Should jails/ prisons exist at all?

[Kingofkings1992]

Do they actually deter crime? Do they get to the root causes of why criminal behavior occurs? Do they actually do more harm than good?

Yes

No

I’ll explain in comments

[emeraldsaphire]

It's complicated. It is wrong to kidnap people. I know people will try to justify it, but every person who does a bad thing always thinks they are "doing the right thing" we are all the hero in are own story. Right now morality is decided on who can kill the most people.

That being said. I don't really want Rapists going around raping people. You can try to make jails nicer, but that doesn't mean kidnapping is ok. Honestly I don't know what to do.

Nietzsche once said "whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster?” And this is the problem. How do you stop evil with out becoming evil.

Fortunately I think most people who commit crimes can be reasoned with, and they will respond better to compassion and kindness, but their will always be people who will take advantage of your kindness.

Ignoring morals, what we are doing right now isn't working. We have more jails then ever, yet crime is skyrocketing.

[Dongie]

Prisons became a business, so there are lots locked up that shouldn't be, and very rich people get out of doing time because of corrupt judges.
And you fight evil with good!

[MarjorieJ]

People who know nothing about prisons, pretend to know the most about them. What kind of fool thinks prisons are about rehabilitation? Do they think that lions and tigers are kept in cages to rehabilitate them, or to protect the public? This isn't rocket appliances.

[Dongie]

I concur. That's what my lying probation officer said to the coke snorting bitch of a judge about my failing a pot test back in 99 after she told me I would get time swerved!

[MarjorieJ]

Cricket

[MarjorieJ]

Crikey

[Anonymous]

If jails and prisons didn't exist, cops wouldn't be able to stop the good citizens from eradicating all of the criminals. At this point in civilization, cops primary existence is to protect criminals from the innocent. Crime, for the most part, would be over in a week if cops didn't exist.

[OlderAndWiser]

Deterrence of crime is only one of the reasons for having jails and prisons. Do you want a known murderer living next to you? If you have a 10 year old daughter, do you want a known pedophile living next to you?

[Lynx122]

Yes. I am for rehabilitation and stuff but you still need somewhere to put dangerous individuals that pose a threat to others. I do think a prison system more geared towards rehabilitation is better but I wouldn't be for abolishing prisons. There's always a percentage of people who will abuse a system if there's no consequences.

[Astarlessnightsky]

Depends what they are actually doing.

If they are just a bad place to lock somebody away they serve little to no purpose, espacially when they are built around profit like the US.

If they help criminals get back on track, provide education and opportunities, they can help reduce crime rates by preventing repeated offenses. Like Norway, Sweden, Finnland are doing it.

[Dongie]

People can get educated here, hoss. There are many success stories in America. You have to pay attention!

[Astarlessnightsky]

Not as many as in for example norway. The rate for crimes done by ex-prisoners who end up once more in prison is among the highest in the US. As well as the US has the highest amount of people sitting in jail. (Per capita)

[Dongie]

Well, Norway has a better class of people.

[Apple1996]

Jail is just like a really long time out. Some people learn their lesson and grow from it. Other people don't learn anything from it so just depends

[Dongie]

Says the weary mom.

[Keyboardkat]

They may not be a deterrent, but one good thing they DO accomplish: The keep the miscreant from committing crimes against the rest of us so long as he is incarcerated!

[Surely]

Some seem to change their ways and improve their lives. Others just continue on their path to committing crimes. The bad thing that happens. The impressionable ones sometimes learn how to commit better crimes! When they get released.

[Miristheiss]

Deter crime?

Their purpose is to get criminals out of law abiding society and making it safer for the public.

[I_am_a_human]

Yes, I think they should exist. Some people are too dangerous /deranged to be allowed to remain in regular society because of genetics and/or their upbringing (I believe both are the root cause).

[AviatorTom]

Yes, jails should exist. One purpose they fulfill is taking dangerous people off the streets, making it safer for others.

[NaultD]

I like how Norway prison and they have a return rate of 20% compared to usa 80% return rate.

[RavVid]

yes they deter crime and it helps victims to see them punished.

[Dargil]

How about we mandate the death penalty for all crimes? That should reduce recidivism without needing jails.

[DrPepper12]

It's the worst way to change behavior. Hell, in a just society prisons are just not a priority

[Dongie]

Says the teacher with his head in the clouds.

[DrPepper12]

Suggestion box is open...

[Kingofkings1992]

@DrPepper12 I can agree to a certain extent, but there’s some people who just too dangerous

[Kingofkings1992]

Who are *

[Dongie]

Where is a just society? With the melting pot heating here in America, how do we reach the level of just. Open borders have let thousands of hardened criminals in the country.

[onedarkcloud]

Look at what is happening now with no bail. Get arrested and get freed before the paperwork is done. Now add no prisons, we can now get rid of all police FBI DOJ etc and a war zone would be safer

[Twalli]

We need to focus more on reformation than punishment in prisons. However, there are some people who can't be fixed. These people are best kept away from others.

[Dongie]

Yeah, I'm sure they deter a good bit of crime. They also keep the criminals locked in cages so we can enjoy life.

[noohair]

There are certain people that should not be circulating in public. They are too depraved.

[exitseven]

Yes, we need more of thrm.

[Kingofkings1992]

Why?

[MarjorieJ]

We need to build prison tent cities in warmer places.

[Dongie]

I concur.

[Dongie]

Yep! Then tending gardens and raising food, like sheep and cows, would also keep the thugs busy 12 hours a day, half time on weekends.

[Cubus]

What alternative do you suggest?