Comments on: Who’s in prison and why?

By: Jake

Jake — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:21:52 +0000

Good luck trying to sell your prespective to the California voters, who just say no to the meager efforts of a failing state legislature and executive to keep the state afloat. A far more popular investment is in early childhood development and early education. The drop out rate in our high schools spells trouble and should be a wake up call on our inadequate investment in building a productive next generation.

By: David Rolland

David Rolland — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:15:53 +0000

But they weren’t convicted of other crimes; they were convicted on drug charges. Are you saying all these people, on their way out of prison, would admit to more serious crimes, and then we’d investigate and prosecute them again? Also, I know all about mental illness in jails and prisons, and yes, many people are dually diagnosed. But mental illness is not a crime, and ideally, mentally ill drug offenders would be diverted to get help for their problems. My post is idealistic, not realistic. We could save so much money of we helped people deal with the root causes of their problems, rather than sent them in and out of the revolving prison doors constantly, housing them in prisons to the tune of $47,000 per year plus the cost of the criminal justice system. Obviously, the help wouldn’t always work, but unless they commit more serious crimes, it doesn’t make economic or moral sense for them to be locked up.

By: Francis

Francis — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:07:34 +0000

I’d like to add: there are some 10% wrongful convicted!
One of many voices:
*American Legal System Is Corrupt Beyond Recognition
Judge Tells Harvard Law School
By Geraldine Hawkins March 7, 2003
http://www.geocities.com/three_strikes_legal/corrupt_legal_system.htm

There is much left to think about US highest prisoner rate among civilized democratic nations, 10 to 12 times.
For example:
*Follow the Prison Money Trail
By Silja J.A.Talvi September 4,06, to save construction cost.:
Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) has already received more contributions from a private prison company than any other politician campaigning for state office in the United States. http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2797/
and
*Profit puts inmates in hard spot
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_5568308_

By: Jake

Jake — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:54:50 +0000

You’re closer than you realize to keeping those drug offenders incarcerated. Discussing their plight with a judge or criminal attorner will reveal additional details about them including their involvement in more serious offences. What you’ve also overlooked is the vast number of prisoners with serious mental impairments. Mental health experts often refer to our prisons as the largest mental health facilities in the nation.