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IncarcerationPosted Thursday, May 29, 2008, at 4:06 PM
I find it rather astounding we in the greatest Country in the world, with 5% of the world's population, have 25% of the total incarcerated population of the world! This in the face of many non-democratic regimes around the world. I understand that many despotic rulers just kill rather than jail, but that cannot account for this unbelievable statistic.
A goodly portion of the numbers in prison are for drug possession of relatively small amounts of drugs. In many cases due to harsh mandatory sentencing statutes. The cost of keeping these people is astronomical. Nationally it cost $43,000 a year per prisoner. In Tennessee the cost is $22,000. This cost is paid to, in most cases, exacerbate the societal problem rather than "cure" it. If one were to objectively view the problem and seek to find a more economical and socially beneficial behavior modification technique without considering the political niceties, perhaps a solution can be found that is a credit to society rather than a detriment. One solution might be to consider male and female offenders who have been convicted, once, of drug possession of a relative small amount of drugs. These offenders must not have been involved in violence in anyway in their offences nor have involved minors in any abusive behavior. They should have 4-5 year sentences. The solution could be sentencing them to a college degree. Please read on before you throw something. At most state supported colleges one could set aside a building suitable for a military style dormitory facility with separation of sleeping and bath facilities for male and female offenders. This need not be with the privacy and amenities of the classic college dorm. A sufficiently large day room for studying and eating would be provided. Each inmate would wear an electronic tracking device 24/7 so they could only go to class, library, medical and only other authorized places. They would have to accept a zero tolerance as to the rules and maintain a sufficiently high GPA in order to advance in a timely manner. As to the cost, some examples of annual tuition and fees: Tenn. State $4856; MTSU $5278; and UT Knox. $5932. If one were to triple these numbers for room and board and other cost, it would still be cheaper, but the real payoff is much greater. The reality is these people will be released from prison. Had you rather have a next door neighbor with a college degree or one with a degree in criminality? I would hope anyone who chooses to comment on this piece will realize I know all the "What if "…..??? And "What about…….? Such elementary rhetoric adds nothing to the debate nor bring nearer a solution to the dilemma. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Near lifelong resident of Bedford County. Will comment on the issues of the day in, hopefully a cogent and certainly an honest manner. Will propose discussions not usually fully addressed in the mainstream media.
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McClanahan I like your way of thinking.
Some people need that extra boost to better their lives. Give them their punishment, but help make them a better person may keep more out of the criminal system. I am for anything that is to better our country, our people. God Bless.
Who's going to hire a convicted felon with a degree? There are some businesses that wont even hire someone that has a misdeamenor on their record!
Not trying to submit elementary rhetoric, just a logical question!
I like your underlying premise.
It wouldn't have to involve giving criminals a break our best citizens might not get but it could mandate a form of vocational training that doesn't involve becoming better criminals.
This solution isn't that different from the readily accepted practice of using military service as an alternative to incarceration.
We need to determine,on a case-by-case basis,what led to the person's transgressions.
(Different problems require different solutions.)
We would also need to do assessments of their skills and mental fitness.
Whatever else they did,they'd need to get counselling and do all they can to make restitution and perform some kind of useful work.
I'd go beyond that to insist that no adult subsisting on the public dollar should have the luxury of illiteracy and lack of a high school diploma or equivalent if they are able to learn.
Society should save its dollars for people who *can't* help themselves rather than those who refuse to do so.
"Enabling" people should consist of helping them to reach their maximum physical,mental and moral potential then doing what one can to make up any deficits.
Those who are not gainfully employed can try to gain basic living skills,expand their skill sets,get vocational rehabilitation or get whatever preparation is needed to take part in the real world.
When they are not taking such lessons or therapy,they could be doing W.P.A. type jobs,going on interviews,etc.
This would keep them occupied,keep them in the habit of performing a certain number of hours a day,give them a sense of accomplishment,let them progress to a more functional level and give them more hope and confidence.
The few persons who would not qualify for such endeavors could be dealt with in programs that would have far fewer clients than they do now.
More attention needs to be paid to preventing physical,mental and spiritual disease before they are contracted followed by preventing future outbreaks in people who have already exhibited symptoms.
Throwing time and money at efforts that show little efficacy in terms of prevention,cure or rehabilitation is a waste of all our resources-particularly our human ones.
What would such projects cost our communities?
What does it cost us if potential remedies are left untried?
Disgusted, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal (I think) a few years back about how a lot of businesses were into hiring ex-cons because they (the business owners) knew that the cons would be so grateful for the job that they would work hard. I'll have to look for a link to the article, but it was pretty interesting and it's something to think about.
Disgusted......Understand your concerns, but assumming no one will hire felons nor lesser offenders is not a valid assumption. I'm sure there is anecdotal information out there that supports such a position, but so is there for every conceivable position.
You would be supprised to know how many felons work for good employers in Shelbyville now. Perhaps you could look into the new, to Shelbyville, program Next Step Home founded to ease the path of women offenders back into society with the aim to see they become productive citizens.
You might check Times-Gazette issue of Friday 20 July 2007 for some info on the program if you are interested.
If that's the case then that's great! One mistake and a lesson learned should not ruin a persons life as long as they learn from it. I do know for a fact that Wal-Mart in Shelbyville would not hire someone I know because of a misdemeanor on their record. Hum... maybe that's why over half the registers are empty!
I think you have good intnetions sir but, I think that is not a ggod idea! America is based on a fundamental right of the PURSUIT of happines not a promise that it will be handed to you. It is kind of a smack in the face to those that do try and do the right thing and struggle to go to college but also appreciate it and work hard for it as well.If somebody has been busted for using or possessing drugs how many actually believe that it was this persons first time to ever use or possess and they were just unlcuky and got caught? Doent work that way,- 99.9% did not just start using it was just the first time they got busted. I believe your statisitics are off as well on severe incarceration for little or small possessions of drugs. If you go the court house on any General Sessions date, you will see everyone with simple possession charges only have to pay a fine and rarely do any jail time, only drug dealers see real time and I really am not interested in helping out a dealer.
This is where you would say, "What would Jesus Do?" If a person is struggling, trying to do right and wants to go to college, that is wonderful. Scholarships, church orginizations, family members are their that may help. This person has a potential to acheive her goal.
But if this other person that isn't caring wheter or not they go or not, because all they are use to is doing nothing, not inspired to do nothing, bored with nothing to look forward to, and got into trouble for doing the wrong thing, first time offense, misdemeanor; Are they going to be offered a Scholoraship? Church organizations help? Family members? More than likely they will be considered a waste of time and money, and no one will be willing to contribute to better this person; and so the cycle will continue it's path, unless the jail time breaks them. Sometimes it makes them worse.
I believe Jesus would go to the one in more need. WWJD.
Ah, Mr. McClanahan, how you do carry on with such intellectual putforths.
"Had you rather have a next door neighbor with a college degree or one with a degree in criminality?"
After much internal deliberation and, many sleepless nights, I have concluded:
a neighbor with both degrees could be cause for anxiety. Why, he might even steal your thoughts!
Garhawk..........
In my case no poblem...No even a criminal act since he would not steal anything of value.
Now you've got me worried about our winding up with criminal geniuses like that math teacher Sherlock Holmes battled.
Naaaahhhh...
Our crooks would still write their hold-up notes on their deposit slips,knock down ladders to keep the police from apprehending them on a rooftop and protesting that a witness couldn't identify them because they wore a mask while committing their crime.
Such folk are not college material.
Instead of trying our youth as adults,could we try some of our misbehaving Darwin Award types as toddlers?