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One quote stuck with me: “But it’s a tough place to do time. People that say cons have it easy, they ain’t never been in Menard.” Not an American, but between
by aristidb 11y ago
One quote stuck with me: “But it’s a tough place to do time. People that say cons have it easy, they ain’t never been in Menard.”
Not an American, but between saying that cons have it easy and the fact of mass incarceration in the first place, it seems that there's a certain mercilessness in American culture.
- beardicus 11y agoWe certainly seem to prefer punishment and retribution over rehabilitation. Many americans view prison as a deterrent, thus making it more horrible should deter more potential criminals. There's also a disturbing attitude towards (largely male) prison rape. It is completely acceptable to joke about it, even on national late-night television, and the attitude is clearly one of "prisoners are terrible sub-humans and deserve to be raped by their peers". It's really messed up.
- oh_sigh 11y agoWho exactly says cons have it easy? I've never heard that one before.
- tyingq 11y agoGoogle for something like: why do we treat prisoners better than Lots of results, most highly misinformed. People imagine that most/all prisoners get 3 meals a day, television, etc. Not true.
- sokoloff 11y agoI've definitely heard complaints along the lines of, "those prisoners get 3 squares [meals] a day; that's better than what a lot of people outside get..."
- mpclark 11y agoYup, and that cell looks like a truly horrible place to accommodate a person (let alone two). My woodshed is nicer than that.