KVNUFTP

does our prison system work?

it’s an endless debate, with good points on both sides. are we really rehabilitating criminals, or are we casting them into a lifetime of crime, where most continue to live criminal lives, even behind bars? prison life is, by its very nature, a violent culture.

prisoners have a decent life for the crimes they have committed. they receive hot meals, a temperature-controlled environment, a free education, laundry service, medical and dental care and visitation from their families during the week. they have limited internet access and are allowed to make phone calls. i don’t think i need to point out who pays for all of this.

with that said, i see the value in rehabilitating criminals who have the potential (and determination) to be rehabilitated. if a convicted criminal can rejoin society and be a productive member, let’s welcome them back. if not, let’s leave them to do what they will on the inside…with few rights and fewer privileges. perhaps no privileges at all.

you’ll find there are generally two kinds of people who break the law: those who are inherently evil and will bend rules and break laws wherever and whenever they can. then there are those who are in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with desperate circumstances and no way to get out.

the man who killed the officer is part of a recognized white supremacy group. he’s killed behind bars before and according to statistics, he’s likely to do it again. what does he have to lose now by killing again? how many rights will this man be allowed to infringe upon before someone takes all of his rights away permanently? besides killing members of rival gangs, gang members are more likely to be involved in other criminal activity, too, including drug trafficking, theft, and identity fraud.

it’s time to reevaluate prison sentencing and the privileges/rights prisoners enjoy behind bars. 15 visits a day to the u of u medical center? why aren’t doctors going INTO the prison? it must be expensive to transport prisoners to the university from draper and gunnison. we don’t need more laws…we just need to be smarter about our rehabilitation process. let’s leverage the system for society’s benefit.

this is just one of the many reasons i am opposed to mandatory minimum sentencing. the law is interpretive. judges, or a panel of judges, should evaluate cases one at a time, and impose the proper sentence on the criminal. two people may commit the same crime, but extenuating circumstances may warrant a different sentence for both.

i feel deeply for the slain officer’s family, friends and co-workers. they will mourn his loss every day for the rest of their lives.

~jess