My hometown’s little paper recently ran an article, featuring the sheriff, where he explains how wonderful the new multimillion dollar jail is. He rationalizes the fact that they get $25/day per inmate from the state to house overflow “criminals”. But he also insists that it is a boon for the local community, because some of the businesses get to use this slave cheap labor and maximize some profits.
He also mentioned in a brief sentence, that even tho times are rough and people need jobs (which those very same businesses COULD hire), it is better for the community to offer slave labor.
Do you see the significance of the fact that the US prison system is the LARGEST in the world? Do you think that $$MONEY$$ and greed might be a motivation?
The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world—more even than China or Russia. Prof. Daniel J. D’Amico explains that as of 2010 more than 1.6 million people were serving jail sentences in America. Professor D’Amico suggests that “prisons are not what we think about when we think of America, and they shouldn’t have to be.” According to D’Amico, a free country should not have 1.6 million people in prison, and a fiscally responsible country cannot afford to. As Prof. D’Amico points out, it is time for Americans to recognize that the U.S. criminal justice system is desperately in need of reform.
Learn More:
1. “The Caging of America” [article]: Wide ranging New Yorker piece, discusses history, ethics, everyday prisoner experience. Explores a few theories as to why our prison system is the way it is.
2. “The Business Ethics of Incarceration: The Moral Implications of Treating Prisons Like Businesses” [scholarly article]: Professor D’Amico addresses the economics and morality of prison and prison privatization.
3. “U.S. prison population dwarfs that of other nations” [article]: New York Times article focusing on America’s disproportionate prison population.
4. “Prisoners’ Poetry” [poems]: A website featuring poems written by prisoners.
Discussion Questions:
1. What are the causes for the unusually high incarceration rate in the United States?
2. Do you think prisons are an effective way of handling crime?
3. What alternatives or reforms to the current prison system can you imagine for handling crime more effectively?
Are you still proud to be an American… where “FREEDOM” reigns?
h/t Activist Post
Did I rub you the wrong way or stroke you just right? Let me know below in the comments section or Email me at buelahman {AT} g m a i l {DOT} com
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This always makes me chuckle.I read these stories about the US and think about the crap they spout about China and other countries and their prison populations.
They know that these prison are soon to have an increased population once civil rest starts post October.
They have become modern day work camps.The system first tested on those interned for crimes soon to be used on those interned for using their free speech.
Posted by thedailycheesenews | August 30, 2012, 2:06 am