what makes a jail a proper jail?

[Free Spirit]

It came to my thought that how would the jails actually be to be proper. I have noticed that the jail in my town is quite better then what some people could have outside the fences. They have a library, a game room with computers, TV and a nice room. They work with some small stuff like putting things in bags which they get paid for (a very small payment of money) they can buy cigarettes and candies/sweets that come once in a while... In some places you pay about £100 for throwing a chewing gum on the ground (quite hard) but it works, people rather don't throw the gum (trashing the environment) then pay that kind of money. That's how it works everywhere, the small kind of "criminals" that would rather not be jailed choose to not accomplish the crime while the professional would probably never even come to the thought if he/she should turned around and probably not say "what if I get jailed?!"... these people don't think the same thoughts and plans as the one with a stolen beer in his jacket, for these jails doesn't work, it's nothing. If he/she can make something as highly criminal why not be in warm jail were you could sit and have a chocolate bar. (The years of being behind the fences is something to make you turned around but there are high crimes with low "penalty")...Of course I'm not saying this is how it is everywhere because it's highly far from how it is in China. But would it be better if the jails were awfully disgusting in a country that really want be humane. The society isn't succeeding at all when there are people that even commit the crime to be in warm and comfy jail (still talking about the one in my town if it isn't the only one) . Jails are there before the crime to give a second thought of not being criminal and then again you sit there after the crime to give a thought of not doing it again. Then how does this jail in my town relate to what the jails are for except keeping the criminal from commiting the crimes until he/she gets released... I ask again: what would makes a jail a proper jail?

[Fidelbrand]

concurrent excercise of
-adequate punishment (yet to be defined, much disputed)
&
- adequate rehablitation measures.

[cormacobear]

I think the pre norman Irish had it right. A criminal should have to work for the injured parties in order to repay their debt rather than become a further burden on society by imprisoning them. Only those who pose a dramatic threat should be imprisoned and then they should be held without access to news, telev. and especially comp. I don't object to prisoners being taught a modest trade while incarcerated, so long as it's done safely, and the revenue of their labour should go to support the institutions upkeep and employees.

[redstar2000]

Your description of jail as "warm" and "comfy" suggests pretty strongly that you've never been in one.

Or read anything written by people who have been in one.

I think you need to read some first-hand accounts of the experience before you can ask any questions about what they "should" be like...much less understand the answers.

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.fightcapitalism.net)
A site about communist ideas

[PRC-UTE]

I think the pre norman Irish had it right. A criminal should have to work for the injured parties in order to repay their debt rather than become a further burden on society by imprisoning them. Only those who pose a dramatic threat should be imprisoned and then they should be held without access to news, telev. and especially comp. I don't object to prisoners being taught a modest trade while incarcerated, so long as it's done safely, and the revenue of their labour should go to support the institutions upkeep and employees.

good post, I agree completely (surprise surprise).

but I've long said the same thing myself, the Brehon law system was very advanced and humane.

[h&s]

The thing is, that whatever the conditions inside a gaol, it will always be a punishment. To spend years of your life separated from everyone you know, with no personal space or privacy is a very mind-altering experience. A lot of people go back out to re-offend but that is because of the lack of decent rehabilitation in many prisons, and of course there will always be career criminals who can do the time.

I personally don't agree with prisons being too harsh, but I do think the impression of harshness should remain on the outside to put people off commiting crime. I think that a really harsh prison just tells the prisoners that society doesn't care about them, so they will then find it easier to re-offend.

[Hampton]

I think the terms proper and jail cannot go together in the first place. It is not proper to lock men and women up in cages and control their every action. Prison cannot be nice, it is not meant to be nice there is no way to make a prison comfortable to nicer.

In America at least it is all connected, and what I mean is that the legal system is connected, laws are connected, those who make the laws and those who choose to enforce those laws. Prison is big business, they put them in little towns and it gives jobs to everybody you just have to be willing to treat someone like an animal or a beast.

I would take up Redstar's suggestion though, there is no way of reforming the prison system as it is now in America short from tearing it down and starting over again. There?s lots of books on prisons and those who have been there, the first one that comes to mind is George Jackson?s Soledad Brother, but there are many more.

Today is the 33rd anniversary of the Attica prison rebellion by the way, on Sept 13th it was taken back by the authorities.

[Free Spirit]

Your description of jail as "warm" and "comfy" suggests pretty strongly that you've never been in one.

When I said warm and comfy was more when I compared it to other jails that are not in my town, it doesn't mean that they are "warm", but they are when you see the differances between them as one. As I said they have a better environment then what some that are not criminals could have. Not mentally but quite when you give it a look around. But I agree with that it is not warm and comfy, it's a jail, you become jailed and that not warm and comfy! And I have been to a jail, not because of criminal reasons. it was a visitation. Most of these people that are locked in there are sued for drug smuggling and drug use. And even if they have their chances to behave well (which means getting out before time) they still are those who try to commit suicide (can't stand without drugs, drug seems to be their jail not the one with fences) A lot of them try to take the drugs into the prison by stucking it into the ass, cover it in an envelops or in other ways. The bag with powder and a hole is what mad one end up in a hospital, all spread in his ass, but he lives! :( ... I don't have the experience of a jail as a "must" but I probably will when the cops get sick of the "future" revolution! :D