What happens when the world's most jailing nation meets a governing system where citizens give very low priority to spending any money for inmates meets budget crisis?
You don't get a very good solution to meeting basic moral needs for crowding, medical care, not to mention rehabilitation.
This citizens of California have long done poorly at meeting reasonable standards for prisoners for much - one bright spot was finally taking steps against prisoner rape.
For years, warnings about overcrowding have gone ignored, failing reports for medical care have gone ignored by politicians and citizens.
Thank goodness for courts and a federal constitution against cruel punishment.
Finally, after this long pattern of neglect, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Disgustingly, it has the usual 5-4 split - so that the 4 radical right-wing Justices fail to uphold the constitution when it comes to inmates. They're immoral and disgraces.
But the majority of the court did the right thing and held California accountable.
Now, it's not a good situation. California faces the release of tens of thousands of inmates, which is not good for justice of public safety.
It's a price for the long neglect. It's the right thing to do - but not as good as if California had dealt with the problem when it should.
We should start to look more at crime prevention programs that are cost effective, and rehabilitation, as we deal with overcrowding and medical care.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sc-dc-0524-court-prisons-web-20110523,0,6954874.story
You don't get a very good solution to meeting basic moral needs for crowding, medical care, not to mention rehabilitation.
This citizens of California have long done poorly at meeting reasonable standards for prisoners for much - one bright spot was finally taking steps against prisoner rape.
For years, warnings about overcrowding have gone ignored, failing reports for medical care have gone ignored by politicians and citizens.
Thank goodness for courts and a federal constitution against cruel punishment.
Finally, after this long pattern of neglect, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Disgustingly, it has the usual 5-4 split - so that the 4 radical right-wing Justices fail to uphold the constitution when it comes to inmates. They're immoral and disgraces.
But the majority of the court did the right thing and held California accountable.
Now, it's not a good situation. California faces the release of tens of thousands of inmates, which is not good for justice of public safety.
It's a price for the long neglect. It's the right thing to do - but not as good as if California had dealt with the problem when it should.
We should start to look more at crime prevention programs that are cost effective, and rehabilitation, as we deal with overcrowding and medical care.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sc-dc-0524-court-prisons-web-20110523,0,6954874.story