Just because prison policy can also serve a political purpose does not mean that its primary function is not what it is: to punish criminals, and to protect the

Just because prison policy can also serve a political purpose does not mean that its primary function is not what it is: to punish criminals, and to protect the public from them. The discrimination narrative is very compelling on a large scale, but offers courts no alternatives when facing a specific instance of rape, assault or murder. What is the judge supposed to do, pat the criminal on the head and send him home?