What's the point of serving life in prison?

[TallBill]

I think that I'd rather be dead then lose 40 years in prison.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Originally posted by: TallBill
I think that I'd rather be dead then lose 40 years in prison.

You could work on your bench... for 40 years.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark

Originally posted by: TallBill
I think that I'd rather be dead then lose 40 years in prison.

You could work on your bench... for 40 years.

True

 

[Auric]

After the military industrial complex, maintaining a high incarceration rate is one of the best ways to transfer wealth from the middle class to the rich via ownership in for-profit "private prisons" (aka corporate rather than government).

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: TallBill
I think that I'd rather be dead then lose 40 years in prison.

An easy statement to make considering nobody has the ability to see into the future. Sure, plenty of people would rather die than spend 40 years imprisoned, but the problem is that those same people will cling to the hope that they will be released from said prison. Even the U.S. judicial system is set up this way.

It is not as simple as them saying "you will spend the next 40 years in a correctional facility."

 

[imported_Tango]

Some people in jail changed their lives for good. Many start studying and get a degree. Or they start painting, writing or playing an instrument. Many become political activists. Of course these are a minority, as for many people the idea of spending a lot of time in jail basically only lead to desperation and laziness. But some do take the opportunity of having a lot of free time to become better people.

Edward Bunker just to say one, would never have become a writer if he hadn't spent time in jail. Joe Pass became one of the best jazz guitarists of his time during the years he spent in jail. Gramsci wrote the bulk of his philosophical and economic thought while spending a 25 yrs sentence. Nelson Mandela took his law degree while in jail, and became a world-known political figure while still an inmate.

Jail must be hell, but it really depends on you what you make of those years.

 

[KingTech]

I think it's simply to prevent the prisoner (for something bad he has already done) to carry on doing mistakes and hat's why lots of them are sent to correctional centers,and to secure the society members form any potential harm this criminal or prisoner could commit.

 

[aircooled]

Strictly speaking in dollars, life in prison cost the taxpayers less than the death penalty.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

it gives you time to plan and execute ur escape plan.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

just curious, you say its cruel, some say it costs too much. but who is anyone to say anyone deserves death? what makes your statement just? who empowered you to decide who deserves death or life?

 

[imported_Tango]

Originally posted by: Truenofan
just curious, you say its cruel, some say it costs too much. but who is anyone to say anyone deserves death? what makes your statement just? who empowered you to decide who deserves death or life?

Well, that question is the reason why capital punishment has been abolished in virtually every developed country but the US and Japan.

Some countries actually abolished life without parole sentences.

 

[Modelworks]

Life in prison is pointless.
In general, putting people behind bars with nothing to do but sit around, watch tv, and play some basketball on rec times is not going to make that person better and not want to commit crimes when they get out.

They need to do something in prisons to actually change the way that person thinks and feels toward themselves and others.

One program that has worked well is the boot camp programs.
Where they bring in drill instructors and the prisoners are put through military style training, teaching them discipline and respect and self esteem. The programs have a 90% success rate.

Put a dog in a cage and toss it food and see if it improves.

 

[mrrman]

should just shoot them .....why waste the tax payers $$$$

 

[KB]

Actually from anecdotal stories I have heard there is quite a bit to do in prison. You are offered classes, library time, exercise time and have jobs. Minimum security prisoners even get to pick up trash by the highway. I know of one person who is training seeing eye dogs in prison. See not so bad.

 

[dguy6789]

People fear death.

 

[ForumMaster]

Originally posted by: Passions
I never understood why judges would give double, triple, life sentences, etc.

What's the point besides to make it a hyperbolic sentence?

for people that should never be let out on the street again. a life sentence is only 20-30 years. giving multiple life sentences will keep you in jail for your entire life.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Life in prison is pointless.
In general, putting people behind bars with nothing to do but sit around, watch tv, and play some basketball on rec times is not going to make that person better and not want to commit crimes when they get out.

They need to do something in prisons to actually change the way that person thinks and feels toward themselves and others.

One program that has worked well is the boot camp programs.
Where they bring in drill instructors and the prisoners are put through military style training, teaching them discipline and respect and self esteem. The programs have a 90% success rate.

Put a dog in a cage and toss it food and see if it improves.

First, I doubt it had a 90% success rate. What does a 90% success rate even mean?

Second, life in prison, back in the day, frequently meant a 20 - 25 year sentence with the possibility of parole. It was believed that after so many years the prisoner would no longer be a reasonable threat to society. Only recently (past 20 years), has the justice system started making life in prison mean life in prison and, often, this change keeps prisoners who aren't big threats to society anymore behind bars at an enormous cost to the taxpayer.

 

[bonkers325]

Originally posted by: vital
From a prisoner's perspective, what's the point? wouldn't you rather just die than to get assraped and have nothing to look forward to in life?

if you are in prison and are a reasonable religious views, then you would understand what awaits you in the afterlife. if you did something bad enough to land u in prison, where would that leave u after u die?

 

[FoBoT]

maybe if prison was a more miserable experience, they would have a different perspective

prison should include hard labor and no "privileges"

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber



First, I doubt it had a 90% success rate. What does a 90% success rate even mean?

Second, life in prison, back in the day, frequently meant a 20 - 25 year sentence with the possibility of parole. It was believed that after so many years the prisoner would no longer be a reasonable threat to society. Only recently (past 20 years), has the justice system started making life in prison mean life in prison and, often, this change keeps prisoners who aren't big threats to society anymore behind bars at an enormous cost to the taxpayer.

It had a 90% success rate.
Meaning that 90% of those that completed the program did not return to prison.

 

[kgokal]

To correct some things, life sentence is just 25 years! Thus, 2 sentences of life would be 50 years.

 

[PepePeru]

well, you could eventually work your way up to assraper not the assrapee.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: vital
From a prisoner's perspective, what's the point? wouldn't you rather just die than to get assraped and have nothing to look forward to in life?

life imprisonment = worse punishment than death penalty for the exact reason you just stated.

 

[Mucho]

You might be surprised to know that there are some people who adjust well to prison life. Many people find living in an institution comforting and without the stress of having to fend for them selves on the outside.

 

[j00fek]

to waste the tax payers money, when we could just shoot them for .20c