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There seems to be a pretty decisive anti-prison circle jerk in this thread. It's a trend that is very common among progressives, common enough that I think we c

by Taek 10y ago

There seems to be a pretty decisive anti-prison circle jerk in this thread. It's a trend that is very common among progressives, common enough that I think we could do something about it. Does anyone want to say things in support of prison? If we revamp the prison system, what things should we keep? What do prisons do right? And, what are the next steps for a community willing to invest in changes to our criminal management? How do we make a difference?

totalZero 10y ago
Maybe there's a lesson in the fact that few here are willing to support prisons as an industry....it's not very easy to defend this particular system.
allendoerfer 10y ago
Prisons should basically be a mix between a school and a mental institution. If you are a loser and fucked up, your personal issues should be treated and you should get into a position of not being a loser any more (e.g. get a regular degree, apprenticeship, on which it does not say "done in prison"). You should have to stand up every day and have a normal workday to get used to that. You should have to stay there for as long as you are a threat to society or as long as your situation has not changed and it is likely that you will commit the crime again. So everything that is already that should be kept, everything else we can get rid of. I would personally say, start with socializing them again, then we have an incentive to reduce prison populations by keeping people out, who do not belong there in the first place. As always, when I make this comments I am a hopeless optimist: Do not worry, it is already happening. Also something to cheer you up, America: Where do you think ISIS comes from? If you look for a group of losers, just turn to your local (on HN often praised) European prison.
fny 10y ago
I don't think people here is anti-prison, just that they disagree with how prisons fail to operate as correctional/rehabilitative facilities and instead produce more hardened criminals.

by Taek 10y ago

totalZero 10y ago

Maybe there's a lesson in the fact that few here are willing to support prisons as an industry....it's not very easy to defend this particular system.

allendoerfer 10y ago

Prisons should basically be a mix between a school and a mental institution. If you are a loser and fucked up, your personal issues should be treated and you should get into a position of not being a loser any more (e.g. get a regular degree, apprenticeship, on which it does not say "done in prison"). You should have to stand up every day and have a normal workday to get used to that. You should have to stay there for as long as you are a threat to society or as long as your situation has not changed and it is likely that you will commit the crime again. So everything that is already that should be kept, everything else we can get rid of. I would personally say, start with socializing them again, then we have an incentive to reduce prison populations by keeping people out, who do not belong there in the first place. As always, when I make this comments I am a hopeless optimist: Do not worry, it is already happening. Also something to cheer you up, America: Where do you think ISIS comes from? If you look for a group of losers, just turn to your local (on HN often praised) European prison.

fny 10y ago

I don't think people here is anti-prison, just that they disagree with how prisons fail to operate as correctional/rehabilitative facilities and instead produce more hardened criminals.