful I wasn't caught. my motto is let he who is without sin cast the first stone. don't know if  you are a believer or not but I hope you understand where I am coming from and we can be friends. I know many great correctional officers and some feel as I do. but are able to see both the good & the bad. thanks for your answer.

[angelhome]

Thank you for your reply... I feel that way too. that is where I desire to see the change. some kind of program that will give inmates positive reading material. That not only makes them think about what they did, but take responsibility for it and grow. I communicate with about 1000 inmates as a pen pal. It is a real job, but I have watched many change their attitude and life. I am a Jewish believer and my material is all center around Bible Study with good clean jokes. I have been doing the articles for about 15 years an have many that I am wanting to do a book with, something of the order of "Chicken Soup"... back to the subject: I do think we need prisons and we can't blame the prisons for keeping the the inmates there, but the courts are much to blame too. & please do not think I am serving inmates, for I have put a couple of fellows in for child molestation. I just feel there has got to be a balance there somewhere. & I do hope I get more replies from others.  Let's talk. Thanks again for your reply.

I have a question for you.  Are we leaning more towards prisons or concentration camps?    Altering inmates DNA and experimental injections, starvation and carrying people out on stretchers who once came in healthy.  I find it hard to believe that the United States crying about budget problems, find it necessary to ignore the facts.  Most are kept six times longer in Michigan than anywhere else in the nation.  To me it is flat out abuse of the prisoners in many ways.  Especially with the many mentally impaired people who should be in mental institutions rather than prisons.  There is a saying that once you are in prison it's for life, because you get caught up in the system and its a revolving door.  No one really cares about what put you there in the first place, and there should be a change in the system for rehabilitation.  Also, mixing lifers with non-violent inmates is ludicrous and should be outlawed.  I think this is done on purpose.  As far as the guards, some of them are more corrupt than the inmates.

WOW! Concentration camps? even the word scares me. As a Jewish believer I could never consider C C. as an alternative to anything - I agree they put many inmates that should be in mental institutions, and that inmates are institutionalized and than I know some that have been there so long they do not want to come out, it is home to them and outside scares them. For many it is a revolving door because there is no place that takes the responsibility mostly because they do not have the time, help & room to help. but there are not enough of us who really care. Right again. & I also agree with you that some of the guards are more corrupt than the inmates & have a real ego problem. Their position has gone to their head and they mistreat those they should be guarding. but by the same token I know some 'correctional officers' who are wonderful people and have a heart to serve. Mixing the violent with the non violent is a crime. Standing by allowing inmates to be beaten & raped is a crime that makes me sick. there is a saying "Hurting people, hurt people" and another that I try to put on my envelopes when I write inmates "people who treat other people as less than human must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes floating back to them, poisoned. James Baldwin, American Author 1924-1987"

[Shahrukhlover]

Prisons need to become productive.  Educate the inmates in technical skills so that they can be successful in society.  I say techincal because technical skills can be put to use more easily than professional skills.  And some of those skills can be used to make money.  Carpentry would come in handy.  I'm not saying send an inmate to someone's house as a plumber, but still.  It's better than them just sitting in a cell all day.

[ButterflyWings]

I think Prisons are cash cows not Rehabilitation all prisons really do in my opinion is make criminals better criminals and angry..And it really does not help..I like when I hear someone came out of prison better and did well and became a better person..But it is not a common thing it is more common to re-offend then to re-enter society rehabilitated..It is saddening they have better health care then most people outside of prison and have more than some poor people in society yet they are in prison...

[mh874892]

I just finished taking a introduction to criminal justice class, and this is probably the most recurring topic throughout the semester. While the prison system claims to be a source of rehabilitation, there are few services in place to actually do this. I know budgetting, space, and personnel are the major reasons for why rehabilitation cannot be more productive. Personally, I think it has to be up to the individual whether or not rehabilitation is possible. In some places there are a few systems that can be used to help get the criminal back into everyday life, but overall I do no think the mechanics are there.

On a side note, I am very much not into serving the inmates because I think they should pay for their crimes no questions asked. But when the time comes for release, they should have a support system so that there is a chance for them not to resort to further crimes to survive. Again, this is assuming the inmate wants to be helped to a better life.

[freepcmoney]

Prison is DEFINATELY not a place to rehabilitate anyone. In fact I think it is an education facility for small time criminals to learn more and better ways to commit crime, and be forced to become gay. ALL the non-violent drug addicts should be released IMMEDIATELY and placed in a drug treatment program.

[angelhome]

I just finished taking a introduction to criminal justice class, and this is probably the most recurring topic throughout the semester. While the prison system claims to be a source of rehabilitation, there are few services in place to actually do this. I know budgetting, space, and personnel are the major reasons for why rehabilitation cannot be more productive. Personally, I think it has to be up to the individual whether or not rehabilitation is possible. In some places there are a few systems that can be used to help get the criminal back into everyday life, but overall I do no think the mechanics are there.

On a side note, I am very much not into serving the inmates because I think they should pay for their crimes no questions asked. But when the time comes for release, they should have a support system so that there is a chance for them not to resort to further crimes to survive. Again, this is assuming the inmate wants to be helped to a better life.

I am planning to take the criminal justice clase very soon also. I assure you three are few programs for rehabilitaton given. Chaplains hands are tied and they can not teach the only sure cure for change. At the prisons where Christian leaders have taken complete units and treached the Bible the returns of inmates after they were out were 3 to 10%. I am not also for serving the inmates, and they should pay fro their crime. I am a firm believer in that - but don't expect them to come out and say "lead me to church".. my point is we have a captive audience where they are and they need to recieve good-positive material. no sexual trash or even a mention of it. Also positive quotations from  top leaders - most inmates I have found need good reading articles and they do respond. For them to have a support system after they get out, to me is not that good. They need good reading material inside for a while before they come out.
I have been in prison ministry for 15 years - written all kinds and had all kinds of answers. But for the most part I stick to the gospel.
I have over 1000 inmates and most are seeking the real things and the only real think is GOD.  once they come to know HIM, they change
from the inside that flows to the outside.

[TamRomLop]

I think it all depends on the person and how they are. I know a guy that is @40-43 and has spent most of his adult life in prison. He gets out and within the year he is back in. I asked him one time why don't he just chill and try to stay out. He told me in prison he had a better life. He has 3 meals a day, he can exercise, and he has a place to lay his head every night. Outside (especially because of his record) it is a whole nother story. He says he doesn't know where his next meal will come or if he will have a place to stay at night. I also know people who have went to prison for like that 180 and said they never want to go back and have changed their life completely since release. I believe prisons are a good thing. There are people that belong there and there are people who made a mistake and pay for it and change. There are people who just so bad they need to be locked up away from the rest of the world. I think they ought to be treated like human beings though, not animals. Even if the act like animals. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[gesus]

Prisons are just what they are , PRISON  straight up , its not a smack on the hand anymore nowadays , like look at the justice system now , NY gun laws are no joke  dude shot himself in the leg and hes doing 3yrs? smh its crazy for some yeah its a mind changer and itll help them see themselves but the rest of em ..too far gone to return

[angelhome]

Prisons need to become productive.  Educate the inmates in technical skills so that they can be successful in society.  I say techincal because technical skills can be put to use more easily than professional skills.  And some of those skills can be used to make money.  Carpentry would come in handy.  I'm not saying send an inmate to someone's house as a plumber, but still.  It's better than them just sitting in a cell all day.

Yes, you  get my drift. train them for something rather than setting in jail. I throw many good magazine away - that could go inside and give the mind something to do... an idol mind is the devils workshop... one day these folks might be our neighbor and how will we know if their mind is not up & down.
I certainly do not advocate tv's in every cell, but good clean books, that would stimulate their minds for good. encourage them that they can change, that it is possible. thanks