There's no doubt the system does not work, Dave.
You don't need a PhD in advanced Mathematics to see we aren't "fixing"
anything with prison. And to be frank about it (and contrary to what Don
may profess - "all we need to do is build up their self confidence") I don't
think the problem can be solved inside the "system" unless the inmate comes
to us with a basic foundation.
I think in order to be able to "rehabilitate" anyone, they have to have some
core fundamentals that are simply non existent in much of modern American
society. For example:
1) You have to have been taught the Golden Rule.
2) You have to know at a fundamental level the difference between Right and
Wrong.
3) You have to have a Mom and a Dad - or at least people who stood in for
those roles as you were growing up.
4) You have to know you will be punished - disciplined - for inappropriate
behavior.
5) You have to have faced some positive challenges in your life and
succeeded.
6) You have to be able to imagine yourself in a better place than you are
in now - and have the ability to formulate a plan on how to get there.
7) You have to have better things to do with your time than sitting on a
Nintendo or Play Station 6 hours per day.
8) You have to know what hard physical labor feels like.
9) You had to have chores and responsibilities assigned to you as you were
growing up.
etc. etc.
Wow! I could go on and on. These fundamentals are missing in one huge
percentage of the young men we are seeing incarcerated nowadays. If a guy
has these basics, I can probably agree he made a mistake in life and can be
turned around to be productive again. But if he doesn't - sorry, forget
it.....more than likely you're wasting your time with him.
Kinda bleak and grim, I agree. But I think its reality.
Post by Ring Toss DaveWell, if the system isn't working so well the way it is, maybe some changes
are in order? What would you suggest?
Post by rlYou gonna force them to go to school, Dave?
You can pass all the laws you want, and require me to set them in a
classroom - even to use force if necessary to hold them there.
But you can't force them to learn anything.
Every time I've stopped in and did a security check on one of our GED
classrooms I have to shake my head in utter disbelief. I've seen 7th
graders more attentive - not to mention show better manners.
The ones who actually want to get out of prison better than who they were
than they came in don't need society to pass laws forcing them to get their
GED. All your "mandatory GED" laws do is clutter up the class with flotsam
who detract from the teachers ability to teach the students who really want
to be there.
I've read on average it costs 26,000 dollars per year each, to keep them
behind bars. It would be nice if they could come out of prison with at
least a high school diploma and a trade and maybe knowledge of enough
social and life skills that would help them avoid going back to prison.
Post by Chris AssafWell, then, post them here. Tell me your opinions on inmates. Let teh
bashing commence.